<P> Since the 2000s, groups such as Backstreet Boys and LFO have disliked the term "boy band" and have preferred to be known as a "male vocal group". Being categorized among boy bands was also the main reason The Moffatts split up . Boy bands have been accused by the music press of emphasizing the appearance and marketing of the group above the quality of music, deliberately trying to appeal to a preteen audience and for conforming to trends instead of being original . Such criticisms can become extremely scathing . Boy bands are often seen as being short lived, although some acts such as The Jackson 5, Backstreet Boys, Hanson, Human Nature, New Edition, SMAP, Shinhwa and Westlife (before they split up in 2012) have sustained lasting careers . </P> <P> Despite negative critical reception, boy bands continue to be generally successful, with some notable ones managing to sell tens of millions of records, placing them among the world's best selling music artists . The best - selling boy bands based on sales figures are: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Records sold </Th> <Th> Genre </Th> <Th> Studio albums </Th> <Th> Members </Th> <Th> Years active </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Backstreet Boys </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 130 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> 5 → 4 → 5 </Td> <Td> 1993--present (24 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Jackson 5 </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 100 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop / R&B </Td> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> 5 → 6 → 4 </Td> <Td> 1964--1990, 2001, 2012--2013 (29 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> New Kids on the Block </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 80 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 5 → 4 → 5 </Td> <Td> 1984--1994, 2008--present (19 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> The Osmonds </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 77 million </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> 1958--1980 (22 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> Bay City Rollers </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 70 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 1966--1981 (15 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> Menudo </Td> <Td> Puerto Rico </Td> <Td> 60 million+ </Td> <Td> Latin pop </Td> <Td> 44 </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 1977--1997, 2007 - 2009 (22 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> Boyz II Men </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 60 million+ </Td> <Td> R&B </Td> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> 5 → 4 → 3 </Td> <Td> 1988--present (29 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> * NSYNC </Td> <Td> United States </Td> <Td> 55 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> </Td> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> 1995--2002 (7 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> Westlife </Td> <Td> Ireland </Td> <Td> 50 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> 5 → 4 </Td> <Td> 1998--2012 (14 years) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> Take That </Td> <Td> United Kingdom </Td> <Td> 45 million+ </Td> <Td> Pop </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> 5 → 4 → 5 → 3 </Td> <Td> 1990 - 1996 2005 - present (18 years) </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> Rank </Th> <Th> Name </Th> <Th> Country </Th> <Th> Records sold </Th> <Th> Genre </Th> <Th> Studio albums </Th> <Th> Members </Th> <Th> Years active </Th> </Tr>

Is one direction the biggest boyband in history