Six (group)
| Company type | Pop ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Created through the Irish edition of Popstars |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Ireland |
Key people | Louis Walsh (manager), Simon Cowell (record label) |
| Products | Music singles and album |
Six was an Irish pop ensemble created through the Irish edition of the television series Popstars in 2002. The program was broadcast on RTÉ One during late 2001 and early 2002. Under the management of Louis Walsh and signed to Simon Cowell's BMG Records UK, Six's inaugural single, "There's a Whole Lot of Loving Going On", became one of the fastest-selling and third highest-selling singles in Ireland's music history.
Career
The group consisted of Sinéad Sheppard, Emma O'Driscoll, Kyle Anderson, Sarah Keating, Andy Orr, and Liam McKenna. Although Nadine Coyle was originally chosen, she was removed for misrepresenting her age and was subsequently replaced by Keating.
Their debut single, a rendition of the 1975 hit by Guys 'n' Dolls, surpassed 160,000 copies sold within its initial week and secured the third spot among Ireland’s all-time best-selling singles. In July 2002, their follow-up release, "Let Me Be the One," also achieved number one on the Irish charts but recorded lower sales figures. Six embarked on a tour across Ireland in August 2002 before officially disbanding in early 2003.
After Popstars was broadcast internationally in countries including New Zealand, Norway, and South Africa, their first single gained global chart success—reaching number six in New Zealand, top five positions in Norway, Poland, and Iceland, and peaking at number two in Sweden.
Their album This Is It entered the Irish album charts at number seven. Additionally, two songs from this album were later covered by Same Difference on their debut record.
After Six
- Emma O'Driscoll shifted to television presenting on RTÉ’s The Den, participated in celebrity reality programs, and worked as a DJ for Live 95fm.
- Liam McKenna pursued a career as a TV host and tour manager for Jedward; he also presented a celebrity gossip segment on RTÉ and served as a principal presenter for the music channel Bubble Hits.
- Andy Orr took on management duties for the band Y23 featuring Emma O'Driscoll before exiting the entertainment industry to lead Blackrock Asset Management’s EMEA securities lending trading division.
- Sinéad Sheppard established a dance academy in Cobh, contributed entertainment services for local sporting events, and was elected to Cork County Council after holding a position on Cobh Town Council representing Fine Gael.
- Kyle Anderson hosted TV3’s Activity Breaks in 2006 and later worked behind the scenes at Screentime ShinAwiL on productions such as The Apprentice and Dragons' Den, aiding their expansion into the UK market.
- Nadine Coyle proceeded to become a member of the successful pop group Girls Aloud.