The term "boy band" was coined in the 1980s to describe groups of young male musicians who sang pop music and were usually marketed towards a teenage girl audience. Over the years, there have been various synonyms used to describe this type of musical group. Some of these include "man band," "male vocal group," "pop group," "vocal harmony group," and "male singing group." In recent years, there has been a shift towards more inclusive language, with some using the term "gender-inclusive pop group" or simply "pop group" to describe these musical acts, regardless of the gender makeup of the band.