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Most Popular Girl Bands of All Time

Most Popular Girl Bands of All Time

Throughout the decades, superstar female performers have created iconic music and fought hard to carve out their niche in the male-dominated music scene. Further, many have used their music to empower other women. Legendary female groups have been trailblazers both musically and beyond, opening doors and inspiring generations to come.

To identify the top 35 girl bands of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed a variety of internet sources to construct a list of as many popular all-female groups as possible. We then referred to the music analytics site Chartmetric to find each one’s cross platform performance score (CPP), a measure based on views, subscribers, fans, streams, and other metrics on multiple social media and streaming platforms. Information on Spotify followers and Pandora lifetime streams are also from Chartmetric.

The bands that have made the top 35 range dramatically in genre and span the decades. Many have withstood the test of time and are still popular years after releasing their biggest hits. They come not only from the U.S. but from the UK, Russia, Korea, and Japan.

While many of the biggest solo stars of today are women (among those currently occupying the upper reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 are Olivia Rodrigo, Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Megan Thee Stallion), female bands continue to thrive. (See how many women are among this summer’s 25 hottest music stars.)

Some of the most celebrated music across the decades has been made by bands on this list. These groups represent a variety of genres, but are especially focused in pop, R&B and rock. Check out the best-selling pop albums of all time.

Source: yankee-in-texas / Flickr

35. Kittie
> CPP overall artist ranking: #31,962 highest
> Spotify followers: 241,186 — #24 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 15.9 million — #24 highest out of 132 girl bands

Kittie is a pioneering all-female metal band from Canada, anchored by sisters Mercedes and Morgan Lander, with a revolving cast of bandmates. They have what is described by Allmusic “a gothic nu-metal sound”

Source: Sabrina Lugo / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported / Wikipedia

34. The Donnas
> CPP artist ranking: #29,716 highest
> Spotify followers: 104,666 — #33 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 16 million — #22 highest out of 132 girl bands

The Donnas combined punk, metal and classic rock to create fun and exciting songs. They signed a record deal straight out of high school and stayed active from the early 1990s until 2012.

Source: septikemi / Flickr

33. Girlschool
> CPP artist ranking: #29,078 highest
> Spotify followers: 55,855 — #45 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 976,030 — #55 highest out of 132 girl bands

One of the first all-female bands in the hard rock scene, Girlschool was formed in London in the late 1970s and pumped out hits into the ’80s and beyond. They are one of the longest-running all-female groups and are still active today.

Source: johnharveypegg / Flickr

32. Pussy Riot
> CPP artist ranking: #22,630 highest
> Spotify followers: 71,915 — #42 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 105,452 — #81 highest out of 132 girl bands

Pussy Riot is a feminist performance art collective that also makes music. They earned international attention (and eventually jail time) in 2012 when they performed a provocative song in a Moscow cathedral to criticize the Orthodox church’s support for Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Source: Emma McIntyre / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

31. Savages
> CPP artist ranking: #22,546 highest
> Spotify followers: 112,411 — #32 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 702,539 — #61 highest out of 132 girl bands

The all-female post-punk band, founded in London, is known for its throwback sound and exciting live shows. Their song “Adore” was used on the popular British TV series “Peaky Blinders.”

Source: nd3000 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

30. Zelda
> CPP artist ranking: #21,675 highest
> Spotify followers: 3,032 — #94 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 1,741 — #99 highest out of 132 girl bands

Active in the ’80s and ’90s, Zelda was one of Japan’s first all-female bands. They combine a range of genres including new wave, punk, and pop to create a unique sound.

Source: Joecuba / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International / Wikipedia

29. L7
> CPP artist ranking: #15,039 highest
> Spotify followers: 206,752 — #27 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 6.8 million — #31 highest out of 132 girl bands

L7’s music has been called punk, metal, grunge, and alternative rock. Known for their live performances, the band was founded in Los Angeles in 1985 but is often associated with the early ’90s music scene in Seattle.

Source: Raph_PH / Wikimedia Commons

28. Bikini Kill
> CPP artist ranking: #14,806 highest
> Spotify followers: 281,373 — #22 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 10.6 million — #28 highest out of 132 girl bands

Bikini Kill is a feminist punk band that was most active in the ’90s. Besides making music themselves they actively encouraged more women to start their own bands.

Source: patsun / Flickr

27. Wonder Girls
> CPP artist ranking: #14,209 highest
> Spotify followers: 445,086 — #17 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 15.9 million — #23 highest out of 132 girl bands

K-Pop group Wonder Girls was introduced to the world in 2006 through an MTV Korea show called “MTV Wonder Girls.” They produced a range of music, drawing heavily from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.

Source: alan-light / Flickr

26. Exposé
> CPP artist ranking: #13,849 highest
> Spotify followers: 185,238 — #29 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 123.9 million — #14 highest out of 132 girl bands

Exposé is a Miami based, American-Latin vocal group. They have had a shifting lineup over the years and are known for their ’80s and ’90s dance-club hits. The group took a hiatus from music in the ’90s but continues to tour today.

Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images

25. The Andrews Sisters
> CPP artist ranking: #13,047 highest
> Spotify followers: 150,620 — #31 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 82.2 million — #17 highest out of 132 girl bands

The most popular female vocal group of the first half of the 20th century, The Andrews Sisters produced a mountain of hits in their swing and boogie-woogie styles (“Rum and Coca-Cola” was one of their best known efforts). Their style was imitated often, and influenced many musicians throughout the decades.

Source: Michig / Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license / Wikipedia

24. Warpaint
> CPP artist ranking: #9,014 highest
> Spotify followers: 414,312 — #18 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 12.4 million — #26 highest out of 132 girl bands

Warpaint is a four-piece band that has created a unique combination of post punk, psychedelic rock, and dream pop. The group is known for its experimental sound and melding genres in unusual ways.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

23. The Shirelles
> CPP artist ranking: #8,224 highest
> Spotify followers: 209,142 — #26 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 342.1 million — #7 highest out of 132 girl bands

The Shirelles were a pioneering female group that blended a mix of rhythm and blues, doo-wop, and soul music. They were originally founded for a high school talent show and went on to produce a plethora of hits throughout the ’60s.

Source: Julian Finney / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

22. Girls Aloud
> CPP artist ranking: #7,863 highest
> Spotify followers: 399,962 — #19 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 10.7 million — #27 highest out of 132 girl bands

Created through the British television show “Popstars: The Rivals,” Girls Aloud produced numerous pop hits in the 2000s. They disbanded in 2013 after a career as one of the few highly successful reality TV groups.

Source: Neilson Barnard / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

21. Sleater-Kinney
> CPP artist ranking: #7,530 highest
> Spotify followers: 194,934 — #28 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 5.2 million — #33 highest out of 132 girl bands

Sleater-Kinney was born out of the riot grrrl movement in Olympia, Washington, in the 1990s. The band is known for its punk and indie rock sounds and feminist and left-leaning beliefs.

Source: Danielle Del Valle / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

20. The Runaways
> CPP artist ranking: #7,468 highest
> Spotify followers: 259,872 — #23 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 14.5 million — #25 highest out of 132 girl bands

The pioneering hard rock group was active in the late ’70s and responsible for some big hits. Their biggest song, “Cherry Bomb,” found new popularity after appearing in the movie “Guardians of the Galaxy.” During their heyday, the group found considerable success abroad, especially in Japan.

Source: Koki Nagahama / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

19. AKB48
> CPP artist ranking: #7,111 highest
> Spotify followers: 328,747 — #21 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 541,363 — #64 highest out of 132 girl bands

AKB48 is a Japanese idol band. Started in 2005, the group has its own theater in the Akihabara area of Tokyo and performs daily live shows. The unique entertainment model allows fans to meet and interact with the artists. The group is made up of 48 members, broken into different teams that perform at different times.

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

18. Wilson Phillips
> CPP artist ranking: #6,651 highest
> Spotify followers: 376,686 — #20 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 71.4 million — #19 highest out of 132 girl bands

The female trio creates pop and soft rock. Members Carnie and Wendy Wilson are the daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and Papas.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

17. The Go-Go’s
> CPP artist ranking: #4,901 highest
> Spotify followers: 484,808 — #16 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 192.7 million — #13 highest out of 132 girl bands

The all-female band was popular in the ’80s for its pop and new wave music. The group made light and fun music including several top hits and memorable songs like “Vacation.”

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16. Sugababes
> CPP artist ranking: #4,011 highest
> Spotify followers: 508,928 — #15 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 6.2 million — #32 highest out of 132 girl bands

The British pop trio produced several big hits in the early 2000s. All original members eventually left the group but were replaced over the years and the group continues to make music today.

Source: Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

15. Bananarama
> CPP artist ranking: #3,659 highest
> Spotify followers: 518,131 — #14 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 108.5 million — #16 highest out of 132 girl bands

Iconic ’80s dance and pop group Bananarama produced decade defining hits. Their music was extremely popular in dance clubs in the UK and beyond. After a long break, the group came back together in 2017 for a UK and North American tour.

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14. Girls’ Generation
> CPP artist ranking: #3,525 highest
> Spotify followers: 1.9 million — #7 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 62.7 million — #20 highest out of 132 girl bands

Originally a nine-member group, Girls’ Generation has produced K-Pop songs popular throughout Asia and beyond. The band re-released its self-titled album, originally recorded in Korean, in a Japanese-language version, to critical and popular success in Japan.

Source: Michael Loccisano / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

13. Tegan and Sara
> CPP artist ranking: #3,369 highest
> Spotify followers: 549,837 — #13 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 301.3 million — #8 highest out of 132 girl bands

Tegan and Sara are twin sisters Tegan Rain Quin and Sara Keirsten Quin. The Canadian indie pop duo released its first album in 1999 and remains active.

Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

12. En Vogue
> CPP artist ranking: #3,339 highest
> Spotify followers: 928,255 — #10 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 276.3 million — #10 highest out of 132 girl bands

En Vogue was originally an R&B quartet from Oakland, California. They released several genre-blending hits in the ’90s and ’00s. The group’s lineup has shifted over the years, and seen six different members.

Source: Chris McGrath / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

11. 2NE1
> CPP artist ranking: #2,577 highest
> Spotify followers: 1.9 million — #8 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 73.5 million — #18 highest out of 132 girl bands

2NE1 was a female K-pop group, active between 2009 and 2016. They are one of the best-selling girl groups of all-time and helped to revolutionize K-pop. 2NE1 stands for “New Evolution of 21st Century.”

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

10. The Ronettes
> CPP artist ranking: #2,256 highest
> Spotify followers: 173,789 — #30 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 579.6 million — #6 highest out of 132 girl bands

Inspired by doo-wop groups in the 1950s, the Ronettes produced music in the ’60s and (briefly) ’70s that melded a variety of genres. Their soulful but exciting songs found considerable success, especially their hit “Be My Baby,” produced by the legendary Phil Spector (who later married lead singer Ronnie Bennett).

Source: Keystone / Getty Images

9. The Supremes
> CPP artist ranking: #1,914 highest
> Spotify followers: 1.3 million — #9 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 3.89 billion — #1 highest out of 132 girl bands

Led by the legendary Diana Ross, The Supremes dominated the 1960s, rivaling The Beatles with their international success. They were the biggest Motown group in an age when Detroit was on top.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

8. The Pointer Sisters
> CPP artist ranking: #1,898 highest
> Spotify followers: 641,474 — #12 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 37.9 million — #21 highest out of 132 girl bands

Originally an R&B group of three sisters (eventually four) from Oakland, California, the Pointer Sisters blended genres. They created songs that ranged from pop to disco to jazz and even picked up a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance.

Source: Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

7. The Bangles
> CPP artist ranking: #1,779 highest
> Spotify followers: 891,108 — #11 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 264.9 million — #11 highest out of 132 girl bands

Formed in 1981 in Los Angeles, the group combines a mix of pop rock, new wave and other genres. They found major success with memorable and catchy songs like “Walk Like an Egyptian” and a Prince tune, “Manic Monday.”

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6. Spice Girls
> CPP artist ranking: #946 highest
> Spotify followers: 2.3 million — #6 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 242.9 million — #12 highest out of 132 girl bands

One of the most iconic pop groups of all time, the British superstars dominated the ’90s. With their unique monikers and dazzling style, the Spice Girls took the world by storm. They created massive dance-pop hits and infused them with independent and feminist messages.

Source: Peter Kramer / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

5. The Pussycat Dolls
> CPP artist ranking: #938 highest
> Spotify followers: 4.4 million — #4 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 720.9 million — #5 highest out of 132 girl bands

Promiscuous in music and name, the Pussycat Dolls — which began as a burlesque troupe in Los Angeles — created a string of hits that melded pop, hip-hop, and R&B.

Source: Scott Gries / Getty Images

4. TLC
> CPP artist ranking: #773 highest
> Spotify followers: 2.7 million — #5 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 1.66 billion — #3 highest out of 132 girl bands

Responsible for mega hits like “Waterfalls” and “No Scrubs”, TLC was formed as a trio in Atlanta in 1990. The group created a unique style that combined Hip-Hop, R&B and Pop.

Source: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

3. Fifth Harmony
> CPP artist ranking: #329 highest
> Spotify followers: 12.8 million — #1 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 1.47 billion — #4 highest out of 132 girl bands

Fifth Harmony found prominence after finishing third on the show “X Factor.” They signed to Simon Cowell’s label and originally had five members until Camila Cabello went solo. Based in Miami, Fifth Harmony has created some big pop songs.

Source: Frank Micelotta / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

2. Destiny’s Child
> CPP artist ranking: #258 highest
> Spotify followers: 4.9 million — #3 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 2.44 billion — #2 highest out of 132 girl bands

Destiny’s Child recorded some gigantic hits in their day and are still massively popular 20 years later. The group had several members come and go, but its most popular iteration was Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. Beyoncé and Rowland both went on to create chart-topping solo hits and Williams shifted into a successful gospel music career.

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1. Little Mix
> CPP artist ranking: #120 highest
> Spotify followers: 9.2 million — #2 highest out of 132 girl bands
> Pandora lifetime streams: 285.7 million — #9 highest out of 132 girl bands

The all-female British group was the first to win the UK’s “X Factor” and sign with Simon Cowell’s record label. Little Mix combines R&B, pop, and dance music into exciting tunes while advocating for female empowerment, body positivity, and LGBTQ rights.

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