Pick Your Boys: It's BSB v. 'NSync

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 16, 2000 Source: The Toronto Star Submitted By: Tightie-Whities Inc. http://kiss.to/tightiewhities Pick your boys: It's BSB v. 'NSync Source: The Toronto Star - November 14th, 2000 The hot battle of the fans is about to boil over By Jackie Khalilieh Special To The Star The battle of the boy bands is about to intesify. Next Tuesday is judgement day for 'NSync and Backstreet Boys fans, who are caught up in an ongoing feud over which band has more supporters. The fans are going to extreme lengths to bump up their favourite band's CD sales, status, and popularity. And each side has an action plan, backed by the bands, their management and their record company, all of whom make big bucks by adding fuel to the fire. Some in the 'NSync camp say they'll buy an extra copy of 'NSync's already-released album No Strings Attached on the release date next Tuesday of the Backstreet Boys' newest CD Black and Blue. Meanwhile, Backstreet Boys fans are being encouraged by the band members themselves to help spread the word about their album's release. And the Backstreet Boys' Official Online Street Team, conceived in conjunction with the band, Jive Records (the label that carries both the Boys and 'NSync) and their management company, the Firm, is open to anyone who wants to help boost sales of Black and Blue when it debuts on Nov. 21. So what will all of this prove? Not much, according to Unionville teen Nicole Dahdaly, who's a fan of both bands. "I don't think it should matter who has the record because the sales records just tabulate who has more fans, which I think is inaccurate. "The hard-core ('NSync) fans buy more than one copy of the CD, and I have a feeling that the hard-core Backstreet Boy fans will also buy multiples, especially if they're a part of the Street Team and want to help break the record," says the non-partisan 14-year-old. "Fans will do anything. So really what's the point?" Well, while the record label watches with glee, the "hard-core" fans do battle to keep their idols at the top of the album charts. If their preferred band is the one to set a new album sales record, it's seen as proof and bragging rights that the group they favour is truly the better of the two. Here's how this well-orchestrated hype campaign has played out so far: When 'Nsync's No Strings Attached was released last March 21 it sold 1.13 million copies the first day and 2.4 million copies by the end of the first week. That beat the previous record set by the Backstreet Boys' album, Millennium, which sold 1.4 million in it's first month. No matter what happens, the record company and the bands will benefit from increased CD sales, and the teenage fans who idolize these boy bands will all be a little lighter in the wallet. Billie Holiday, one half of the Mad Dog and Billie Morning Show on Kiss 92 FM in Toronto has experienced her share of the hype. After attending a national radio interview with the Backstreet Boys in New York, she came home to angry e-mails from 'NSync fans who accused her of favourtism. The radio personality, who declines to comment on which of the groups she prefers, believes these fans don't feel pressured to take sides. "They are totally loyal to who they like, and sometimes being loyal means making a choice. It's just like having a favourite sports team. You wouldn't be caught dead wearing another team's jersey." But isn't there enough room for both groups? "The two bands are very different." says Dahdaly. "There's no point comparing them any more, especially their music. If you've listened to both Millennium and No Strings Attached you can hear the different styles. I'm sure that Black and Blue will make them even farther apart." In the meantime, the guerrilla tactics will continue. But have all these fans gone too far? Angelica Romano, 18, from Connecticut doesn't think the fans have crossed the line. "It's nice that the fans are that loyal but I'm not buying another copy. I'm just cheap like that." Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: Edd Submitted by: Michael Pollitt Submitted by: Kevin Submitted by: Carol Clark Submitted by: Michael Pollitt Submitted by: Mark Comment on this item. Next Item: Sammy is a Backstreet Fan Prev Item: Spotlight: Backstreet's Back