Why has the boyband phenomenon never recurred in American pop since the 90s while flourishing overseas?

We won’t be disrespected.

I'm a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys.

What’s JC chasez story? Is he still hot?

Girl bands too.

Perhaps, Americans want solo careers and want to avoid the inevitable conflicts that occur in groups due to ego.

[quote]In the 1990s and early 2000s, the collective image of a boy band worked well because fans often identified with the group as a whole or with a specific member. However, in today’s era of social media and individuality, audiences value unique, personal brands over group identities.

[quote]Social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter have given individual artists the power to build direct connections with fans. This cultural shift toward individualism has made the concept of a “group” feel less relevant. Modern listeners prefer to follow and support solo artists who share their personal journeys and stories rather than groups adhering to a generic formula.

Are a bunch of douches sitting in their suburban living room or garage with a podcast the new boy band?

The short answer is internationalization of the market coinciding with a resurgence of racism in America which has limited the popularity of boy (and girl) bands with racially diverse (or simply not white-enough) members. Imagine the TEAtard-cum-MAGAt furor when they discover their red-blooded 'Murican kids singing in Korean... yeah, not gonna happen. That there are now really only 3 record companies further plays into the answer; bigger companies demand more immediate hits and aren't willing to put the time and resources behind a group without a proven track record.

And no, Lou Pearlman was no savant. He had one talent. Think of him as the music industry's crooked answer to [italic]The Producers.[/italic]

It's not dead...just old.

They are syrupy pop. We’ve moved on

[quote]...bigger companies demand more immediate hits and aren't willing to put the time and resources behind a group without a proven track record.

This. In the US, you must have immediate results and companies have neither the skill nor the patience to develop groups. But, you'd think that maybe somebody would put together a group such as Simon Cowell did with One Direction.