U.K. vocal group the Wanted becomes the first boy band to rule Billboard’s Pop Songs chart with a debut single since Hanson spent eight weeks at No. 1 with “MMMBop” in 1997, as “Glad You Came” (Island Def Jam) rises 2-1.
The Wanted is the first boy band to lead the Nielsen BDS-based radio airplay list since O-Town topped the tally for four weeks in 2001 with “All or Nothing.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the two signature boy bands of the Nielsen era – Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync – each failed to reach the Pop Songs summit so quickly. Backstreet Boys needed seven chart visits to reign until “I Want It That Way” rose to No. 1 in 1999. “Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely” returned the group to the top spot in February 2000.
‘N Sync also didn’t reach No. 1 until its seventh chart entry, “Bye Bye Bye,” spent 10 frames in charge in 2000. “It’s Gonna Be Me” followed with a five-week command.