Every millennial can and will fondly recall a favorite boy band from their youth. The ’90s kicked it off with the Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees and NSYNC topping charts constantly (in 2001, Rolling Stone even dubbed NSYNC to be “the biggest band in the world.”). But what, exactly, propelled these pop groups to fame after a decade of new wave and rock? As it turns out, boy bands happened upon the golden combination—tenor melodies, semi-synchronized ensembles, and boyish charisma—and America just cannot get enough.

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Following the ’90s rush, multi-talented TV stars, like Disney’s Jonas Brothers and Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, kept the United States satisfied, but then things slowed down in the global boy band market. According to Telegraph, Britain was in dire need of a “band for teenage girls to throw their knickers at” by 2010. Thus, in the seventh season of the English television show “The X Factor,” Simon Cowell decided to throw together five attractive lads, forming what would quickly become an international sensation—One Direction. The group would go on to sell a total of 7.6 million albums in the United States alone before their tragic “break” in March 2016.

The world took its sweet time to grieve, protest and recover. But ever since the split, America has been crawling with teenage boys vying for their chance at the spotlight. And it isn’t just superstar hopefuls who feel that there is a role to be filled—fans still ache for their loss and producers recognize this market opportunity. Simon Cowell pounced; within months of the split, he had already introduced a new group, called PRETTYMUCH, to the stage. (They were clearly devoured by hungry markets as their first single, “Would You Mind,” racked up over 4,000,000 hits on Spotify within a month.) Television network ABC was close behind Cowell, releasing a new TV show that would eventually produce a boy band of five, complete with a record deal and national tour. The appropriately named “Boy Band” program features ’90s icons Timbaland, Emma Bunton (Baby Spice) and, in full-circle, Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys.

It is clear why bands that are staffed solely by young men are popular among the female demographic. What requires more invasive investigation is why these boy bands have, and have had, so much clout in society. Upon analysis, the rise and maintenance of boy bands can be attributed mainly to intense exposure. In 2011, 41 percent of American 13-15 year olds, 49 percent of 16-20 year olds and 46 percent of 21-24 year olds streamed music online, numbers that have surely grown in recent years. Who did 13-year-old listeners stream the most that year? One Direction. In fact, of the 20 top streamed artists reported, 18 associate themselves to some extent with the pop movement. Most boy bands also produce pop content, making their music inherently attractive to a large percentage of young Americans. (Boyz II Men, a famed R&B group of the ’90s, serves as a counterexample. Apparently, the allure of musically adept males can transcend genre.) Such prolific streaming has played a large role in these bands’ seemingly instant success. It no longer requires a trip to the CD section of Barnes & Noble to produce a fan; a few clicks, and they’re hooked. You can explore songs to your heart’s content, and in that way, Spotify and similar services have brought the “binge watching” phenomenon to music.

Because millennials are active in the music market and make up a reported 72 percent of Spotify listeners, paying close attention to their preferences (in this case boy bands like One Direction) is essential to the music world. This explains moves by high-level corporations like ABC and talent giants like Cowell—they’re simply in the race to please consumers. Even so, recent years have seen the exclusion of the professional music industry. Many bands today gain fame through the Internet (used daily by 92 percent of teens aged 13-17) and social media (used by 86 percent of 18-29 year olds). These tools also help introduce fans to other groups, expand fan bases and generate hype with lightning speed.

This excitement can be infectious, and it’s no longer just teenage girls in the mix. Older age groups are now contributing to the boy band movement, perhaps due to the continued success of these musicians. In fact, 46 percent of One Direction’s polled fans were over the age of 35. Boy bands originating in the ’90s lasted for an average of eight years each (as did the JoBros) while 1D spent six years together before dramatically pursuing solo careers. As a result, some fans grew up completely immersed in the music and culture of a particular boy band, and these fans persist throughout time as they pass certain age boundaries. Even after the heyday of their fandom, fans can still be attached to the idea of young men melodically romping around onstage, as exhibited by the plethora of middle-aged Directioners.

The United States is an exceedingly musically diverse nation, but one staple in our music culture is the ever charming, increasingly accessible boy band. Regardless of choreography, style, nationality and sometimes even musical ability, these bands will always hold a special place in America’s heart. Your move, boys.