PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES GREENLIGHT OF NEW DOCUMENTARY SPOTLIGHTING BOY BANDS
The Documentary Will Feature Pop Royalty from New Kids On The Block
To Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, 98 Degrees and Many More
Produced by MTV Entertainment Studios in Partnership with Gunpowder & Sky
October 2, 2023 – Paramount+ today announced a new documentary that will shine a light on the most enduring genre of music in pop culture and the megastars who dominated the industry in the late 1990s and early 2000s: boy bands.
Produced by two key architects of the height of the boy band era, music manager Johnny Wright (New Kids On The Block, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, Britney Spears) and Gunpowder & Sky CEO Van Toffler (TRL, MTV VMAs, Words & Music, Released, Election, Tupac: Resurrection), the documentary will dig deep into the love, pain and tears of joy in the frenetic boy band era with inside information and anecdotes from the key players. Tamra Davis (Rock-CB4, Billy Madison, Half Baked, Crossroads, 13: The Musical) is set to direct.
With access to the music, band members and personalities who shaped an era, the documentary will explain the genre’s unprecedented popularity and place it in the context of pop music’s most important movements. The documentary will feature new interviews and material, along with archival concert footage, unaired interviews and candid clips that feature original members, songwriters, producers, managers, family members and fans.
“The ’90s boy band era made an indelible impact and will be forever woven into the pop culture landscape. Boy bands remain bonafide global sensations to this day, as seen in the fan frenzy heard around the world during *NSYNC’s on-stage reunion at this year’s VMAs and the ever-spreading domination of K-Pop’s biggest groups like BTS, Stray Kids and TXT,” said Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events, Paramount and Chief Content Officer, Music, Paramount+. “We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Van and Gunpowder & Sky, harnessing the magic and nostalgia this golden age of boy band culture continues to elicit for the legions of fans across generation and the world.”
"The ’90s boy band era was an extraordinary chapter in music where harmonies and beats came together, along with talented vocal artists who captivated the hearts of millions worldwide,” said music manager Johnny Wright. “Their music spoke to the dreams, aspirations and emotions of the fans, creating a bond that transcended borders and language. To this day, the boy bands continue to inspire, uplift and unite – reminding us of a great time that will forever hold a special place in our hearts."
Van Toffler, CEO, Gunpowder & Sky added, “If you think back to groups like The Jackson 5, who paved the way for boy bands, this music has dominated the charts for decades, but there’s always been a stigma attached. The reality is, these are insanely talented guys who led the requests each week when I was running TRL in the ’90s and early 2000s. And, just when we all think the fervor for boy bands has dissipated, One Direction or BTS emerge, and their disciples like Harry Styles and Justin Timberlake overtake pop culture."
The documentary turns on the proposition that the most popular music of the late 1990s and early 2000s has been overlooked, not just as a triumph of musicianship, choreography, street-level viral promotion and even songcraft, but as a cultural institution that paved the way for the biggest stars of today.
The announcement comes on the heels of the two recently released Paramount+ music documentaries, I WANNA ROCK: THE ’80s METAL DREAM and SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH, both produced by Gunpowder & Sky.
About Paramount+
Paramount+, a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment™. The premium streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ with SHOWTIME, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME® content, including scripted hits, critically acclaimed nonfiction projects, SHOWTIME SPORTS® (including industry-leading SHOWTIME BOXING®) and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more, plus streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis.
For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com and follow @ParamountPlus on social platforms.
About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks
SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME, MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others – and, its Studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today’s biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, George & Tammy, South Park, Tulsa King, RuPaul’s Drag Race, The Challenge and Jersey Shore, to name a few.
About Gunpowder & Sky
Since its inception in 2016, Gunpowder & Sky has released more than 60 feature films and series in theaters, on TVOD and on leading services such as HBO, Netflix, MTV, Hulu, Sky, Showtime, Spotify, Amazon, YouTube, Audible, Roku and Discovery.
Recent projects include the Emmy-nominated The Notorious B.I.G. Sky’s The Limit: A VR Concert Experience, a state-of-the-art immersive concert and narrative experience, in conjunction with Meta and The Notorious B.I.G. estate, featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and Sean “Diddy'' Combs in true-to-life avatar form; the three-part hair metal documentary series with Paramount+, I Wanna Rock: The ‘80s Metal Dream; another three-part documentary series with Paramount+ exploring the history of soft rock, Sometimes When We Touch; Last Exit: Space, a doc written and directed by Rudolph Herzog and executive produced / narrated by Werner Herzog, premiered on discovery+; Call Me Miss Cleo, an eye-opening film chronicling the rise, fall, and reinvention of controversial and revered ‘90s television psychic Miss Cleo, featuring testimonials from actresses Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson, debuted on December 15 on HBO Max; Gaming Wall Street, a two-part documentary narrated by Kieran Culkin exploring the historic 2021 short squeeze of GameStop, and how a group of armchair investors and online vigilantes ultimately helped expose the dark underbelly of Wall Street, premiered on HBO Max; and Sheryl, the intimate story of song and sacrifice of musical icon Sheryl Crow, premiered on Showtime and was nominated or an HCA for ‘Best Broadcast Network or Cable Documentary TV Movie.’ Additional projects in recent years have included the 69: The Saga of Danny Hernandez and Lil Peep - Everybody’s Everything.
With offices in Los Angeles and New York, Gunpowder & Sky was founded by Van Toffler and Floris Bauer.
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Originally published: October 07, 2023.
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