Backstreet Boys Leave Jive Records

Backstreet has jumped ship on Jive. The once popular boy band — known for their pop melodies and R&B rhythms — has parted company with its longtime label home in a split that crooner Brian Littrell calls “amicable.”

(Yes, I’m aware that no one cares, but I’m a child of the ’90s and a hardcore BSB fan of more than 13 years. Plus, my heart will always belong to AJ. Sue me….)

The Never Gone stars made the announcement on their Official Website on Thursday.

“This is the best thing, at the best time that could have ever happened for us”, Brian says. “We are confident in the future of our band, and are looking forward to the new things to come. 2011 is going to be a great year for us!”

During their reign at Jive, the Backstreet Boys had 13 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold over 100 million albums, making them the best-selling boy band of all time. They released This Is Us, their final album on the label, in November.