When Big Time Rush (also known as BTR) formed in California in 2009, signing with Nickelodeon for a record deal and a television series, it joined a trend across the country and around the world that confirmed only one thing: Boy bands are hot again. Not only did BTR get a one-hour special preview to launch its debut single, 'Big Time Rush,' the song became their show's opening theme. The band needed four more releases before the single 'Halfway There,' peaked onto the Billboard Hot 100, and by September 2010 they made good on the title by launching yet another promotional single, ''Till I Forget About You.' When their self-debut album was released, there was a big time rush (literally) to snatch it up. The project sold 67,000 copies in its first week, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified Gold. The band members _ Kendall Schmidt, James Maslow, Carlos Pena Jr. and Logan Henderson _ have generated a mob of screaming, swooning teenage girls everywhere they play. Thousands of fans showed up on October 11, 2010 for the group's television performance at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City on NBC's The Today Show. Thousands more helped songs like 'Boyfriend' (their first official single to mainstream US radio) chart on the Billboard Hot 100, and helped the band get nominated for MTV's Breakthrough Band award in 2011.On July 22, 2011 the band released a promotional single, 'If I Ruled the World,' in anticipation of their second album, 'Elevate.' The project dropped on November 21, 2011 and sold over 70,000 copies in its first week. The group headlined the 'Better With U Tour' over 16 dates in February and March 2012. They are currently on a national summer tour that kicked off in July, featuring Cody Simpson, Rachel Crow and Leon Thomas III.BTR is currently writing and recording new songs for their third studio album. The first single, 'Windows Down,' was released on June 25.