ABSTRACT
A common objection to contemporary boy bands is the openness of their manufacture. This chapter considers how boy bands are assembled and whether recruitment strategies differ to those employed elsewhere within the music industry. It illustrates how the increasingly visual medium of mainstream pop responds to the growth of downloading and unpredictable record sales by attempting to discern public opinion in advance via reality television contests. The important role of pop Svengalis and their historical role in determining the fortunes of boy bands is also considered.
