Can we stop overusing the term ‘supergroup’?

Google defines “supergroup” as “a music band or ensemble whose members are already established and highly successful as solo artists or as part of other bands. It functions as a musical "all-star team".

Merriam-Webster defines “supergroup” as:

• “a group made up of very talented, renowned, or expert members. 
• “especially: a musical group made up of established, prominent musicians,” citing true supergroups like Boygenius, Traveling Wilburys or Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
• “an extremely successful musical group,” citing the K-Pop megastars BTS.

There seems to be a disconnect between over-enthusiastic music writers and their use of the dictionary. To borrow from sage linguist Inigo Montoya, “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” 

I suppose there’s some wiggle room in Merriam-Webster’s initial definition of “a group made up of very talented, renowned or expert members.” But the dictionary emphasizes “especially” in the second definition to encourage us not to get sloppy in proclaiming qualifications like “very talented” or “expert” as being more  important than artists who are prominent and successful and, ultimately, "super." 

Below are a few examples of why I think music geeks are getting too loose with the term. 

As quoted in the June issue of 5280 magazine, which focuses on Colorado, Indie 102.3 public radio music director Alisha Sweeney proclaims Graveyard Choir as “an up-and-coming supergroup including members of INTHEWHALE and Musuji.” Hmmm. Not that Spotify listenership is the arbiter of popularity, but INTHEWHALE has 2,400 monthly listeners, while Musuji has … 10. Yep, 10. Graveyard Choir has 403 monthly listeners, so we might want to back off on supergroup labeling for just a bit. Just saying. 

Vive Le Rock, a British music magazine, tags the trio The Sideshows as a supergroup, citing membership that includes Rich Ragany of Role Models and Digressions, and bassist Sami Yaff of Hanoi Rocks and Jesse Malin. OK, I’ll agree playing with Hanoi Rocks and Jesse Malin would support a leg in a supergroup. But The Digressions, the band with 28 monthly Spotify listeners? Its tuneful pop is enjoyable, but clearly isn’t smothering the masses. And let’s not oversell The Sideshows — the alleged supergroup — which tout 1,600 monthly Spotify listeners. 

The Big Takeover, one of my all-time favorite music magazines, periodically wades into the hyperbole. Case in point: The “supergroup” E, comprising “Karate drummer/singer Gavin McCarthy, Neptune singer/multi-instrumentalist Jason Sanford and legendary singer/guitarist Thalia Zedek (Come, Live Skull, Uzi, Dangerous Birds).” Um, OK. 

Even Wikipedia has gone sideways on the topic. Its Supergroup page includes such legendary acts as RSO, Frou Frou and R.S.V.P., none of which have done anything super.  

Can we please dial back the exaggeration? Pretty please?