Is a band a group or a single entity?

I do remember an earlier discussion, on ILE rather than ILM maybe. But regardless of earlier conclusions, I maintain that there is a fairly strong UK/US divide (sorry to leave the rest of the english speaking world out of this snapshot) -- and it extends to realms other than music, too, mainly the corporate world.

In the UK it seems standard to refer to a band, or a business, or any group of people with a collective name, in the plural: "Virgin Records proudly declare that Atomic Kitten are the most exciting band of the new millenium." In the US, a singular name behaves like a singular noun and a plural name refers to a plural noun, regardless of how many people these nouns reference: "Rolling Stone takes issue with claims to the effect that Atomic Kitten has any redeeming qualities."

larger numbers of people are singular entities throughout the world though e.g. corporations and nations - curious

This are pointless.