Little Mix
Little Mix are an English girl group, formed on the British version of The X Factor, and the first group and only girl group to win the series.[1] The line up consisted of Leigh-Anne Pinnock, Jade Thirlwall, Perrie Edwards, and originally Jesy Nelson, before her departure from the group in 2020. Regarded as the show's most successful winning act, their success led to a girl band renaissance in the UK. Little Mix's vocals and harmonies have garnered critical acclaim and the band are ranked amongst one of the best vocal girl groups.[2][3] They were often dubbed by some media as the "biggest girl group in the world", before going on a hiatus in 2022, allowing its members to pursue solo projects.[4]
Little Mix rose to prominence with their debut single "Wings" (2012), achieving five number-one singles, and nineteen top ten enteries on the UK Singles Chart. Launched into mainstream recognition after the release of "Black Magic", it became the first song by girl group since 2008 to spend multiple weeks at number one. In 2023, it also became the first music video by a British girl group to surpass one billion streams on YouTube and was ranked by Billboard as one of the "Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[5] The group has broken various records during their career, including becoming the first girl band to spend over a 100 weeks inside the top ten of the UK Singles Charts, the first to accumulate six top five entries on the UK Albums Chart, and holds the record for the highest chart entry for a debut album by a UK girl group on the US Billboard 200.
The group achieved moderate success in America and retained a popular following in Europe, South America, Asia and other regions with Forbes, naming them as one of the most influential acts in Europe. Little Mix also made appearances on Debrett's list of the most influential people in the UK, the Forbes "30 Under 30", and the Sunday Times "Young Rich List". Their music has amassed over 15 billion streams worldwide, making them one of the most streamed girl groups on Spotify. Since their debut, their music has been cited as gay anthems, girl power anthems, and feminist anthems, while gaining popularity in South Korea, with Pitchfork describing them as "the girl group who has captured K-pop's spirit better than any other western girl group".[6][7] Little Mix have sold over 3 million concert tickets worldwide, and performed in over 20 countries across their tours, with the Confetti Tour, being their most critically acclaimed.[8][9][10]
In 2021, Little Mix became the first girl group in 41 years to win British Group at the Brit Awards. Their other accolades include a Madame Tussauds figure, two Brit Awards, seven MTV Europe Music Awards (the most wins for Best UK & Ireland Act), four Glamour Awards, a iHeartRadio Music Award, two Japanese Gold Disc Awards and three Guinness World Records. They have amassed a huge following of LGBTQ+ fans winning a British LGBT Award, an Attitude Award, and were named as Glamour's "Women of the Year and Game-changers in music". Often named as one of the greatest girl groups of all time, Little Mix have sold over an estimated 60 million records worldwide,[11][12] becoming the second best-selling British girl group in the UK, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, and one of Britain's biggest selling acts.[13]
History
2011–2012: Formation and The X Factor
In 2011, Edwards, Thirlwall, Pinnock and Nelson individually auditioned successfully as soloists for the eighth series of the UK version of The X Factor in front of judges Louis Walsh, Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Kelly Rowland,[14] but failed the first challenge of the "bootcamp" section.[15] They were allowed another chance to compete when they were placed in two separate ensembles by the judges during the "group bootcamp" stage, with Edwards and Nelson in four-member group Faux Pas and Thirlwall and Pinnock in three-member group Orion.[15][16] Both groups failed to make it through to the next stage. A later decision by the judges recalled two members from each group to form the four-piece group Rhythmix, sending them through to the "judges' houses" section.[17] Footage released in November 2022 revealed that Rowland alone was the judge who formed the group.[18]
Artistry
Little Mix are mainly a pop,[211][212] R&B,[213][214] and dance-pop[214] girl group, with influences from genres including tropical house, latin pop, and electronic music.[215] Their lyrics are often centred around feminism, gender equality, LGBT rights, body positivity, and sexism. All three members possess a three-octave soprano vocal range.[216]
Perrie Edwards cites Christina Aguilera, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Michael Jackson and Steve Perry from the American rock band Journey as her musical influences.[217] Jesy Nelson cites Spice Girls, TLC and Missy Elliott as her musical influences. Leigh Anne Pinnock cites Rihanna and Mariah Carey as her biggest influences. Jade Thirlwall references Diana Ross as her favourite singer. Little Mix cite Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, Destiny's Child, En Vogue, Rihanna and TLC as their musical influences.[217][218][219]
Public image and impact
Since winning the British version of The X Factor in 2011, Little Mix have gone onto to become one of the show's most successful acts.[220] During their decade together before the group announced their hiatus in 2021, they was often labelled as "the biggest girl group in the world"[221][222][223][224] with The Times citing them "as the most successful girl group since the Spice Girls,[225] and Variety describing them as the biggest girl group since the Spice Girls.[226] The group have been named as one of the greatest girl groups of all time, with Billboard naming them as one of the most successful girl groups of the 10s decade.[227][228] In 2022, Us Weekly magazine named them as one of the best girl groups of all time.[229]
Little Mix was named by Forbes as one of the most influential acts in Europe, referring to them as "this decade’s answer to Spice Girls".[230] In 2021, the group received their own wax figures at Madame Tussauds, with them commenting "From their award-winning music, to inspiring the next generation, Little Mix have been a massive part of the past decade and long may that continue!".[231] The group influence has also expanded overseas to Asian countries with their music being covered by numerous kpop idols, groups, and trainees, with Twice citing them as one of their influences.[232] In 2021, Pitchfork wrote that "Little Mix have captured K-pop’s spirit better than any other Western girl group".[233] The group are also known for their strong vocals and signature harmonies.[234]
Little Mix have been hailed as "the feminist girl band of our time".[235][236][237] The group have been noted for their involvement with the feminist, girl power, and women's rights movement, with some of their songs' including "Power", "Salute", and "Woman Like Me" being regarded as either girl power or feminist anthems.[238][239][240] Their music has often been the subject of numerous topics including feminism, bullying, gender equality, female empowerment, body positivity, and sexism.[238][241][242][243][244] In 2021, they was the first girl group to win Best British Group at the Brit Awards 2021, 41 years since it was first introduced and called out the music industry for its white male dominance, misogyny, sexism and lack of diversity during their acceptance speech.[245]
Little Mix have amassed a huge following of LGBTQ fans and are cited as LGBTQ+ allies.[246][247] Writing for Gay Times, Jack Rowe wrote "They’ve marched in Pride parades, had LGBTQ+ representation in their music videos, and are also vocal supporters of our community. Their concerts offers a safe space to LGBTQ+ people to be who they are without fear of judgement".[248][249] At the Attitude Awards ceremony, in 2018, the group were awarded for using their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and in 2019, was a recipient of a British LGBT Award.[250][251] Their 2016 single "Secret Love Song" is also regarded as a gay anthem, and is credited to helping people come to terms with their own sexuality and feelings.[252][253] In 2021, Glamour honoured them as Women of the Year Gamechangers in Music.[224]
Little Mix are listed one of the most influential people in the UK after appearing on Debrett's list of the most influential people in the UK, and the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2018.[254] The group have appeared on the Sunday Times "Young Rich List" for five consecutive years from 2017 to 2022 with a estimated net worth of 60 million.[255] They were named by DIY as one of the most defining pop groups of our generation.[256] Little Mix have become one Britain's biggest selling acts and one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, with estimated sales of over 75 million records worldwide.[257]
Other ventures
Little Mix Uncancelled
After Little Mix's 2020 summer tour was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on 30 July 2020, the group announced on their social media that they would be performing a virtual concert, titled Little Mix Uncancelled (stylised as 'Little Mix UNCancelled').[144] On 21 August 2020, the group performed the concert at Knebworth House, where they had also filmed their "Woman Like Me" music video in 2018.[258] The concert showcased the live premiere of "Break Up Song" and "Holiday". It also has two exclusive performances for Compare The Market account holders.[259] Little Mix Uncancelled was nominated at the 2020 MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Virtual Live, a special category created as a result of the pandemic.[260]