Are band names singular or plural? Grammar Girl Episode 1032

[@JohnLester-be8nv]

A collective noun (group, family, company, team) usually takes a singular verb when the members of the group act together as a unit. A collective noun can take a plural verb when the members of the group are acting as individuals. As everyone knows band members rarely act as a unit (or agree for that matter).

[@Paul71H]

My rule is that if the band name is plural, then I treat it as plural. For example, "The Beatles are releasing remastered versions of their classic albums." But if the band name is singular, then I treat it as singular. For example, "Journey is looking for a new lead vocalist." But there are a few tricky ones like Smashing Pumpkins. Does "Smashing Pumpkins" indicate that the band members are pumpkins, and "smashing" is an adjective describing the kind of pumpkins? ("Those pumpkins are absolutely smashing!") Or is "Smashing Pumpkins" a verb phrase indicating an action? ("John is smashing pumpkins with a hammer.") The way that I interpret the meaning of the name (i.e., is "smashing" an adjective or a verb?) would decide whether I treat the band name as singular or plural. Another tricky one is The Allman Brothers Band. If I use the full name of the band ("The Allman Brothers Band"), then I treat it as singular. But if I use the shorthand name "The Allman Brothers", then I treat it as plural.

[@JohnLester-be8nv]

Bands are by definition a group of musicians - why would you use singular to refer to a group of people?

[@sajjadhusain4146]

I guess the counterpoint is that it is ‘a group’, hence singular, in that sense. I just posted above that I refer to any band in the plural.