Under the guidance of their mentor and manager Simon Fuller, their endorsement deals and merchandise made them one of most successful marketing engines ever, with a global gross income estimated at $500–800 million by May 1998. Measures of the Spice Girls' success include international record sales, iconic symbolism such as Halliwell's Union Jack dress, a major motion picture, Spice World (1997), and the highest-grossing concert tours by an all-female group from 2000 to 2020. Viva Forever!, a musical based on the Spice Girls' music, opened in 2012 it was a critical and commercial flop and closed in 2013. They reunited for two concert tours, the Return of the Spice Girls (2007–2008) and Spice World (2019), both of which won the Billboard Live Music Award for highest-grossing engagements. At the end of 2000, the Spice Girls entered a hiatus to concentrate on their solo careers. Forever (2000), the only Spice Girls album without Halliwell, achieved weaker sales. In May 1998, Halliwell left the Spice Girls, citing exhaustion and creative differences. In 1997, a film starring the Spice Girls, Spice World, was released it was a critical flop but a commercial success.
Both albums encapsulated the group's dance-pop style and message of female empowerment, with vocal and songwriting contributions shared equally by the members. The follow-up, Spiceworld (1997) sold more than 14 million copies worldwide. Their debut album, Spice (1996), sold more than 23 million copies worldwide, becoming the best-selling album by a female group in history. They signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single " Wannabe" in 1996, which reached number one on the charts of 37 countries. The group formed through auditions held by managers Bob and Chris Herbert, who wanted to create a girl group to compete with the British boy bands popular at the time. They led the teen pop resurgence of the 1990s, were a major part of the Cool Britannia era, and became pop culture icons of the decade. With their " girl power" mantra, they redefined the girl-group concept by targeting a young female fanbase. Retrieved 4 April 2021.The Spice Girls are a British girl group formed in 1994, consisting of Melanie Brown, also known as Mel B ("Scary Spice") Melanie Chisholm, or Melanie C ("Sporty Spice") Emma Bunton ("Baby Spice") Geri Halliwell ("Ginger Spice") and Victoria Beckham ("Posh Spice").
Ken Banks of Aberdeen Press and Journal gave the compilation two out of five stars, concluding: "Value, perhaps, but pretty crudely thrown together and nothing special at all." Clark Collis of The Daily Telegraph called it a "cash-in of unprecedented proportions," but given the "demented mixture of artists" decided that the album was "simply too weird a project to criticise." Commercial performance The authors noted that the album's focus on female vocalists from the UK and US meant a lack of representation for international artists, as well as for women in instrumental support, songwriting and production roles. The Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century Music questioned if the compilation was truly representative of women in the music industry. Gillian Anderson – "Extremis" (Qattara Remix Edit) The Weather Girls – " It's Raining Men".Gillette – " Short Short Man" (Radio Edit) Alisha's Attic – " Alisha Rules the World".Belinda Carlisle – " Heaven Is a Place on Earth".SWV – " Right Here" (Human Nature Radio Mix).Salt 'n' Pepa – " None of Your Business".Gwen Guthrie – " Ain't Nothin' Goin' On but the Rent".Cyndi Lauper – " Hey Now (Girls Just Want to Have Fun)".Salt 'n' Pepa – " Let's Talk About Sex".Adina Howard – " Freak like Me" (Radio Edit).Tina Turner – " What's Love Got to Do with It?".Martha and the Vandellas – " Dancing in the Street".Gabrielle – " Give Me a Little More Time".Chaka Khan – " I'm Every Woman" (Remix Edit).Eurythmics and Aretha Franklin – " Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves".Spice Girls – " Who Do You Think You Are".