Music journalist and pop historian Maria Sherman joins Nana Owusu on Baseline to unpack her book Larger Than Life: A History of Boy Bands from NKOTB to BTS.

Maria traces the deeper history of boy bands, from doo-wop and Motown vocal groups to the modern pop machine, alongside fandom traditions that long predate the term itself. She breaks down the familiar roles - the heartthrob, bad boy, cute one, and shy artist - and how these archetypes have been shaped by race, gender expectations, and the marketing of soft, non-threatening masculinity to young audiences.

With Western boy bands in decline and girl groups resurging globally, Maria reflects on how industry economics, fandom culture, and shifting pop tastes are reshaping the landscape - and why the boy band story has always been as much about the fans as the music.