# Popstars

Popstars is an international reality television franchise aimed to find new singing talent. Serving as a precursor to the Idol franchise, Popstars first began in New Zealand in 1999 when producer Jonathan Dowling formed the girl group TrueBliss. Despite all shows in the Popstars franchise having been off air in recent years, it remains one of the most successful TV show formats of all time with the format being sold to more than 50 countries and producing groups such as Girls Aloud that had success on the UK charts for the next ten years after winning. The show was the inspiration for Simon Fuller's Idol franchise.

## History

The series originated in New Zealand, broadcast on TV2 in 1999, where producer Jonathan Dowling formed the five member all-girl group TrueBliss. Dowling then licensed the concept to production company Screentime in Australia, who then on sold it to TresorTV in Germany before taking it worldwide. Despite all versions now being cancelled, Popstars remains very successful, with the format being sold to over 50 countries.
The show was the inspiration for Simon Fuller's Pop Idol franchise which would dominate reality TV, (along with Big Brother and Survivor) for the next few years.
Although Popstars started successfully in most countries during the early 2000s, the shows gradually began to fail and were dropped by many broadcasters due to poor ratings. The last country where Popstars was still popular and successful – besides other casting shows such as The X Factor and Got Talent, as well as Idol – was Germany. This is where ProSieben produced the ninth season in 2010 because of the show's massive success in the ratings, but in 2012, Popstars was finally cancelled due to the short success of the groups formed throughout the episodes. In 2007, the show returned to France on M6 for one season. A new version of Popstars started in 2008 in the Netherlands and ran for three seasons. Germany's version returned for an eleventh season in 2015, but would later get cancelled following poor ratings. In 2021, a revamped version of the original New Zealand series returned to TVNZ. The new series focuses on individual artists and songwriting development and does not involve putting together a pop group.

## Popstars around the world

Legend:  Franchise has ceased production   Franchise awaiting debut or renewal
| Country | Local title | Network | Seasons, series, winners, and groups formed | Other notable artists |
| Argentina | Popstars: Tu Show Está Por Empezar [es] | Azul TV (1) Telefe (2) | Season 1, 2001: Bandana Season 2, 2002: Mambrú | |
| Australia | Popstars | Seven Network | Season 1, 2000: Bardot Season 2, 2001: Scandal'us Season 3, 2002: Scott Cain | |
| Australia | Popstars Live | Seven Network | Season 1, 2004: Kayne Taylor | Miranda Murphy |
| Austria | Popstars: Mission Österreich | Puls 4 Website | Season 1, 2011: Kilmokit [de] | Season 1, 2011: BFF [de] |
| Belgium | Pop Stars | VT4 | Season 1, 2001: Vanda Vanda | |
| Brazil | Popstars | SBT | Season 1 [pt], 2002: Rouge Season 2, 2003: Br'oZ | Season 1: Kênia Boaventura, Janaína Lima [pt], Maíra Charken, Marjorie Estiano and Quelynah [pt] Season 2: Vinícius "D'Black" Cardoso |
| Canada | Popstars (1) Popstars: Boy Meets Girl (2) Popstars: The One (3) | CTV (1) Global TV (2–3) | Season 1, 2001: Sugar Jones Season 2, 2002: Velvet Empire Season 3, 2003: Christa Borden | Julie Crochetière |
| Colombia | Popstars | Canal Caracol | Season 1, 2002: Escarcha | |
| Denmark | Popstars (1–3, 5) Popstars Showtime! (4) | TV 2 (1–4) Kanal 5 (5) | Season 1, 2001: EyeQ Season 2, 2002: Jon Nørgaard Season 3, 2003: Fu:el Season 4, 2004: Maria Lucia Season 5, 2014: Linnea | Season 2: Julie Berthelsen and Christine Milton Season 3: Emil Thorup |
| Ecuador | Popstars | Teleamazonas | Season 1, 2003: Kiruba Season 2, 2004: La Coba | |
| Finland | Popstars [fi] | MTV3 | Season 1, 2002: Gimmel, Paula Vesala, Mira Luoti Season 2, 2004: INDX | Season 1: Jenni Vartiainen Season 2: Jane |
| France | Popstars (1–2, 4–) Popstars – le duel (3) | M6 (1–4) D8 (5) Amazon Prime Video (6-) | Season 1, 2001: L5 Season 2, 2002: Whatfor Season 3, 2003: Linkup Season 4, 2007: Sheryfa Luna Season 5, 2013: The Mess Season 6, 2024: Upcoming Season | Season 1: Louisy Joseph Season 2: Chimène Badi Season 3: Diadems and M. Pokora Season 4: Léa Castel, Slimane Season 5: Sindy Auvity |
| Germany | Popstars | RTL II (1–2, 11) ProSieben (3–10) | Season 1, 2000–01: No Angels Season 2, 2001: Bro'Sis Season 3, 2003: Overground Season 4, 2004: Nu Pagadi Season 5, 2006: Monrose Season 6, 2007: Room 2012 Season 7, 2008: Queensberry Season 8, 2009: Some & Any Season 9, 2010: LaViVe Season 10, 2012: Melouria [de] Season 11, 2015: Leandah | Season 2: Yasmin K. Season 3: Preluders Season 5: Bisou |
| Greece | Popstars | Mega TV | Season 1, 2003: Hi-5 | |
| Hungary | Popsztárok | TV2 | Season 1, 2002: Sugar & Spice | |
| India | Coke [V] Popstars | Channel V | Season 1, 2002: Viva Season 2, 2003: Aasma | |
| Indonesia | Popstars Indonesia | Trans TV | Season 1, 2003: Sparx | |
| Ireland | Irish Popstars | RTÉ One | Season 1, 2002: Six | Nadine Coyle |
| Italy | Popstar (1) Superstar Tour (2) | Italia 1 | Season 1, 2001: Lollipop Season 2, 2003: Lucky Star | Season 1: Valentina Monetta |
| Kenya | Coca-Cola Popstars | | | Season 1, 2004: Sema (Kenya) |
| Malaysia | Popstars | ntv7 | Season 1, 2003: By'U | |
| Mexico | Popstars | Televisa | Season 1, 2002: T' de Tila | María León [es] (Playa Limbo) Ana Brenda Contreras |
| Netherlands | Popstars: The Rivals | RTL 4 | Season 1, 2004: Men2B (boys), Raffish (girls) | |
| Netherlands | Popstars | SBS6 | Season 1, 2008: RED! Season 2, 2009–10: Wesley Klein Season 3, 2010–11: Dean Saunders | |
| New Zealand | Popstars | TVNZ 2 | Season 1, 1999: TrueBliss Season 2, 2021: Christabel Williams Season 3, TBA: Renewal pending | |
| Norway | Popstars | TV3 | Season 1, 2001: Cape | |
| Portugal | Popstars | SIC | Season 1, 2001: Nonstop | Gémeas |
| Romania | Popstars | Pro TV | Season 1, 2003: Cocktail | |
| Russia | Stan zvezdoy [ru] | Rossiya 1 | Season 1, 2002: Drugie Pravila (Другие правила; lit. Other rules) | |
| Slovakia | Coca-Cola Popstar [sk] | Markíza | Season 1, 2001: Seven Days to Winter Season 2, 2002: Misha Season 3, 2003: Zuzana Smatanová Season 4, 2004: Vetroplach Season 5, 2005: Bystrík Season 6, 2006: Ivo Bič Season 7, 2007: Peoples Season 8, 2008: Mária Čírová | |
| Slovenia | Popstars | Kanal A | Season 1, 2002: Bepop Season 2, 2003: Unique | Season 2: B.B.T. and Hajdi Korošec |
| South Africa | Popstars | SABC 1 (1–3) e.tv (4) | Season 1, 2002: 101 Season 2, 2003: Adilah Season 3 2004: Jamali and Ghetto Lingo Season 4, 2010: Nne Vida | Season 1: Afro Z |
| Spain | Popstars: Todo por un sueño [es] | Telecinco | Season 1, 2002: Bellepop | Jesús Vázquez |
| Sweden | Popstars | Kanal 5 | Season 1, 2001: Excellence Season 2, 2002: Supernatural Season 3, 2003: Johannes Kotschy | Season 2: Martin Rolinski |
| Switzerland | Popstars | TV3 | Season 1, 2001: Tears | |
| Tanzania | Coca-Cola Popstars | | Season 1, 2004: Wakilisha | |
| Turkey | Popstars | Kanal D (1) Show TV (2) Star TV (3) | Season 1, 2003: Adibin Özşahin Season 2, 2004: Selçuk Demirelli Season 3, 2006: Metin Levent | |
| Uganda | Coca-Cola Popstars | | Season 1, 2004: Blu3 | |
| Ukraine | Суперзірка (Superstar) | 1+1 | Season 1, 2010: Viktoriya Korzheniuk | |
| United Kingdom | Popstars (1) Popstars: The Rivals (2) | ITV | Season 1, 2001: Hear'Say Season 2, 2002: Girls Aloud | Season 1: Liberty X (finalists), Darius Danesh, Warren Stacey Season 2: One True Voice, Javine Hylton, Clea, Phixx, The Cheeky Girls, Hazel Kaneswaran |
| United States | Popstars USA | The WB | Season 1, Early 2001: Eden's Crush Season 2, Late 2001: Scene 23 | Season 1: Nicole Scherzinger, Nikki McKibbin Season 2: Josh Henderson |

## Number one singles

The following is a list of singles that reached #1 in the respective nations of the Popstars artists
| Artist | Nation | Song title | Date | Album |
| Bandana | Argentina | "Guapas" | December 2001 | Bandana |
| Bandana | Argentina | "Cómo Puede Ser" | February 2002 | Bandana |
| Bandana | Argentina | "Maldita Noche" | May 2002 | Bandana |
| Bandana | Argentina | "Llega la Noche" | August 2002 | Noche |
| Bandana | Argentina | "Sigo Dando Vueltas" | April 2003 | Vivir Intentando |
| Mambrú | Argentina | "A Veces" | November 2002 | Mambrú |
| Scandal'us | Australia | "Me, Myself & I" | April 2001 | Startin' Somethin' |
| Bardot | Australia | "Poison" | April 2000 | Bardot |
| Scott Cain | Australia | "I'm Moving On" | May 2002 | Controlled Folly |
| Rouge | Brazil | "Não Dá Pra Resistir" | July 2002 | Rouge |
| Rouge | Brazil | "Ragatanga (The Ketchup Song)" | October 2002 | Rouge |
| Rouge | Brazil | "Brilha La Luna" | April 2003 | C'est La Vie |
| Rouge | Brazil | "Um Anjo Veio Me Falar" | October 2003 | C'est La Vie |
| Br'oZ | Brazil | "Prometida" | August 2003 | Br'oZ |
| Sugar Jones | Canada | "Days Like That" | June 2001 | Sugar Jones |
| Fu:el | Denmark | "Please Please" | May 2003 | Next, Please |
| Kiruba | Ecuador | "Quisiera" | April 2003 | Kiruba |
| Kiruba | Ecuador | "Camina" | June 2003 | Kiruba |
| Kiruba | Ecuador | "Como Extraño Tu Luz" | August 2003 | Kiruba |
| Kiruba | Ecuador | "Me Pierdo" | November 2003 | Kiruba |
| Kiruba | Ecuador | "Me Quedo Contigo" | May 2004 | Baila La Luna |
| L5 | France | "Toutes les femmes de ta vie" | December 2001 | L5 |
| Whatfor | France | "Plus haut" | November 2002 | Whatfor |
| Linkup | France | "Mon étoile" | November 2003 | Notre étoile |
| Sheryfa Luna | France | "Quelque part" | October 2007 | Sheryfa Luna |
| Sheryfa Luna | France | "Il avait les mots" | January 2008 | Sheryfa Luna |
| No Angels | Germany | "Daylight in Your Eyes" | February 2001 | Elle'Ments |
| No Angels | Germany | "There Must Be an Angel" | August 2001 | Elle'Ments |
| No Angels | Germany | "Something About Us" | May 2002 | Now... Us! |
| No Angels | Germany | "No Angel (It's All in Your Mind)" | April 2003 | Pure |
| Bro'Sis | Germany | "I Believe" | December 2001 | Never Forget (Where You Come From) |
| Overground | Germany | "Schick mir 'nen Engel" | November 2003 | It's Done |
| Preluders | Germany | "Everyday Girl" | November 2003 | Girls in the House |
| Nu Pagadi | Germany | "Sweetest Poison" | December 2004 | Your Dark Side |
| Monrose | Germany | "Shame" | December 2006 | Temptation |
| Monrose | Germany | "Hot Summer" | July 2007 | Strictly Physical |
| Six | Ireland | "There's a Whole Lot of Loving Going On" | February 2002 | This Is It |
| Lollipop | Italy | "Down Down Down" | April 2001 | Popstars |
| Nonstop | Portugal | "Ao Limite Eu Vou" | July 2001 | Nonstop |
| Men2B | Netherlands | "Bigger than That" | December 2004 | A Different Way |
| Raffish | Netherlands | "Plaything" | December 2004 | How Raffish Are You? |
| TrueBliss | New Zealand | "Tonight" | May 1999 | Dream |
| Hear'Say | United Kingdom | "Pure and Simple" | March 2001 | Popstars |
| Hear'Say | United Kingdom | "The Way to Your Love" | June 2001 | Popstars |
| Girls Aloud | United Kingdom | "Sound of the Underground" | December 2002 | Sound of the Underground |
| Girls Aloud | United Kingdom | "I'll Stand by You" | November 2004 | What Will the Neighbours Say? |
| Girls Aloud | United Kingdom | "Walk This Way" (with Sugababes) | March 2007 | Stand-alone single for Comic Relief |
| Girls Aloud | United Kingdom | "The Promise" | October 2008 | Out of Control |