Pop music sensations The Backstreet Boys were preparing Monday for the release of a new single to promote their first studio album since 2000.

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The group's last record, "Black and Blue," sold 5.4 million copies in the United States, Billboard.com reported Monday. It sold 1.6 million during its first week of release.

"That's the first thing we thought about when we started making the record," group member Howie Dorough told Billboard. "That's why we said we weren't going to give ourselves a time limit. We wanted to make sure this album would give us a shot again to be around for the long haul so people will realize that we're not, hopefully, a flash in the pan in their eyes."

"The music has matured," he said. "It's a little more stripped down, a little more organic. There's not necessarily five-part harmony on everything you hear."

The group has been working to choose 12 tracks from more than 40 they have recorded with various producers, including John Shanks, Billy Mann, the Underdogs and Max Martin.

The Backstreet Boys have confirmed four tour dates so far, starting March 24 at the Avalon in Boston.