15 years ago, the group's second CD sold 2.4 million copies in its first week of release – a record that has yet to be topped.
IN APRIL 2000, 'N SYNC WAS ON TOP of the world. The members of the group – Lance Bass, then 20; J.C. Chasez, 23; Joey Fatone, 23; Chris Kirkpatrick, 28; and future prince of pop Justin Timberlake, 19 – were steadily building in popularity since their first hit, "I Want You Back," debuted on the Pop Songs chart in January 1998.
But, things were about to get much bigger. RCA Records (through a production deal with Louis "Lou" Pearlman's Trans Continental Group) released the boy band's self-titled debut in March 1998, and although it debuted at a rather lowly No. 82 on the Billboard 200, it hit the top 10 four months later and remained there until the following March. A 1998 Christmas album also peaked in the top 10.