In the past year, what seemed to be a resurgence of girl groups proved to be a fluke. Indeed, the fall of acts such as Danity Kane, GRL, and Neon Jungle warrants the question of whether girl groups can make it past the catty quarrels and management dilemmas.
With the likes of pop surveyors Fifth Harmony and Little Mix currently holding the torch, it begs the question of whether the industry would be welcoming to another urban girl group. Since Destiny’s Child‘s exit in 2005, there has not been a urban girl collective that has been able to maintain relevancy or major success in the industry. There have been groups that attempted to state their claim, such as Cherish, RichGirl, and even Girlicious. Despite their best efforts, they were unable to cement their status as established artists.
Taking influence from previous success stories (such as TLC, Destiny’s Child, En Vogue and the like) we have compiled a few strategic moves to make future urban girl groups “work.”
Check them out below…
Originality
A determining factor that sets the top urban girl groups apart. TLC probably being the catalyst, brought an signature flavor, or swagger if you will, that previous acts had not been able to muster.
Be Cohesive / Rehearse Relentlessly
Being in a group, can prove to be much more difficult than being a solo artist. You have to ensure the group looks good as a whole, instead of just yourself. If one person is subpar, the group is subpar.
Harmonies
It is almost an unwritten rule that girl groups are expected to sing and dance, but above all the harmonies are what make the group. How a group’s vocals merge together into one is the foundation of a group’s dynamic.
And finally…
As cliché as it may sound…
Stay True to Yourself, And Your Sound
An issue that numerous artists face is conforming to current music trends instead of honing in on their own unique sound. This is often the case for R&B artists who tire of feeling as though “true R&B” does not sell. Just ask Tank. While we cannot ignore the fact that R&B does not bring in the buyers like Pop or Country music, there are still success among the genre. Tyrese and Jill Scott both received #1 albums this year, as well as Tamia scoring her highest charting album ever with ‘Love Life’ in June. This is not to box an artist into the confines of one genre, but to emphasize the fact that it is not crucial to jump ship just to get notoriety.
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We believe there is still a place in todays market for an Urban girl group to reign supreme. Check out these classic divas in action, below: