Editing Spice Girls (section)

===1996–1997: Breakthrough===
{{Main|Spice (album)}}
On 8 July 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut single "[[Wannabe]]" in the United Kingdom. In the weeks before the release, the music video received a trial airing on music channel [[The Box (British and Irish TV channel)|the Box]].<ref name=sinclair75>{{harvnb|Sinclair|2004|p=75}}</ref> It was an instant hit and was aired up to seventy times a week at its peak.<ref>{{harvnb|McGibbon|1997a|p=107}}</ref> After the video was released, the Spice Girls had their first live broadcast TV slot on [[LWT]]'s ''[[Surprise Surprise (British TV series)|Surprise Surprise]]''. Earlier in May, they had conducted their first music press interview with [[Paul Gorman]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/from-the-archive-the-spice-girls-first-ever-interview/065364|title=From the archive: The Spice Girls first ever interview|work=[[Music Week]]|first=Daniel|last=Gumble|date=15 July 2016|access-date=23 February 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210223092333/https://www.musicweek.com/talent/read/from-the-archive-the-spice-girls-first-ever-interview/065364|archive-date=23 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> the contributing editor of trade paper ''Music Week'', at Virgin Records' Paris headquarters. His piece recognised that the Spice Girls were about to institute a change in the charts away from [[Britpop]] and towards out-and-out pop. He wrote: "Just when boys with guitars threaten to rule pop life—[[Damon Albarn|Damon]]'s all over ''[[Smash Hits]]'', [[Ash (band)|Ash]] are big in ''Big!'' and [[Liam Gallagher|Liam]] can't move for tabloid frenzy—an all-girl, in-yer-face pop group have arrived with enough sass to burst that [[Rockism|rockist]] bubble."<ref name=firstinterview>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.musicweek.com/files/IMG_5662.JPG|title=Spice Girls: Taking on the Britpop Boys|last=Gorman|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Gorman|magazine=[[Music Week]]|volume=38|issue=18|date=4 May 1996|issn=0265-1548}}</ref> "Wannabe" entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number three before spending the next seven weeks at number one. The song proved to be a global hit, hitting number one in 37 countries, including four consecutive weeks atop the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] in the US, and becoming not only the best-selling debut single by an all-female group but also the best-selling single by an all-female group of all time.<ref name=bbc37/><ref>{{harvnb|McGibbon|1997a|pp=124–125}}</ref><ref name="PMS">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1434516/spice-girls-pms-on-the-money/|title=Spice Girls, PMS on the Money|publisher=[[MTV News]]|date=1 October 1997|access-date=21 March 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210217191142/http://www.mtv.com/news/1434516/spice-girls-pms-on-the-money/|archive-date=17 February 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Listen
| pos          = right
| filename     = WannabeSample.ogg
| title        = "Wannabe"
| description  = Spice Girls debut single "Wannabe" is one of the best-selling singles of all time, topping the charts in 37 countries and selling over 6 million copies Worldwide.
}}

Following the release of "Wannabe", an article in ''[[Top of the Pops (magazine)|Top of the Pops]]'' magazine identified each Spice Girl with a [[#Image, nicknames and fashion trends|unique nickname based on their personalities]]. Though unintended, the use of these nicknames became widespread and they were later adopted globally.<ref name="Intent Media"/> Riding a wave of publicity and hype, the group released their next singles in Europe. In October, "[[Say You'll Be There]]" was released topping the charts for two weeks. "2 Become 1" was released in December, becoming their first [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number one]] and selling 462,000 copies in its first week,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/classic-christmas-number-1s-spice-girls-2-become-1__17230/|title=Classic Christmas Number 1s: Spice Girls' 2 Become 1|last=Myers|first=Justin|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=1 December 2016|access-date=6 December 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210209094120/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/classic-christmas-number-1s-spice-girls-2-become-1__17230/|archive-date=9 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> making it the fastest-selling single of the year. The two tracks continued the group's remarkable sales, giving them three of the top five best-selling songs of 1996 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-to-1996-spice-girls-hit-number-1-with-say-youll-be-there__16652/|title=Flashback to 1996: Spice Girls hit Number 1 with Say You'll Be There|last=Myers|first=Justin|date=20 October 2016|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=20 October 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210209094345/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-to-1996-spice-girls-hit-number-1-with-say-youll-be-there__16652/|archive-date=9 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In November 1996, the Spice Girls released their debut album, ''Spice'', in Europe. The success was unprecedented and drew comparisons to [[Beatlemania]],<ref name="Spice-Beatles comparison" /> leading the press to dub it "Spicemania"<ref name="sun cover">{{cite web|url=https://www.nporadio2.nl/nieuws/12268/wannabe-staat-al-twintig-jaar-voor-girlpower|title=Spice Girls hebben echte girlpower|publisher=[[NPO Radio 2]]|date=8 July 2016|language=nl|access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709143142/https://www.nporadio2.nl/nieuws/12268/wannabe-staat-al-twintig-jaar-voor-girlpower|archive-date=9 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="spicemania">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7640665/1997-alternative-rock-songs-turning-20-2017|title=20 Alternative Rock Hits Turning 20 in 2017|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Leslie|last=Richin|date=12 January 2017|access-date=21 February 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210209094912/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7640665/1997-alternative-rock-songs-turning-20-2017/|archive-date=9 February 2021}}</ref><ref name="spicemania 2">{{cite web|url=https://hellogiggles.com/love-sex/friends/the-power-of-growing-up-with-the-spice-girls/|title=The power of growing up with the Spice Girls|publisher=[[HelloGiggles]]|last=Epstein|first=Leonora|date=8 January 2016 |access-date=21 February 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210217171118/https://hellogiggles.com/love-sex/friends/the-power-of-growing-up-with-the-spice-girls/|archive-date=17 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and the group the "Fab Five".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/1997/02/21/spice-girls-top/|title=Spice Girls on top|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=21 February 1997|first=Mike|last=Flaherty|access-date=5 April 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210405201648/https://ew.com/article/1997/02/21/spice-girls-top/|archive-date=5 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="BBC Geri departure" /><ref name="fab five cnn">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9710/16/spice.dolls/index.html |title=Spice Girls get dolled up|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=16 October 1997|access-date=21 March 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210402154657/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9710/16/spice.dolls/index.html|archive-date=2 April 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> In seven weeks ''Spice'' had sold 1.8 million copies in Britain alone,<ref name="BPI">{{cite web|url=https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/|title=UK sales certificates database|publisher=[[British Phonographic Industry]]|access-date=4 May 2021}}</ref> making the Spice Girls the fastest-selling British act since the Beatles. In total, the album sold over 3 million copies in Britain,<ref name="BPI" /> the [[List of best-selling albums in the United Kingdom|best-selling album]] of all time in the UK by a female group,<ref name="everyhit">Every Hit. [http://www.everyhit.com/recordalb.html Best-Selling Albums of All Time]. UK Database, ''Spice'' sold 2.9 million.</ref> certified ten times platinum,<ref name="BPI" /> and reached number one for fifteen non-consecutive weeks.<ref name="15 weeks">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/little-mixs-glory-days-is-the-longest-reigning-girl-group-number-1-since-spice-girls-debut-20-years-ago__17770/|title=Little Mix's Glory Days is the longest-reigning girl group Number 1 since Spice Girls' debut 20 years ago|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|date=13 January 2017|first=Jack|last=White|access-date=13 February 2017}}</ref> In Europe the album became the best-selling album of 1997 and was certified 8× Platinum by the [[IFPI]] for sales in excess of 8 million copies.<ref name="IFPI 1997">{{cite web |work=[[IFPI]] |url=http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/platinum/plat1997.html |title=European sales certificate for ''Spice'' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306093646/http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/platinum/plat1997.html |archive-date=6 March 2006 |access-date=13 February 2017 }}</ref>

That same month, the Spice Girls attracted a crowd of 500,000 when they switched on the Christmas lights in [[Oxford Street]], London.<ref name="official timeline">{{cite web|website=thespicegirls.com (official website)|url=http://www.thespicegirls.com/facts/timeline|title=Timeline|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816033017/http://www.thespicegirls.com/facts/timeline|archive-date=16 August 2012|access-date=16 March 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the same time, Fuller started to set up multi-million dollar sponsorship deals for the Spice Girls with [[Pepsi]], [[Walkers (snack foods)|Walkers]], [[Impulse (body mist)|Impulse]], [[Cadbury]] and [[Polaroid Corporation|Polaroid]].<ref name="spicebrand" /> The group ended 1996 winning three trophies at the [[Smash Hits Poll Winners Party|''Smash Hits'' awards]] at the [[London Arena]], including best video for "Say You'll Be There".<ref name="cripps141" />

==== International success ====
In January 1997, "Wannabe" was released in the United States. It proved to be a catalyst in helping the Spice Girls break into the US market when it debuted on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] Chart at number eleven. At the time, this was the highest-ever debut by a non-American act, beating the previous record held by the Beatles for "[[I Want to Hold Your Hand]]",<ref name="official timeline" /> and the joint highest entry for a debut act alongside [[Alanis Morissette]]'s "[[Ironic (song)|Ironic]]".<ref>{{harvnb|Golden|1997|p=xvii}}</ref> "Wannabe" reached number one in the US for four weeks. In February, ''Spice'' was released in the US, and became the [[List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 1997|best-selling album of 1997 in the US]], peaking at number one, and was certified 7× Platinum by the [[RIAA]]<ref name="RIAA">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=spice#search_section|title=USA sales certificates database|publisher=[[Recording Industry Association of America]]|access-date=2 April 2021}}</ref> for sales in excess of 7.4 million copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003608469|title= Ask Billboard|date= 6 July 2007|access-date=13 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017180717/http://billboard.biz/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003608469 |archive-date=17 October 2007}}</ref> The album was also included in the Top 100 Albums of All Time list by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) based on US sales.<ref>"[https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTop100&action= Gold and Platinum: Top 100 Albums] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725044825/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=2&table=tblTop100&action= |date=25 July 2013 }}". ''[[Recording Industry Association of America]]''. Retrieved 2 October 2007.</ref> In total, the album sold over 23 million copies worldwide<ref name="sales-worldwide" /> becoming the best-selling album in pop music history by an all-female group.<ref name="US sales" />

{{Quote box
 |quote = The dress has gone down in history – along with [[Elizabeth Hurley|Liz Hurley]]'s [[Black Versace dress of Elizabeth Hurley|safety-pin frock]] and [[Diana, Princess of Wales|Princess Diana]]'s [[Revenge dress|"revenge" gown]] – as one of the most memorable fashion moments of all time.
 |source = – ''[[Harper's Bazaar]]'' on Geri Halliwell's [[Union Jack dress]] at the [[1997 Brit Awards]].<ref name=harpersbazaar>{{cite magazine|title=It has been 20 years since Geri Halliwell wore the Union Jack dress|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/news/a40047/story-of-geri-halliwell-union-jack-brits-dress/|access-date=24 September 2019|magazine=[[Harper's Bazaar]]|first=Amy de|last=Klerk|date=22 February 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210219075051/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/news/a40047/story-of-geri-halliwell-union-jack-brits-dress/|archive-date=19 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>
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Later that month, the Spice Girls performed "[[Who Do You Think You Are (Spice Girls song)|Who Do You Think You Are]]" to open the [[1997 Brit Awards]], with Geri Halliwell wearing a [[Union Jack dress|Union Jack mini-dress]] that became one of pop history's most famed outfits.<ref name=harpersbazaar/><ref name="dress poll"/> At the ceremony, the group won two [[Brit Awards]]; Best British Video for "Say You'll Be There" and Best British Single for "Wannabe".<ref>{{cite web |last=McManus |first=Samuel |date=22 February 2017 |title=It's Been 20 Years Since the Spice Girls' Iconic 1997 Brit Awards Performance |url=https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/its-been-20-years-since-the-spice-girls-iconic-1997-brit-awards-performance/13665/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210219074136/https://www.attitude.co.uk/article/its-been-20-years-since-the-spice-girls-iconic-1997-brit-awards-performance/13665/ |archive-date=19 February 2021 |access-date=19 February 2021 |work=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]]}}</ref> In March 1997, a double A-side of "[[Mama (Spice Girls song)|Mama]]"/"Who Do You Think You Are" was released in Europe, the last from ''Spice'', which once again saw them at number one,<ref>{{harvnb|Sinclair|2008|pp=105–106}}</ref> making the Spice Girls the first group since [[the Jackson 5]] to have four consecutive number one hits.<ref name="official timeline"/>

''Girl Power!'', the Spice Girls' first book, was launched later that month at [[Virgin Megastores|Virgin Megastore]]. It sold out its initial print run of 200,000 copies within a day, and was eventually translated into more than 20 languages.<ref name=sinclair102103/> In April, ''[[One Hour of Girl Power]]'' was released; it sold 500,000 copies in the UK between April and June to become the best-selling pop video ever,<ref name=sinclair102103>{{harvnb|Sinclair|2004|pp=102–103}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Newsline: Music Video Shipments|date=20 September 1997|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |last=Solomons|first=Mark|volume=109|issue=38|page=45|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> and was eventually certified thirteen times platinum.<ref name=BPI/> In May, ''[[Spice World (film)|Spice World]]'', a film starring the group, was announced by the Spice Girls at the [[Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name=telegraphfilm/> The group also performed their first live UK show for [[the Prince's Trust]] [[benefit concert]].<ref name=smith142>{{harvnb|Smith|2019|p=142}}</ref> At the show, they breached royal protocol when Brown and then Halliwell planted kisses on [[Charles III of the United Kingdom|Prince Charles']] cheeks and pinched his bottom, causing controversy.<ref name="official timeline"/> That same month, Virgin released ''[[Spice Girls Present... The Best Girl Power Album... Ever!]]'', a multi-artist [[compilation album]] compiled by the group. It reached number two on the [[UK Compilation Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/19970518/7503/|title=Official Compilations Chart Top 100: 18 May 1997 – 24 May 1997|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=4 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404131636/https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/official-compilations-chart/19970518/7503/|archive-date=4 April 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and was certified Gold by the [[British Phonographic Industry|BPI]].<ref name=BPI/> At the [[Ivor Novello Awards]], "Wannabe" won the awards for International Hit of the Year and Best-Selling British Single.<ref name=ivors97/>

''Spice World'' began filming in June and wrapped in August.<ref>{{harvnb|Spice Girls|Cripps|Peachey|1997|p=142}}</ref> The film was to be set to the songs from the group's second studio album, but no songs had been written when filming began. The group thus had to do all the songwriting and recording at the same time as they were filming ''Spice World'', resulting in a gruelling schedule that left them exhausted.<ref>{{harvnb|Sinclair|2008|pp=113–114}}</ref> Among the songs that were written during this period was "[[Stop (Spice Girls song)|Stop]]", the lyrics for which cover the group's frustrations with being overworked by their management.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=MelanieCmusic|first=Melanie|last=Chisholm|author-link=Melanie C |date=26 May 2020 |title=Lyrically this was about our feelings and how our lives had changed towards fame and our frustration with our management at the time, cause we all felt that we needed a little break|number=1264996086701330432|access-date=14 February 2021}}</ref>

In September, the Spice Girls performed "Say You'll Be There" at the [[1997 MTV Video Music Awards]] at [[Radio City Music Hall]] in New York City, and won Best Dance Video for "Wannabe".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1997/|title=1997 MTV Video Music Awards|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=20 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130306130548/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/1997/|archive-date=6 March 2013}}</ref> The MTV Awards came five days after the [[death of Diana, Princess of Wales]], with tributes paid to her throughout the ceremony. Chisholm stated, "We'd like to dedicate this award to Princess Diana, who is a great loss to our country."<ref>{{cite news|title=Princess's Death Overshadows Music Awards|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/diana/mtv.html|access-date=24 September 2019|publisher=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190603101234/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/diana/mtv.html|archive-date=3 June 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> At the 1997 [[Billboard Music Award|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], the group won four awards for [[Billboard Music Award for Top New Artist|New Artist of the Year]], ''Billboard'' Hot 100 Singles Group of the Year, ''Billboard'' 200 Group of the Year and [[Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Album|''Billboard'' 200 Album of the Year]] for ''Spice''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=8th Annual Billboard Music Awards Draws A Record Crowd|date=27 December 1997|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=109|issue=52|page=50|issn=0006-2510}}</ref>

==== ''Spiceworld'' and feature film ====
{{Main|Spiceworld (album)}}
{{listen
| pos          = right
| filename     = Spiceupyourlife.ogg
| title        = "Spice Up Your Life"
| description  = "Spice Up Your Life" became the group's fifth consecutive chart-topper, which made them the first act to have its first five singles reach number one in the UK.
}}

In October 1997, the Spice Girls released the first single from their second album, ''Spiceworld'', "[[Spice Up Your Life]]". It entered the UK Singles Chart at number one, making it the group's fifth consecutive number-one single.<ref name="occ">{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/1633/spice-girls/|title=Spice Girls|access-date=13 September 2020|publisher=Official Charts Company}}</ref> That same month, the group performed their first [[Girl Power! Live in Istanbul|live major concert]] to 40,000 fans in [[Istanbul]], Turkey.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline |date=24 May 2019 |title='Tens of thousands of tots empty their lungs': relive the Spice Girls' first tour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/from-the-archive-blog/2019/may/24/tens-of-thousands-of-tots-empty-their-lungs-relive-the-spice-girls-first-tour |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20210301083555/https://www.theguardian.com/music/from-the-archive-blog/2019/may/24/tens-of-thousands-of-tots-empty-their-lungs-relive-the-spice-girls-first-tour |archive-date=1 March 2021 |access-date=13 September 2020 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> Later, they launched [[the Royal British Legion]]'s [[Remembrance poppy|Poppy Appeal]],<ref name="poppy appeal">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/18054.stm|title=Spice Girls launch poppy appeal|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=29 October 1997|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210224182256/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/18054.stm|archive-date=24 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> then travelled to South Africa to meet [[Nelson Mandela]], who announced, "These are my heroes."<ref name="bbcmandela">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/19796.stm|title=Now Mandela swaps political power for girl power|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=1 November 1997|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713132829/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/19796.stm|archive-date=13 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November, the Spice Girls released ''Spiceworld''. It set a new record for the fastest-selling album when it shipped seven million copies over the course of two weeks. Gaining favourable reviews,<ref name="RS Spiceworld">{{cite magazine|last=Wild|first=David|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/spiceworld-193410/|title=Spice World|date=11 December 1997|access-date=13 September 2020|magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> the album went on to sell over 10 million copies in Europe,<ref name="IFPI 1998">{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/platinum/plat1998.html|title=IFPI Platinum Europe Awards|access-date=13 September 2020|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060306093651/http://www.ifpi.org/site-content/platinum/plat1998.html|archive-date=6 March 2006}}</ref> Canada,<ref name="CRIA">{{cite web|url=https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=spice|title=Gold/Platinum|work=Music Canada |date=17 January 1997 |access-date=13 September 2020|publisher=[[Music Canada]]}}</ref> and the United States<ref name="RIAA" /> combined, and 14 million copies worldwide.<ref name="spiceworldsales">{{harvnb|Smith|2019|p=167}}</ref>

Criticised in the United States for releasing the album just nine months after their debut there, which gave the group two simultaneous Top 10 albums in the ''Billboard'' album charts,<ref name="two top 10">{{cite magazine |last=Bronson |first=Fred |author-link=Fred Bronson |title=Usher Seesaws in the U.S., U.K. |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |volume=110 |issue=7|page=106|date=14 February 1998|issn=0006-2510}}</ref> and suffering from over-exposure at home,<ref name="poppy appeal" /> the Spice Girls began to experience a media backlash. They were criticised for their number of sponsorship deals—more than 20—and their chart positions declined.<ref name="thebiographychannel1">{{cite web|url=https://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/people/the-spice-girls|title=The Spice Girls|access-date=13 September 2020|publisher=[[Lifetime UK]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125165649/https://www.lifetimetv.co.uk/people/the-spice-girls|archive-date=25 November 2020}}</ref> Nevertheless, the Spice Girls remained the best-selling pop group of both 1997 and 1998.<ref name="sinclair2008148149">{{harvnb|Sinclair|2008|pp=148–149}}</ref>

On 7 November 1997, the Spice Girls performed "Spice Up Your Life" at the [[MTV Europe Music Awards]] and won the [[MTV Europe Music Award for Best Group|Best Group award]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/24645.stm|title=Spice Girls scoop MTV Europe best group award|date=7 September 1997|access-date=13 September 2020|publisher=[[BBC News]]|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710190921/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/24645.stm|archive-date=10 July 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> The morning of the performance, they fired Fuller and began managing themselves.<ref>{{harvnb|Halliwell|1999|pp=304–306}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|After firing Fuller, Beckham said they each took charge of one aspect of the band's business: Beckham oversaw their finances, Chisholm their touring, Brown their record label dealings, Bunton their charity work, and Halliwell their sponsorships.<ref>{{harvnb|Beckham|2001|p=249}}</ref>}} To ensure a smooth transition, Halliwell allegedly stole a mobile phone from Fuller's assistant that contained the group's schedule and Fuller's business contacts.<ref>{{harvnb|Beckham|2001|pp=244–245}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|According to Chisholm, it was a [[Filofax]] [[personal organizer]] that Halliwell allegedly stole.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/11/melanie-c-spice-girls-secret-meeting-after-lockdown-drag/|title=Proud trans ally Melanie C received a 'huge education' working with drag queens and non-binary dancers|work=[[PinkNews]]|date=11 December 2020|first=Matilda|last=Davies|access-date=18 March 2021|archive-date=15 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210315111412/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/12/11/melanie-c-spice-girls-secret-meeting-after-lockdown-drag/|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The firing was front-page news around the world. Many commentators speculated that Fuller had been the mastermind behind the group, and that the Spice Girls had lost their impetus and direction.<ref>{{harvnb|Halliwell|1999|p=374}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Marre |first=Oliver |date=14 January 2007 |title=The man with stars in his eyes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jan/14/broadcasting.pop |access-date=18 September 2011 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>{{refn|group=nb|Fuller went on to form the pop group [[S Club 7]], which he described as a continuation of ideas he had had for the Spice Girls but with a softer, more uplifting image.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |last=Corner |first=Lewis |date=16 January 2014 |title=S Club 7 were a continuation of the Spice Girls, says Simon Fuller |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a544375/s-club-7-were-a-continuation-of-the-spice-girls-says-simon-fuller/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424013619/http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a544375/s-club-7-were-a-continuation-of-the-spice-girls-says-simon-fuller/ |archive-date=24 April 2017 |access-date=23 April 2017 |work=[[Digital Spy]]}}</ref>}}

Later in November, the Spice Girls became the first pop group to host [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]'s ''[[An Audience with...]]''<ref name="itv.com">{{cite web
|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/30yearsofanaudiencewith/week29/default.html|title=30 Years of An Audience With, Episode 1|publisher=ITV
|date=6 July 2010|access-date=17 August 2010 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100718090357/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/30yearsofanaudiencewith/week29/default.html|archive-date= 18 July 2010}}</ref> Their show was watched by 11.8 million viewers in the UK, one fifth of the population.<ref name="Sinclair 2004, p. 148">{{harvnb|Sinclair|2004|p=148}}</ref> In December 1997, the second single from ''Spiceworld'', "[[Too Much (Spice Girls song)|Too Much]]", was released, becoming the Spice Girls' second [[List of UK Singles Chart Christmas number ones|Christmas number one]] and their sixth consecutive number-one UK single. That month, the Spice Girls launched a feature-length film, ''[[Spice World (film)|Spice World]]''. The world premiere, at the [[Empire, Leicester Square|Empire Theatre]] in [[Leicester Square]], London, was attended by celebrities including Prince Charles, [[Prince William]] and [[Prince Harry]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9712/15/spice.royals/index.html|title=Spice Girls meet princes at movie premiere|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=16 December 1997|access-date=3 March 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210303004517/http://edition.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9712/15/spice.royals/index.html|archive-date=3 March 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> The film was a commercial success but received poor reviews.<ref name="telegraphfilm" /> The Spice Girls ended 1997 as the year's most played artist on American radio.<ref name="PR news">[http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spiceworld-album-sales-jump-as-spice-girls-new-pop-vehicle-steadily-gains-velocity-77633112.html 'Spiceworld' Album Sales Jump, as Spice Girls' New Pop Vehicle Steadily Gains Velocity] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218113602/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/spiceworld-album-sales-jump-as-spice-girls-new-pop-vehicle-steadily-gains-velocity-77633112.html |date=18 February 2017}}. PR Newswire. 20 November 1997. Retrieved 18 February 2017.</ref>