New K-pop girl group VVS talk about what fans can expect from their debut, how their girl group concept is different from other girl groups, how they describe their R&B and pop sound and more in their Billboard Korea cover interview. VVSHi Billboard, we are VVS! BritneyHello my name is Brittney and I’m the leader […]

“I had my own vision for what I wanted to hear in K-pop,” says Paul Thompson, an Italian American who 11 years ago moved to South Korea from California to teach English, but has since become better known as chart-topping K-pop producer MCMZ and founder of MCMZ Inc., an entertainment group based in Seoul. “I knew no other company was 100% going to let me do the vision I had. It was time for me to try to evolve K-pop.” Enter VVS, Thompson’s newly formed group eyeing October for its official debut, and with four albums already mapped out. Embodying his love for The Neptunes, Timbaland co-producer Danja and singer-songwriter-producer Ryan Leslie, Thompson created a streamlined sound for the new act, which is named after the diamond category of the same name. “I would say we’re mashing up Ariana [Grande’s] ‘POV’ and Nicki Minaj,” says Thompson, who calls the members of VVS “the right five to push K-pop forward.” With one Japanese and four Korean members, VVS comprises Brittney (20, the group’s leader and English speaker), Ilee (19, a rapper inspired by Blackpink’s Jennie), Rana (18, the main dancer who is musically influenced by Lauryn Hill), Jiu (15, the main vocalist who looks up to K-pop powerhouse Taeyeon) and Liwon (15, a vocalist who admires fellow teen singer Kiana). Trending on Billboard For now, the quintet has daily rehearsals, vocal and rap lessons, and group workouts. As their debut looms closer, the members will move into a shared living space and add media training and language lessons as part of K-pop’s famous trainee system. But unlike other trainees, the members of VVS will have had what Brittney and the girls call “culture classes” to dig into the roots of R&B and hip-hop. “From the cultural beginnings to today where female rappers are able to perform onstage with such confidence, the fact that we are able to learn about the history of the OGs is really meaningful,” Ilee says through a translator. “We learned about female rappers at the start of the hip-hop industry, like Lil’ Kim, who influences me because she’s very confident.” Brittney Scott Joonhyuk Jung Ilee Scott Joonhyuk Jung Meanwhile, Brittney — who nearly abandoned her K-pop dreams after time training in two different agencies before joining MCMZ — pulls inspiration from an act closer to home. “BTS came from a small company,” she says. “We come from a small company, too, so I think there’s a lot that we can learn from them. They’re very hard workers, they put all their effort into their job, and when they perform onstage, they’re 100%. I think their teamwork is amazing, so I tell my girls about them, too.” After initially moving to South Korea to teach English, Thompson spent the following decade becoming the chart-topping K-pop producer MCMZ for arena-filling acts like EXO, NCT and Kang Daniel. Similar to NewJeans mastermind Min Hee Jin and other K-pop creatives who have moved from the liner notes to the C-suite, Thompson transformed his producer moniker into a corporate entity, founding MCMZ Inc. in early 2019 and incorporating as a Korean entity in January 2020 with an all-Korean staff and crop of songwriters that includes K-pop idol Yuju and lyricists in Los Angeles and Nashville. Thompson’s own body of work — alongside key hires of management, casting and artist development veterans in Korea — quickly earned his new label the trust of the industry. Blackpink’s agency, YG Entertainment, has already invested in the company through a deal with its distribution division, YG Plus, to assist in merchandising and marketing, as well as global distribution. And despite operating as an Italian American in a predominantly Asian industry, Thompson says, “All the parents know what I’ve done, all the trainees know, and a lot of them audition because of the music. They realize, ‘OK, the company is still Korean, all the contracts are done in Korean, it just happens that the CEO is not.’ ” Jiu Scott Joonhyuk Jung Despite its American influences, MCMZ Inc. plans to target the international K-pop fandom as well as the scene’s core markets like Korea, Japan and English-speaking territories. “It’s going to be harder for us to get across because all the big companies have way more money than us to put toward marketing,” Thompson says. “The best way we can market ourselves is to go through other channels where we don’t have to put a huge budget behind that.” That’s exactly why he has made yet another unconventional move: welcoming Anderson Cooper to film a CNN documentary about MCMZ Inc. to air at a later date. Thompson believes embracing such an unfiltered approach during a time of creative experimentation points to the type of ambition needed to break through industry hierarchies. “They’re already going to be questioning if we’re authentically Korean,” Thompson says. “A lot of the Korean companies’ first target demographic is going to be Korea. For us, it’s still Korea, but we know we have a barrier there to entry anyway, so let’s see how we can market ourselves more accurately [beyond that].” Liwon Scott Joonhyuk Jung Rana Scott Joonhyuk Jung This story will appear in the April 27, 2024, issue of Billboard.

“I had my own vision for what I wanted to hear in K-pop,” says Paul Thompson, an Italian American who 11 years ago moved to South Korea from California to teach English, but has since become better known as chart-topping K-pop producer MCMZ and founder of MCMZ Inc., an entertainment group based in Seoul. “I […]

Billboard’s Friday Music Guide serves as a handy guide to this Friday’s most essential releases — the key music that everyone will be talking about today, and that will be dominating playlists this weekend and beyond.  Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news This week, Normani increases our Dopamine supply, PARTYNEXTDOOR elevates his game and Anitta provides Brazilian funk for summer. Check out all of this week’s picks below: Normani feat. Gunna, “1:59”  [embedded content] The reason why anticipation remains high for Normani’s debut solo project, in spite of years of false starts and setbacks, is because the music that the former Fifth Harmony star has released over the past half-decade has been enticingly singular, a collection of R&B singles with pop and personality. At long last, Normani’s first album is on the calendar — Dopamine is slated for a June release — and new single “1:59” serves as another reminder of the project’s promise, with the singer waxing poetic about a steamy encounter in between Gunna’s animated crooning. PARTYNEXTDOOR, PARTYNEXTDOOR 4  [embedded content] Evolving from one of Drake’s most trusted studio companions into an ever-reliable R&B solo artist, PARTYNEXTDOOR has spent the past decade accruing a dedicated following — and now wants more, if PARTYNEXTDOOR 4, his first project in four years, is any indication. The new album carries a cohesion and stylistic ambition that previously was not prominent in PND’s oeuvre, as the Canadian singer-songwriter elevates his late-night musings and warbled vocals to more emotionally affecting territory, particularly on the album’s back half. Trending on Billboard Anitta, Funk Generation  [embedded content] The opening song on Anitta’s new album is titled “Lose Ya Breath,” and that’s precisely what the veteran star aims to accomplish on this kinetic new project: Funk Generation rarely lets the BPM lag, and Anitta never stops showcasing the ferocity that powers a lot of these Brazilian funk heaters. Previously released singles “Funk Rave” and “Joga Pra Lua” sound at home on the track list, Sam Smith stops by to provide some feathery vocals to “Ahi,” but the sub-two-minute headbangers like “Savage Funk” and “Grip” might steal the whole show. Justice, Hyperdrama  [embedded content] Miguel, Thundercat, The Flints, Tame Impala: these are just a handful of the guest stars on Justice’s long-awaited new album Hyperdrama, with guest vocalists a rarity in the French electronic duo’s discography. And while some of those collaborations result in exciting new compounds — Kevin Parker’s voice stretches out and shimmers on the opener “Neverender,” for instance — they’re also a little besides the point, as the veteran dance kings provide plenty of movement on their own; the multi-part “Incognito” may be one of the biggest triumphs of their entire catalog, every gear shift producing another unexpected thrill. Myke Towers feat. Bad Bunny, “Adivino”  [embedded content] Two years after Bad Bunny ignited the summer with the surprise May 2022 release of his album Un Verano Sin Ti, the A-lister has joined forces with another Puerto Rican superstar, Myke Towers, on a track that sounds primed for beach playlists and sweaty club nights. “Adivino” may document a breakup, but the thumping beat and rapid hooks dispel any chance to dwell on the sorrow; meanwhile, Towers and Bad Bunny crackle side by side, trading off lines and oscillating between singing and rapping with an easy chemistry. Editor’s Pick: Tems, “Love Me JeJe”  [embedded content] Tems has been impacting the U.S. mainstream for such a long time that it seems impossible that she has yet to release a proper debut album, but after several hit collaborations (“Wait For U” with Future and Drake, “Essence” with Wizkid) and 2021’s If Orange Was a Place EP, the Nigerian superstar will finally unveil Born in the Wild next month. Lead single “Love Me JeJe” distills what has made Tems such a captivating presence since arriving on the scene, as she expresses unbridled passion above warm, uncluttered production courtesy of Spax and Guiltybeatz; the song never overreaches, simply tossing out heartfelt thoughts and a summertime beat.

For the past decade Zendaya‘s music career has seemed like a game-set-match. But on Friday (April 26), the Challengers star gave longtime fans a glimmer of hope that she could mount a return to the studio someday during a chat with Jennifer Hudson. Explore Explore See latest videos, charts and news See latest videos, charts and news But first, Hudson heaped praise on the 27-year-old multi-talented star, noting, “you’re so gifted, you’re musical, you write music, you sing… you dance! Oh my goodness. Where did the music come from?” “I love music and it’s something that’s been special to me and being in the music industry… it didn’t kill the joy of music, but when you put music and business together it cannot feel so good,” Zendaya replied diplomatically. Hudson could totally relate, but wondered if one day Z might again share her music with fans if it felt right. Trending on Billboard “You know, I think if the right timing and it came… again, I like creating it for myself,” Zendaya said. “But if there was a moment maybe I would put out a little something. Don’t be crazy, we’ll see. But maybe… one day.” The actress/singer, who has not released her own music in more than a decade, was most recently featured on Bobby Brackins’ 2015 single “My Jam” alongside Jeremih. She released her self-titled debut — and so far only full-length record — in 2013, an electro pop collection that featured the glitch pop single “Replay,” which topped out at Nov. 40 on the Billboard Hot 100. The Dune: Part Two star also talked about her surprise jump-up with Labrinth at Coachella last year, explaining that English rapper/songwriter is “so talented” and such a “wonderful person” that there was no way she could not say no, despite her initial fears. “He asked me if I wanted to come out and perform and immediately I was like ‘oh, absolutely not.’ I was like ‘I can’t do that,'” she said, noting that she has “bad memories” of performing as a kid and that stage fright was a serious concern. “I was like, ‘I can’t! I can’t do it! It drives me crazy! I’m too nervous. I don’t wanna not do good and I don’t wanna let people down,'” she recalled thinking. “And then I went to myself, ‘Dude, you can’t run from this. You can’t hide from this forever. You’re gonna want to be on a stage and perform live once in your life at least.’ And what better place to do it than with someone that I admire and I respect and it’s his set, not mine, so I can just enjoy being with him, and so I said yes and was like, ‘Why the hell did I do this!?'” But after joining Lab for the final two songs of his set, “I’m Tired” and “All For Us” — which they collaborated on for her HBO series Euphoria — Z said she was a bit disappointed in herself, feeling it was not her best effort because she couldn’t hear the music over the audience noise. “[So] I was like, ‘We’re just going to have fun. I’m just going to look like I’m having fun and we’re going to deal with this later. Who knows what this sounds like?,'” she told herself. Reflecting later, though, Z realized there was no reason to beat herself up because the reason she couldn’t hear anything was that hyped crowd was singing along with her at the top of their lungs, screaming and excited. “I was like, ‘be grateful and be happy about it!’,” she said, later appreciating the love and support she’d received. Watch Zendaya talk about a possible return to music and her Coachella surprise with Hudson below. [embedded content]