NEXZ (Tomoya, Yu, Haru, Sogen, Seita, Huey, and Yuki) have finally grabbed their first music show trophy in a tearful moment!
The group took the top spot on the May 6 broadcast of MBC M’s ‘Show Champion’ with their second single’s title track ‘Mmchk,’ released on April 27.
When announced as the winners, NEXZ were overcome with emotion, crying as they realized their hard work had paid off. The members immediately credited their music companions, NEX2Y (official fandom name), saying, “We think of this as a gift from NEX2Y, and we will continue to work tirelessly. Thank you for always supporting us and giving us so much love. We’ll do our best to remain a team that is loved.”
The members shared more of their feelings during a live broadcast on their official YouTube channel after the show. “NEXZ won first place! Congratulations to us! It doesn’t feel real yet. It’s still so strange,” they exclaimed. “We actually burst into tears. We wondered if this moment would ever come for us. It’s such a wonderful, unforgettable memory. The countdown before the announcement felt like it was in slow motion. I think I was really nervous. Time seemed to slow down, and the NEX2Y fans in front of us looked just as tense. Everyone’s nerves were on edge.”
They added, “It’s a shock. I’m happy, and it feels so surreal. It’s hard to put these emotions into words, but I know I’ll never forget this feeling for the rest of my life. It was so great to hear NEX2Y cheering and singing along. I even saw signs that said ‘Congratulations on 1st place, NEXZ.’ That’s when it felt real. I didn’t even know where to start with my acceptance speech on stage.”
The group also expressed their gratitude on a fan communication platform, writing, “We won first place! Thank you so much, we love you, and we’re so happy! I’m truly happy. I will cherish today’s feelings for the rest of my life.”
They continued, “NEX2Y! Thank you so much for gifting us our first win and for always staying by our side. Thanks to your love and support every time we make a comeback, we’ve been happy, and every day has been precious. Receiving such a special gift this time makes today feel like a dream. You’re the best and such a great support! We still have a lot to learn, but the warm way you look at us gives me so much strength. My idols, NEX2Y. I’ll work really hard to become a NEXZ you can be proud of! Thank you so much.”
With this win, NEXZ has turned one of their goals into reality. During their media showcase at Blue Square in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the day of their comeback, they had shared, “We hope to receive even more interest and love than before. It was an honor just to be nominated for first place during our last promotion, but this time we really wanted to take the top spot. We’ll work hard to make it happen.”
This win was almost inevitable. Upon release, their new song hit #1 on the Bugs real-time chart. They also achieved a career high in first-week album sales, recording 444,730 copies and topping the Circle Chart weekly album chart. This is a massive increase of approximately 277% compared to their first single, ‘Ride the Vibe’.
NEXZ was formed through ‘Nizi Project’ Season 2, a collaboration between JYP Entertainment and Sony Music, Japan’s largest record label, in 2023. With an average age of 17 at debut, the group’s name signifies opening a new era with the music and performance of Gen Z. They have consistently evolved to target the tastes of Gen Z listeners. Notably, they have grown into JYP Entertainment’s next generation of self-producing idols, actively participating in songwriting, composition, arrangement, and performance. Their ability to deliver stable live vocals even during dynamic performances is another one of their strong suits.
Continuing their brilliant growth story, NEXZ used the title track ‘Mmchk’ to solidify their ambition to enjoy music freely in their own way, rather than being limited by set manners. Having grown into a team with unrivaled skill and unique individuality that defies existing molds, all eyes are on the path NEXZ will carve out for themselves.
