History of ABBA in Timeline
ABBA was a highly successful Swedish pop group formed in 1972, consisting of Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Renowned for their catchy melodies and polished performances, they achieved global fame and became one of the best-selling music acts of all time. Their impact on popular music and culture remains significant.
April 1945: Björn Ulvaeus' Birth
Björn Ulvaeus was born on 25 April 1945, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
November 1945: Anni-Frid Lyngstad's Birth
Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad was born on 15 November 1945, in Bjørkåsen in Ballangen Municipality, Norway.
December 1946: Benny Andersson's Birth
Benny Andersson was born on 16 December 1946, in Stockholm, Sweden.
April 1950: Agnetha Fältskog's Birth
Agnetha Fältskog was born on 5 April 1950, in Jönköping, Sweden.
1963: Brief Meeting with Ulvaeus
In 1963, Anni-Frid Lyngstad met Björn Ulvaeus briefly during a talent contest.
1965: "No Response" Hit
In 1965, Benny Andersson's song "No Response" hit number three.
June 1966: First Collaboration
In June 1966, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson decided to write a song together, their first attempt being "Isn't It Easy to Say".
1966: Number One Hits
In 1966, Benny Andersson's songs "Sunny Girl", "Wedding", and "Consolation" all hit number one.
1967: Solo Albums
Between 1967 and 1975, Agnetha Fältskog released solo albums.
1967: National Talent Competition Win
In 1967, Anni-Frid Lyngstad won a national talent competition with "En ledig dag", earning a recording contract with EMI Sweden.
1968: Early Solo Career
In 1968, Agnetha Fältskog released solo LPs as part of her early solo career.
1968: First Svensktoppen Entry
In 1968, Benny Andersson wrote his first Svensktoppen entry, "Sagan om lilla Sofie", with Lasse Berghagen.
1968: Meeting Fältskog
In early 1968, Anni-Frid Lyngstad met Agnetha Fältskog during a TV show.
March 1969: Meeting Andersson
On 1 March 1969, Anni-Frid Lyngstad participated in the Melodifestival, where she met Benny Andersson for the first time.
May 1969: Meeting Ulvaeus
During filming of a Swedish TV special in May 1969, Agnetha Fältskog met Björn Ulvaeus.
September 1969: "Peter Pan" Single
In September 1969, Benny Andersson produced Anni-Frid Lyngstad's single "Peter Pan", her first collaboration with Benny & Björn.
1969: Melodifestivalen and Meeting Anni-Frid Lyngstad
In 1969, Benny Andersson submitted "Hej, Clown" for Melodifestivalen and met Anni-Frid Lyngstad. "Hej, Clown" came in second place.
1969: First Real Hits
In 1969, Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote and produced some of their first real hits together: "Ljuva sextital" and "Speleman".
April 1970: Holiday in Cyprus and Improvised Performance
In April 1970, the two couples went on holiday together to Cyprus, resulting in an improvised live performance for United Nations soldiers.
September 1970: Release of Lycka Album
In September 1970, Andersson and Ulvaeus released their first album together, Lycka.
November 1970: Launch of Festfolket Stage Act
On 1 November 1970, Andersson, Ulvaeus, Fältskog and Lyngstad launched a stage act called "Festfolket" in Gothenburg.
1970: Release of Lycka
After the 1970 release of Lycka, two more singles credited to "Björn & Benny" were released.
1970: Backing Vocals on Fältskog's Album
In 1970, Andersson and Lyngstad added backing vocals to Fältskog's third studio album, Som jag är.
1970: First Album Together
In 1970, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus recorded their first album together, "Lycka".
March 1971: "Frida" Debut Studio Album
In March 1971, Benny Andersson produced Anni-Frid Lyngstad's debut studio album, "Frida".
July 1971: Fältskog and Ulvaeus marriage
On 6 July 1971 Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus married.
1971: Rejected entries for Melodifestivalen
After two rejected entries in 1971, Stig Anderson encouraged Ulvaeus and Andersson to write a song for Melodifestivalen
1971: Increasing Collaboration
During 1971, the four artists began working together more, adding vocals to each other's recordings.
1971: Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus Married
In 1971, Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus were married.
1971: Solo LPs
In 1971, Agnetha Fältskog released solo LPs as part of her early solo career.
1971: First Number-One Single
In 1971, Anni-Frid Lyngstad had her first number-one single, "Min egen stad", produced by Benny Andersson.
1971: Performance at Swedish Folkparks
In the middle of 1971, Fältskog and Ulvaeus, now married, started performing together with Andersson on a regular basis at the Swedish folkparks.
March 1972: First Foreign Success in Japan
In March 1972, Andersson and Ulvaeus had their first foreign success in Japan with "She's My Kind of Girl".
June 1972: Release of "People Need Love"
In June 1972, "People Need Love" was released featuring guest vocals by Agnetha and Anni-Frid. The song was credited to Björn & Benny, Agnetha & Anni-Frid and peaked at number 17 in the Swedish combined single and album charts.
1972: Formation of ABBA
In 1972, ABBA was formed in Stockholm, Sweden, by Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.
1972: Starring in Jesus Christ Superstar
In 1972, Agnetha Fältskog starred as Mary Magdalene in the original Swedish production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
1972: "Säg det med en sång" at Melodifestivalen
In 1972, Andersson and Ulvaeus submitted "Säg det med en sång" for Melodifestivalen, which came in third place.
1972: Second Number-One Single
In late 1972, Anni-Frid Lyngstad had a second number-one single with "Man Vill Ju Leva Lite Dessemellan".
February 1973: "Ring Ring" comes third in Melodifestivalen
On 10 February 1973, ABBA's song "Ring Ring" came third in Melodifestivalen and did not reach the Eurovision Song Contest. Nevertheless, the group released their debut studio album, also called Ring Ring.
October 1973: Earliest known written example of "ABBA"
On a recording session sheet from the Metronome Studio in Stockholm dated 16 October 1973, the earliest known example of "ABBA" written on paper can be found.
1973: Solo Albums
Between 1967 and 1975, Agnetha Fältskog released solo albums.
1973: ABBA Enters Melodifestivalen with "Ring Ring"
In 1973, ABBA entered Melodifestivalen with "Ring Ring" but did not qualify as the Swedish entry.
1973: Inger Brundin replaces Agnetha Fältskog
In 1973, Agnetha Fältskog gave birth to her daughter Linda and was replaced for a short period by Inger Brundin on a trip to West Germany.
1973: The name ABBA is officially announced.
In 1973, Stig Anderson started to refer to the group as ABBA, and after a competition in a Gothenburg newspaper, the name ABBA was officially announced in the summer. Negotiations with a fish-canning company were made for the rights to the name.
February 1974: ABBA wins Swedish Melodifestivalen with "Waterloo"
On 9 February 1974, ABBA won the Swedish Melodifestivalen with "Waterloo", making them the Swedish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.
April 1974: ABBA wins Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo"
On 6 April 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with their performance of "Waterloo" in English. This victory gave them the opportunity to tour Europe and perform on major television shows.
November 1974: ABBA gains popularity in Australia after TV show airings
In November 1974, the airing of the music videos for "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "Mamma Mia" on the nationally broadcast TV pop show Countdown saw ABBA rapidly gain enormous popularity, and Countdown become a key promoter of the group via their distinctive music videos.
1974: Eurovision Win
In 1974, ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo", becoming Sweden's first winner.
1974: Stig Anderson plans for the 1974 contest.
In 1974, Stig Anderson planned for the contest. Ulvaeus, Andersson and Stig Anderson saw possibilities in using the Eurovision Song Contest to make the music business aware of them as songwriters, as well as to publicise the band. In late 1973 they were invited by Swedish television to contribute a song for the Melodifestivalen 1974, and the upbeat song "Waterloo" was chosen.
1974: "So Long" released as a single in the UK
In late 1974, ABBA's "So Long" was released as a single in the United Kingdom but failed to chart.
1974: Ulvaeus with the Hootenanny Singers
Until the middle of 1974, Ulvaeus still occasionally recorded and performed with the Hootenanny Singers.
January 1975: Scandinavian leg of European tour
In January 1975, the second leg of ABBA's European tour took them through Scandinavia, where they played to full houses.
1975: "Fernando" Recognized as Best Studio Recording
In 1975, "Fernando" was chosen as the Best Studio Recording.
1975: Success of Mamma Mia in the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia
In 1975, ABBA had further solidified their success with "Mamma Mia" reaching number-one in the United Kingdom, Germany and Australia. In the United States, both "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" and "SOS" peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
1975: Releases and Chart Successes
In 1975, ABBA released "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do", which reached number 38 in the UK and top five in several European countries and number one in South Africa. Later in 1975, ABBA released their self-titled third studio album ABBA and single "SOS", which brought back their chart presence in the UK.
1975: Another Successful album
In 1975, she recorded another successful album in 1975, Frida ensam.
March 1976: Release of Greatest Hits album
In March 1976, ABBA released the compilation album Greatest Hits, which became their first UK number-one album. Also included on Greatest Hits was a new single, "Fernando", which went to number-one in at least thirteen countries all over the world.
May 1976: Official logo debut
In May 1976, ABBA's official logo, featuring a backward "B", first appeared on the French compilation album, Golden Double Album, released by Disques Vogue.
1976: ABBA's Limited Success in US Album Market
By early 1976, ABBA had four Top 30 singles on the US charts, but the album market proved tough. The eponymous ABBA album peaked at number 165 on the Cashbox album chart and number 174 on the Billboard 200 chart. There were opinions that in the US ABBA had endured "a very sloppy promotional campaign".
1976: "Fernando" receives "Best Studio Recording of 1975"
In 1976, ABBA received its first international prize, with "Fernando" being chosen as the "Best Studio Recording of 1975".
1976: Release of "Arrival"
In 1976, ABBA released the instrumental track "Arrival".
1976: Hit songs flowed from Arrival
In 1976, many hits flowed from the Arrival album: "Money, Money, Money", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "Dancing Queen". "Dancing Queen" topped charts in the United States, Canada, the Soviet Union and Japan.
1976: Inspiration for the official logo
In 1976, the idea for ABBA's official logo came during a velvet jumpsuit photo shoot for the teenage magazine Bravo, when photographer Wolfgang "Bubi" Heilemann noticed Benny Andersson reversed his letter "B".
January 1977: First Major Tour
In January 1977, ABBA started their first major tour in Oslo, Norway. The concert garnered huge media attention from Europe and Australia, highlighting ABBA's superstar status.
March 1977: Australian Tour
In March 1977, ABBA performed 11 dates in Australia for a total of 160,000 people. The opening concert in Sydney was marred by rain, but remembered fondly by the band.
April 1977: "Dancing Queen" Reached Number One
In April 1977, ABBA's single, "Dancing Queen", reached number one.
December 1977: Release of ABBA: The Album
In December 1977, ABBA released "ABBA: The Album" to coincide with the debut of ABBA: The Movie. The album spawned hits like "The Name of the Game" and "Take a Chance on Me."
1977: Arrival nominated for BRIT Award
In 1977, ABBA's album Arrival was nominated for the inaugural BRIT Award in the category "Best International Album of the Year".
May 1978: US Promotional Campaign
During May 1978, ABBA visited the United States for a promotional campaign, appearing on Olivia Newton-John's TV show alongside Andy Gibb.
1978: Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad Married
In 1978, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were married.
January 1979: Ulvaeus and Fältskog Announce Divorce
In mid-January 1979, Ulvaeus and Fältskog announced their divorce, causing media speculation about ABBA's future.
January 1979: Music for UNICEF Concert Performance
On 9 January 1979, ABBA performed "Chiquitita" at the Music for UNICEF Concert held at the United Nations General Assembly and donated the copyright of the song to UNICEF.
September 1979: Start of ABBA: The Tour
On 13 September 1979, ABBA began "ABBA: The Tour" at Northlands Coliseum in Edmonton, Canada, with a full house of 14,000 people.
October 1979: Continuation of ABBA: The Tour
In October 1979, ABBA continued their tour in Western Europe, playing 23 sold-out gigs, including six at London's Wembley Arena.
1979: Release of Greatest Hits Vol. 2
In 1979, ABBA released their second compilation album, "Greatest Hits Vol. 2", which included a new track: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".
1979: Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus Divorced
In 1979, Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus divorced.
July 1980: Release of "The Winner Takes It All"
In July 1980, ABBA released "The Winner Takes It All", which became their eighth UK chart-topper.
November 1980: Release of Super Trouper Album
In November 1980, ABBA released their seventh album, "Super Trouper", which reflected a change in their style and set a record for pre-orders in the UK.
January 1981: Ulvaeus Marries Källersjö
In January 1981, Ulvaeus married Lena Källersjö.
February 1981: Andersson and Lyngstad Announce Divorce
In mid-February 1981, Andersson and Lyngstad announced they were filing for divorce.
November 1981: Andersson Marries Nörklit
In November 1981, Benny Andersson married Mona Nörklit.
December 1981: "One of Us" Reaches Number One in Germany
In December 1981, "One of Us" reached number one in Germany, becoming ABBA's last number-one single in that country.
December 1981: "When All Is Said and Done" Debuts on US Charts
On 31 December 1981, "When All Is Said and Done" debuted on the US charts, becoming ABBA's final Top 40 hit in the US.
1981: Release of "Lay All Your Love on Me"
In 1981, "Lay All Your Love on Me" was released as a Twelve-inch single in select territories and topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
1981: Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad Divorced
In 1981, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad divorced.
June 1982: Difficult Recording Sessions
In June 1982, ABBA's recording sessions proved difficult, resulting in only three songs recorded: "You Owe Me One", "I Am the City", and "Just Like That". Andersson and Ulvaeus were unsatisfied, leading to the shelving of the tapes and a summer break for the group.
November 1982: Promotion of The Singles: The First Ten Years in London and West Germany
In November 1982, ABBA traveled to London to promote The Singles: The First Ten Years, appearing on Saturday Superstore and The Late, Late Breakfast Show. They also went to West Germany in the second week of November to perform on Show Express.
December 1982: ABBA Disbands
In December 1982, ABBA disbanded, after which Andersson and Ulvaeus pursued writing music for stage, musicals and movies, while Fältskog and Lyngstad pursued solo careers.
December 1982: Final Public Performance
In December 1982, ABBA gave their final public performance together on the British TV program The Late, Late Breakfast Show (live from Stockholm).
January 1983: Fältskog Begins Solo Album Recording and Ulvaeus and Andersson Write for Chess
In January 1983, Fältskog commenced recording for a solo album, coinciding with Ulvaeus and Andersson's songwriting efforts for the musical Chess.
December 1983: "Abbacadabra" Premieres in London
On December 8, 1983, "Abbacadabra" premiered at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London. It ran for eight weeks.
1983: Belated Release of "Thank You for the Music"
In 1983, "Thank You for the Music", the B-side of "Eagle" was released as an A-side single in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
1983: Andersson and Ulvaeus begin collaboration with Tim Rice for Chess and Abbacadabra musical
In early 1983, Andersson and Ulvaeus started working with Tim Rice on the musical project Chess. Furthermore, they collaborated on the children's musical Abbacadabra, using 14 ABBA songs, which aired on French TV over Christmas of 1983.
January 1984: "Abbacadabra" Closes in London
On January 21, 1984, the musical "Abbacadabra" closed at the Lyric Hammersmith Theatre in London after an eight-week run.
May 1984: Lyngstad Performs at United Nations Gala
In May 1984, Lyngstad performed "I Have a Dream" with a children's choir at the United Nations Organisation Gala in Geneva, Switzerland.
1984: ABBA album rumors.
During 1984, Lyngstad and Fältskog repeatedly claimed in interviews that ABBA would come together for a new album.
January 1986: ABBA Reunites for Stig Anderson's Birthday
In January 1986, all four members of ABBA made a public appearance, recording a video of themselves performing an acoustic version of "Tivedshambo" for a Swedish TV show honouring their manager Stig Anderson's 55th birthday. They had not seen each other for more than two years prior to January 1986.
1986: Occasional Public Appearance of ABBA members
ABBA members made only occasional public appearances together since 1986.
1988: Fältskog Interview Regarding Name Permission
In 1988, Agnetha Fältskog stated in an interview that ABBA had to ask permission from the fish canning factory for the use of their name, and the factory agreed as long as ABBA didn't make them feel ashamed.
June 1992: Andersson and Ulvaeus perform with U2
In June 1992, Andersson and Ulvaeus joined U2 on stage at a Stockholm concert, performing the chorus of "Dancing Queen."
September 1992: Release of ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits
In September 1992, ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, a new compilation album, was released.
1992: Polygram adds a crown emblem to the ABBA logo
In 1992, Polygram added a crown emblem to the ABBA logo for the first release of the ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits compilation.
1993: Release of "I Am the City" on More ABBA Gold
In 1993, "I Am the City", previously unreleased, was included on the compilation album More ABBA Gold.
1993: Lyngstad Performs "Dancing Queen" with The Real Group
In 1993, Lyngstad performed and recorded an a cappella version of "Dancing Queen" with the Swedish group the Real Group.
1993: Release of More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits
In 1993, More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits, a follow-up to Gold, was released.
1993: ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits released in the US
In 1993, the compilation album "ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits" was first released in the US.
1994: Release of "Just Like That" chorus on retrospective box set
In 1994, the chorus section of the unreleased song "Just Like That" was finally released on a retrospective box set, as well as in the ABBA Undeleted medley featured on disc 9 of The Complete Studio Recordings.
1994: ABBA's Music Gains Prominence in Australian Films and Release of "Thank You for the Music" box set
In 1994, two Australian films, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Muriel's Wedding, brought attention to ABBA's music. In that year, the four-disc box set Thank You for the Music was released with the involvement of all four members.
1998: Formation of ABBA Teens and B & B Concerts
In 1998, the ABBA tribute group ABBA Teens (later A-Teens) was formed, and the B & B Concerts, a tribute to Andersson and Ulvaeus, were held in Sweden.
1999: Release of ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos
In 1999, "ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos", the Spanish equivalent of ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits, was released.
1999: Mamma Mia! Stage Musical Adaptation
In 1999, ABBA's music was adapted into "Mamma Mia!", a stage musical.
1999: ABBA Attends Görel Hanser's 50th Birthday
In 1999, all four ABBA members attended the 50th birthday celebration of Görel Hanser, a long-time friend and former secretary of Stig Anderson. They performed a Swedish birthday song "Med en enkel tulipan" a cappella to honor her.
1999: Release of ABBAmania tribute album
In 1999, the compilation album ABBAmania was released, featuring new cover versions of ABBA songs, with proceeds benefiting the Youth Music charity in England.
2000: ABBA Turns Down Reunion Tour Offer
In 2000, ABBA reportedly declined an offer of approximately one billion US dollars for a 100-concert reunion tour.
2002: Induction into Vocal Group Hall of Fame
In 2002, ABBA was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.
2002: Andersson and Ulvaeus Receive Ivor Novello Award
In 2002, Andersson and Ulvaeus performed an a cappella rendition of the first verse of "Fernando" as they accepted their Ivor Novello award in London.
2003: Lyngstad Re-records "I Have a Dream"
In 2003, Lyngstad re-recorded "I Have a Dream" with Swiss singer Dan Daniell.
2004: ABBA Makes Cameo Appearance in Eurovision Comedy Video
In 2004, all four ABBA members made cameo appearances in a comedy video, titled Our Last Video Ever, made for the interval act of the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final in Istanbul.
February 2005: ABBA Reunites at Mamma Mia! Premiere
On February 14, 2005, the four members of ABBA reunited at the Swedish premiere of the Mamma Mia! musical.
October 2005: "Waterloo" Chosen as Best Eurovision Song; Madonna Releases "Hung Up"
In October 2005, ABBA's "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in Eurovision Song Contest history at the 50th-anniversary celebration. Also in October 2005, Madonna released "Hung Up," which sampled ABBA's "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)".
2005: "Waterloo" Chosen as Best Eurovision Song
In 2005, ABBA's "Waterloo" was chosen as the best song in Eurovision history, as part of the competition's 50th anniversary.
July 2008: ABBA Reunites at "Mamma Mia!" Premiere
On 4 July 2008, all four ABBA members reunited at the Swedish premiere of the film "Mamma Mia!". It was only the second time all of them had appeared together in public since 1986. During the appearance, they re-emphasised that they intended never to officially reunite.
August 2008: ABBA Gold Topped Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums Chart
In August 2008, ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits reached the top of the Billboard Top Pop Catalog Albums chart, 15 years after its US release.
August 2008: "Gold" Returns to Number One; "Mamma Mia!" Soundtrack Topped US Charts
On 3 August 2008, "Gold" returned to number-one in the UK album charts for the fifth time. On 14 August 2008, the "Mamma Mia!" The Movie film soundtrack went to number-one on the US Billboard charts, ABBA's first US chart-topping album.
November 2008: Release of "The Albums" Compilation
In November 2008, all eight studio albums, together with a ninth of rare tracks, were released as "The Albums".
2008: Release of SingStar ABBA
In 2008, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, in collaboration with Universal Music Group Sweden AB, released SingStar ABBA on both the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 games consoles, as part of the SingStar music video games.
2008: "Mamma Mia!" Film Release
In 2008, the film adaptation of "Mamma Mia!" was released, becoming the highest-grossing film in the United Kingdom that year.
January 2009: Fältskog and Lyngstad Receive "Rockbjörnen" Award
On 22 January 2009, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad appeared together on stage to receive the Swedish music award "Rockbjörnen" (for "lifetime achievement").
November 2009: ABBA Voted Most Desired Band to Reform
On 25 November 2009, PRS for Music announced that the British public voted ABBA as the band they would most like to see re-form.
January 2010: ABBAWORLD Exhibition Debuts in London
On 27 January 2010, ABBAWORLD, a 25-room touring exhibition featuring interactive and audiovisual activities, debuted at Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London.
March 2010: ABBA Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
On 15 March 2010, ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson represented the group.
2010: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2010, ABBA was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the first recording artists to receive this honour from outside an Anglophonic country.
January 2011: Fältskog Raises Possibility of ABBA Reunion
On January 3, 2011, Fältskog suggested the possibility of an ABBA reunion for a one-off engagement.
May 2011: "Mamma Mia" in Bandmaster Game
In May 2011, "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" was added as a non-premium song selection for the Bandmaster Philippines server.
November 2011: Ubisoft Releases ABBA: You Can Dance
On 15 November 2011, Ubisoft released a dancing game called "ABBA: You Can Dance" for the Wii.
November 2012: UK Sales Ranking
By 3 November 2012, ABBA were ranked as the 3rd best-selling singles artists in the United Kingdom with 11.3 million singles sold.
April 2013: Fältskog Reiterates Hopes for Reunion
In April 2013, Fältskog expressed her continued desire for an ABBA reunion during an interview with Die Zeit, stating her willingness to participate if asked.
May 2013: Fältskog States ABBA Reunion Unlikely
In May 2013, Fältskog expressed in an interview that an ABBA reunion was unlikely due to the band members' age and individual lives.
April 2014: Fältskog Discusses Potential for New ABBA Recording
In April 2014, Fältskog discussed the possibility of ABBA reuniting to record a new song, stating she would be open to it if Björn and Benny were willing.
2014: Publication of "ABBA: The Official Photo Book"
In early 2014, the book "ABBA: The Official Photo Book" was published, marking the 40th anniversary of the band's Eurovision victory. The book revealed the reason for the band's outrageous costumes was that Swedish tax laws at the time allowed the cost of garish outfits that were not suitable for daily wear to be tax deductible.
2015: "Dancing Queen" Inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2015, ABBA's song "Dancing Queen" was inducted into the Recording Academy's Grammy Hall of Fame.
2015: "Mamma Mia!" Broadway Production Closes
In 2015, the Broadway production of "Mamma Mia!" closed.
January 2016: ABBA Members Appear at "Mamma Mia! The Party"
On 20 January 2016, all four members of ABBA made a public appearance at "Mamma Mia! The Party" in Stockholm.
June 2016: ABBA Appears at Private Party
On 6 June 2016, the quartet appeared together at a private party at Berns Salonger in Stockholm, which was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Andersson and Ulvaeus's first meeting. Fältskog and Lyngstad performed live, singing "The Way Old Friends Do" before they were joined on stage by Andersson and Ulvaeus.
October 2016: Announcement of Digital Entertainment Experience
In October 2016, British manager Simon Fuller announced that ABBA would be reuniting to work on a new "digital entertainment experience" featuring ABBAtars.
May 2017: "Fernando" longest-running chart-topper
In May 2017, "Fernando" was the longest-running chart-topper for over 40 years until it was overtaken by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You".
May 2017: Announcement of Mamma Mia! Sequel
In May 2017, a sequel to the 2008 movie Mamma Mia!, titled Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, was announced; the film was released on 20 July 2018.
June 2017: Blue Plaque Commemorates Eurovision Win
In June 2017, a blue plaque outside Brighton Dome was set to commemorate their 1974 Eurovision win.
April 2018: Announcement of New Songs
On 27 April 2018, all four original members of ABBA made a joint announcement that they had recorded two new songs, titled "I Still Have Faith in You" and "Don't Shut Me Down", to feature in a TV special set to air later that year.
July 2018: Release of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again
The film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again was released on 20 July 2018.
September 2018: Cher Released Dancing Queen Cover Album
In September 2018, Cher, who appeared in the movie, also released Dancing Queen, an ABBA cover album.
September 2018: Delay of New Songs and TV Special
In September 2018, Ulvaeus stated that the two new songs, as well as the TV special, now called "ABBA: Thank You for the Music, An All-Star Tribute", would not be released until 2019. The TV special was later revealed to be scrapped by 2018.
2018: Announcement of New Songs
In 2018, ABBA announced they had recorded new songs.
2018: "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" Film Release
In 2018, the sequel film, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again", was released.
January 2019: Further Delay of New Song Releases
In January 2019, it was revealed that neither song would be released before the summer. Andersson hinted at the possibility of a third song.
June 2019: Announcement of New Song and Video Release
In June 2019, Ulvaeus announced that the first new song and video containing the ABBAtars would be released in November 2019.
November 2019: Planned Release of New Song
In June 2019, Ulvaeus announced that the first new song and video containing the ABBAtars would be released in November 2019.
April 2020: Avatar Project Delayed Due to Pandemic
In April 2020, Ulvaeus said that the avatar project had been delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
May 2020: Release of ABBA: The Studio Albums on Vinyl
In May 2020, it was announced that ABBA's entire studio discography would be released on coloured vinyl for the first time, in a box set titled "ABBA: The Studio Albums".
July 2020: Further Delay of New ABBA Recordings
In July 2020, Ulvaeus revealed that the release of the new ABBA recordings had been delayed until 2021.
September 2020: Release Date Aimed for New Music
In early 2020, Andersson confirmed that he was aiming for the songs to be released in September 2020.
September 2020: ABBA Members Reunite in London
On 22 September 2020, all four ABBA members reunited at Ealing Studios in London to continue working on the avatar project and filming for the tour.
November 2020: "Our Last Video Ever" Reaches 13 Million Views
By November 2020, the video "Our Last Video Ever," featuring puppet versions of the ABBA members, surpassed 13 million views on YouTube.
August 2021: Launch of ABBA Voyage Website and Social Media
On 26 August 2021, a new website was launched, with the title ABBA Voyage. Simultaneously with the launch of the webpage, new ABBA Voyage social media accounts were launched, and billboards around London started to appear, all showing the date "02.09.21", leading to expectation of what was to be revealed on that date.
October 2021: Release of "Just a Notion" Single
In October 2021, the third single "Just a Notion" was released, and it was announced that ABBA would split for good after the release of Voyage.
November 2021: Grammy Nomination for Record of the Year
In November 2021, ABBA received their first-ever Grammy nomination for Record of the Year for the single "I Still Have Faith in You" from the album Voyage.
November 2021: Voyage Peaked at No. 2 on Billboard 200
In November 2021, ABBA's album Voyage achieved the group's highest-ever ranking on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at No. 2.
November 2021: Voyage Album Release
On 5 November 2021, ABBA released "Voyage", their first new album in 40 years.
November 2021: Release of Voyage Album
On 5 November 2021, Voyage, their first new album in 40 years, was announced to be released.
May 2022: ABBA Voyage Concert Residency Opens
In May 2022, ABBA Voyage, a concert residency featuring ABBA as virtual avatars, opened in London.
May 2022: Andersson Confirms Residency is Final Collaboration
In May 2022, after the premiere of ABBA Voyage, Andersson stated in an interview with Variety that "nothing is going to happen after this", confirming the residency as ABBA's final group collaboration.
November 2022: "Don't Shut Me Down" Nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance
In November 2022, the song "Don't Shut Me Down", from the album Voyage, was nominated for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the Grammy Awards.
April 2023: Death of ABBA Guitarist Lasse Wellander
In April 2023, longtime ABBA guitarist Lasse Wellander died at the age of 70; Wellander played on seven of the group's nine studio albums, including Voyage.
May 2023: BRIT Billion Award
In May 2023, ABBA were awarded the BRIT Billion Award for surpassing one billion UK streams.
December 2023: Saturday Night Live Sketch Featuring Fictional ABBA Christmas Album
On 16 December 2023, Saturday Night Live aired a sketch promoting a fictional ABBA album with Christmas-themed lyrics. Kate McKinnon, Bowen Yang, Maya Rudolph, and Kristin Wiig participated in the sketch.
August 2024: ABBA Demands Trump Stop Using Their Music
In August 2024 after Donald Trump played several of their songs and used footage of the group at a campaign rally, ABBA demanded he stop using their music.
October 2024: "Mamma Mia!" Still Running in the West End
As of October 2024, "Mamma Mia!" is still in the top-ten longest running productions on the West End.
2024: Arrival added to National Recording Registry
In 2024, the United States Library of Congress included the album "Arrival" (1976) in the National Recording Registry.
