Best-selling debut album in the UK by a group

Spice (1996), the debut album by the Spice Girls (UK), has sold more than 3 million copies in their homeland. Released on 4 November 1996 and featuring “Wannabe”, “Say You’ll Be There” and “2 Become 1”, Spice debuted at No.1 on 16 November 1996 and went on to spend 15 non-consecutive weeks at the top as Mel B, Mel C, Emma, Geri and Victoria let “girl power” run riot on the UK charts.

As of 3 November 2022, Spice had been in the Top 100 of the UK’s Official Albums Chart for a total of 95 weeks, including 44 weeks in the Top 10.

The five bigger-selling debut albums in the UK, according to the Official Charts Company (OCC) on 14 October 2022, are all by solo artists (Meat Loaf, James Blunt, Leona Lewis, Lady Gaga and Dido).

The highest-ranked groups after the Spice Girls are Keane (Hopes and Fears, 2004; 2.87 million) and Coldplay (Parachutes, 2000; 2.73 million).