Backstreet Boys

Band · The Best-Selling Boy Band of All Time

Photo: Toglenn · CC BY-SA 4.0
Active 1993-present
Origin Orlando, Florida
Albums 9
Tracks 110
Most frequent collaborator Martin Karl Sandberg · 25 tracks
Genres PopPop RockR&BDance-PopTeen Pop
Co-Performer
25%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 27 of 110 tracks

Did the Backstreet Boys write their own songs?

Mostly no. The Backstreet Boys are a vocal group, and only about a quarter of the tracks across their albums carry a member writing credit. Their biggest hits, including 'I Want It That Way,' 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back),' and 'As Long as You Love Me,' were written for them by outside professionals, above all Max Martin and Sweden's Cheiron Studios team. Members like Brian Littrell did co-write some later material, such as 'Larger Than Life.'

By the Numbers

9
Studio Albums
110
Tracks Credited
25%
Self-Written
150M+
Records Sold
33
Years Active
196
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 27 / 110 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 110 tracks: how many Backstreet Boys wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Backstreet Boys has a writing credit25%
3%
22%
75%
Sole author3tracks3%
Co-written24tracks22%
Outside writers83tracks75%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Backstreet Boys's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 110 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)25%
Composer (music)25%
Producer1%
Performer100%

Member Credit Breakdown share of tracks each member is credited on

Percentage of all 110 tracks, across every album, where each member holds a credit - split by role.

MemberPeriodLyricsMusicProductionPerformance
AJ McLean 1993-present
10%
10%
0%
100%
Howie Dorough 1993-present
15%
15%
0%
100%
Nick Carter 1993-present
12%
12%
0%
100%
Kevin Richardson 1993-2006, 2012-present
7%
7%
0%
78%
Brian Littrell 1993-present
12%
12%
1%
100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Backstreet Boys's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 25%
0%
9%
33%
46%
8%
36%
18%
67%
0%
1996Backstreet Boys
1997Backstreet's Back
1999Millennium
2000Black & Blue
2005Never Gone
2007Unbreakable
2009This Is Us
2013In a World Like This
2019DNA
Early · 14% written
Mid · 31% written
Late · 29% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

14%
1990s
Backstreet Boys, Backstreet's Back +1 more
28%
2000s
Black & Blue, Never Gone +2 more
33%
2010s
In a World Like This, DNA

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Backstreet Boys sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Backstreet Boys
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Aaliyah0%
EXO8%
NSYNC41%
Kelly Rowland53%
Usher74%
Pink85%
Justin Bieber93%
25%Backstreet Boys
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

I'll Never Break Your Heart
Backstreet Boys
Written by Albert Manno, Eugene Wilde
Outside writers
We've Got It Goin' On
Backstreet Boys
Written by Dag Krister Volle, Martin Karl Sandberg, Herbert Crichlow
Outside writers
All I Have to Give
Backstreet's Back
Written by Full Force
Outside writers
Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
Backstreet's Back
Written by Dag Krister Volle, Martin Karl Sandberg
Outside writers
I Want It That Way
Millennium
Written by Andreas Carlsson, Martin Karl Sandberg
Outside writers
Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely
Millennium
Written by Herbert Crichlow, Martin Karl Sandberg
Outside writers
Larger Than Life
Millennium
Written by Brian Littrell, Martin Karl Sandberg, Kristian Lundin
Co-wrote
The One
Millennium
Written by Martin Karl Sandberg, Brian Littrell
Co-wrote
Shape of My Heart
Black & Blue
Written by Martin Karl Sandberg, Rami Yacoub, Lisa Miskovsky
Outside writers
More Than That
Black & Blue
Written by Anders Franciz, Claes LePont, Adam Anders
Outside writers
The Call
Black & Blue
Written by Martin Karl Sandberg, Rami Yacoub
Outside writers
Incomplete
Never Gone
Written by Dan Muckala, Jess Cates, Lindy Robbins
Outside writers
Inconsolable
Unbreakable
Written by Jess Cates, Emanuel Kiriakou, Lindy Robbins
Outside writers
Don't Go Breaking My Heart
DNA
Written by Stuart Crichton, Jamie Hartman, Stephen Wrabel
Outside writers

Discography 9 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Backstreet Boys110 tracks
25Martin Karl Sandberg, 25 tracks 23Max Martin, 23 tracks TA13Timmy Allen, 13 tracks DM11Dan Muckala, 11 tracks KL9Kristian Lundin, 9 tracks RY9Rami Yacoub, 9 tracks LR8Lindy Robbins, 8 tracks DP6Denniz Pop, 6 tracks JC6Jess Cates, 6 tracks DK5Dag Krister Volle, 5 tracks HC5Herbert Crichlow, 5 tracks GB5Gary Baker, 5 tracks BM5Billy Mann, 5 tracks SC5Stuart Crichton, 5 tracks VR4Veit Renn, 4 tracks LC4Larry Campbell, 4 tracks AC4Andreas Carlsson, 4 tracks MT4Morgan Taylor Reid, 4 tracks MT4Martin Terefe, 4 tracks WP3Wayne Perry, 3 tracks JS3Jolyon Skinner, 3 tracks M3Mookie, 3 tracks RJ3Robert John Lange, 3 tracks AF3Andrew Fromm, 3 tracks JS3John Shanks, 3 tracks MG3Mika Guillory, 3 tracks ML2Mr. Lee, 2 tracks EF2Eric Foster White, 2 tracks AF2Anders Franciz, 2 tracks CL2Claes LePont, 2 tracks PM2Per Magnusson, 2 tracks DK2David Kreuger, 2 tracks AA2Adam Anders, 2 tracks DL2Dr. Luke, 2 tracks JF2John Fields, 2 tracks EK2Emanuel Kiriakou, 2 tracks MA2Mitch Allan, 2 tracks TV2Troy Verges, 2 tracks R2RedOne, 2 tracks CS2Carsten Schack, 2 tracks KK2Kenneth Karlin, 2 tracks CK2Claude Kelly, 2 tracks S&2Soulshock & Karlin, 2 tracks JO2Jordan Omley, 2 tracks RT2Ryan Tedder, 2 tracks on OneRepublic's page BS2Bryan Shackle, 2 tracks JB2James Bryan, 2 tracks SW2Stephen Wrabel, 2 tracks RO2Ryan Ogren, 2 tracks NB2Nicholas Bailey, 2 tracks KH2Kuk Harrell, 2 tracks JN2James Newman, 2 tracks BA1Bülent Aris, 1 track TC1Toni Cottura, 1 track AM1Albert Manno, 1 track EW1Eugene Wilde, 1 track TG1Tim Grant, 1 track MG1Michael Gray, 1 track KF1Kay Fingers, 1 track NM1Nneka Morton, 1 track DM1Dave McPherson, 1 track JS1Jeff Sledge, 1 track KG1Kenyatta Galbreth, 1 track CT1C.J. Trevett, 1 track KG1Kenny Gamble, 1 track LH1Leon Huff, 1 track MM1Mad Mike, 1 track FF1Full Force, 1 track FS1Fitzgerald Scott, 1 track AC1Attrell Cordes, 1 track GK1Gary Kemp, 1 track PD1P.M. Dawn, 1 track JB1Jason Blume, 1 track JA1Jerry Allan Williams, 1 track SL1Stephen Lipson, 1 track SL1Sandy Linzer, 1 track MG1Mattias Gustafsson, 1 track JT1Joe Thomas, 1 track EN1Edwin Nicholas, 1 track TS1Thomas Smith, 1 track LM1Lisa Miskovsky, 1 track RJ1Rodney Jerkins, 1 track DH1Dan Hill, 1 track B1Babyface, 1 track JS1Jake Schulze, 1 track BK1Brian Kierulf, 1 track JS1Josh Schwartz, 1 track CM1Calum MacColl, 1 track CF1Chris Farren, 1 track BD1Blair Daly, 1 track JO1John Ondrasik, 1 track GW1Gregg Wattenberg, 1 track RB1Rasmus Bähncke, 1 track RT1René Tromborg, 1 track S1Supa'Flyas, 1 track WG1Wally Gagel, 1 track SP1Shelly Peiken, 1 track AB1Alexander Barry, 1 track PW1Paul Wiltshire, 1 track VW1Victoria Wu, 1 track TL1Tom Leonard, 1 track RL1Robin Lerner, 1 track AT1Alexandra Talomaa, 1 track CN1Christian Nilsson, 1 track JB1Johan Brorson, 1 track SD1Steve Diamond, 1 track MT1Mark Taylor, 1 track B1Bey, 1 track KD1Kara DioGuardi, 1 track H1Hodges, 1 track J1James, 1 track on Cortis's page RM1Ryan Mayo, 1 track L1Lindsey, 1 track TS1Tara Sheyne, 1 track JS1Jody Sutton, 1 track M1Mozella, 1 track JC1JC Chasez, 1 track on NSYNC's page F1Feemster, 1 track N1Neff-U, 1 track LP1Laura Pergolizzi, 1 track NH1Nikki Hassman, 1 track NK1Nadir Khayat, 1 track BH1Bilal Hajji, 1 track NJ1Novel Jannusi, 1 track AJ1AJ Jannusi, 1 track KH1Kinnda Hamid, 1 track KJ1Karl Johan Schuster, 1 track TA1Tiffany Amber, 1 track S1Shellback, 1 track CH1Charles Hinshaw Jr., 1 track MM1Michael Mani, 1 track JS1James Scheffer, 1 track FR1Frank Romano, 1 track JJ1Jim Jonsin, 1 track PB1Printz Board, 1 track MJ1Mario James, 1 track MB1Michael Busbee, 1 track BK1Brian Kennedy, 1 track AJ1Alex James, 1 track AC1Antwoine Collins, 1 track T1T-Pain, 1 track DS1Daen Simmons, 1 track MP1Mr. Pyro, 1 track JS1Jordan Suecof, 1 track TM1Tiyon Mack, 1 track CR1Chad Roper, 1 track DC1Darhyl Camper, 1 track TJ1Troy Johnson, 1 track JH1Josh Hoge, 1 track SK1Savan Kotecha, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 194. TA Timmy Allen · DM Dan Muckala · KL Kristian Lundin · RY Rami Yacoub

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

The Backstreet Boys' authorship score of roughly 5-10% is among the lowest for any major pop act. Across eight albums, their songwriting credits are sporadic and appear mostly on deeper cuts; the Max Martin/Kristian Lundin/Andreas Carlsson production machine drove nearly every hit, making the Boys almost entirely interpreters rather than composers.

Quick Facts

  • Millennium1999 album sold 1.13 million US copies in its first week, the best-selling album of 1999
  • GrammysNine nominations, no wins
  • Hit factoryBiggest hits written at Sweden's Cheiron Studios (Max Martin, Denniz Pop)
  • StatusBest-selling boy band of all time
  • LineupAJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell

Creative Fingerprint

A vocal group, not a writers' room: the Backstreet Boys sang songs written for them by Max Martin and Sweden's Cheiron hit factory, with members like Brian Littrell picking up co-writes only on later albums.

The Story

The Backstreet Boys are an American vocal group formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993, consisting of AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell. They became the best-selling boy band of all time, with global sales exceeding 100 million records, built on the Scandinavian pop factory of Max Martin, Denniz Pop, Kristian Lundin, and Andreas Carlsson. Kevin Richardson departed from 2006 to 2012 before rejoining. Almost all of their biggest hits were written entirely by professional outside songwriters.

Awards & Recognition

Best-selling boy band of all time, with over 150 million records sold worldwide
Nine Grammy Award nominations
Millennium (1999) was the best-selling album of 1999 in the U.S. and is certified 13 times platinum
Millennium sold 1,134,000 copies in its first week, a record at the time

Frequently Asked Questions Backstreet Boys

Did the Backstreet Boys write their own songs?
Mostly no. The Backstreet Boys are a vocal group, and only about a quarter of the tracks across their albums carry a member writing credit. Their biggest hits, including 'I Want It That Way,' 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back),' and 'As Long as You Love Me,' were written for them by outside professionals, above all Max Martin and Sweden's Cheiron Studios team. Members like Brian Littrell did co-write some later material, such as 'Larger Than Life.'
Who wrote 'I Want It That Way'?
'I Want It That Way' (1999) was written by Max Martin, credited under his real name Martin Karl Sandberg, and Andreas Carlsson, not by the Backstreet Boys. It is often called one of the greatest pop songs ever recorded.
Who wrote the Backstreet Boys' early hits?
The Swedish production team at Cheiron Studios, led by Denniz Pop and Max Martin, wrote and produced early hits like 'We've Got It Goin' On' and 'Everybody (Backstreet's Back).' That partnership defined the group's sound.
Did the Backstreet Boys ever co-write their songs?
Yes, on later albums. Brian Littrell co-wrote 'Larger Than Life' (1999), and members contributed more writing on albums like This Is Us and DNA, though outside writers still handled most of their singles.
How many records have the Backstreet Boys sold?
Over 150 million worldwide, making them the best-selling boy band of all time.
How many albums have the Backstreet Boys released?
This catalogue covers 9 of their studio albums, from Backstreet Boys (1996) to DNA (2019).
Have the Backstreet Boys won a Grammy?
No. They have received nine Grammy nominations over their career but have not won.
What is the Backstreet Boys' best-selling album?
Millennium (1999). It sold more than 1.1 million copies in its first US week, was the best-selling album of 1999, and has been certified 13 times platinum.
Who wrote 'Shape of My Heart'?
'Shape of My Heart' (2000) was written by Max Martin, Rami Yacoub, and Lisa Miskovsky, part of the group's long run of Swedish-written singles.
Are the Backstreet Boys still together?
Yes. All five original members, AJ McLean, Howie Dorough, Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell, remain active, having released DNA in 2019 and continued to tour and record.

Sources

Wikipedia: Backstreet Boys