Can A Girl Group Ever Last?

Who would have though after reaching such career heights as setting the record of being the only female group in Billboard history to have their first two albums debut at number 1, two Top 10 singles, and selling out tours, Bad Boy’s Danity Kane wouldn’t be able to avoid disbanding. Created by MTV and Diddy to search for an international superstar female group, the new installment of Making The Band 3 introduced us to many girls vying for the chance to be part of the group in 2004.

After seasons of auditions and broken dreams, Diddy finally picked five girls to fill the part; Shannon Bex, Aundrea Fimbers, Aubrey O’Day, Dawn Richard, and Wanita “D. Woods” Woodgette. Making The Band viewers easily fell in love with the chosen members through the course of the show and watched them achieve unthought-of success, most television-created bands wouldn’t achieve. Danity Kane’s debut album, Danity Kane, was released in 2006 along with the R&B influenced Top 10 Hot 100 single “Show Stopper.” When it came for the groups second album, in 2008 they released Welcome To The Dollhouse, and earned another Top 10 single with the Dance Pop, club ready “Damaged.”

Things on the outside, as always with girl groups, seemed great; success, fame, and dreams being lived out for the whole world to see. After various things were reported about Danity Kane (involving speculated solo deals, joining other groups, members leaving), in a later season of the show, Diddy took it upon himself to fire two members, Aubrey and D. Woods. Trying to continue the group as a threesome, surprisingly Shannon wasn’t on board for a DK3. Leaving only Aundrea and Dawn to be featured in the current season of Making The Band 4 which just ended; By Diddy releasing Aundrea out of her contract as well as the other three members; keeping only Dawn on the Bad Boy roster.

This brings up the question; will there ever be a girl group who lasts without a lineup change or member going solo? It seems like all of the most popular groups experience line up changes or disbandment. From The Supremes you had Diana Ross who went on to receive solo success. TLC, owned the 90s but came to a halt after Left Eye passed away. In Destiny’s Child you had Beyonce head the group perfectly, to create the perfect solo career. Other instances of girl groups losing members or breaking up include SWV, En Vogue, Spice Girls, Blaque, Dream, and 3LW. It almost appears to be fact, that girl groups successful or not, just don’t last! There are just certain things in groups that cannot be overlooked by members, and this usually results in a party wanting to go solo or being unhappy with how they’re treated.

It’s clear that groups such as Danity Kane create successful careers collectively; and for some members successful solo careers as well. The only thing left to wonder when it comes to your favorite girl groups is, how long will they really last and which member(s) will be going solo in the near future.