O-Town
O-Town (also known as OTWN/OTOWN) is an American boy band formed from the first season of the MTV-produced reality television series Making the Band in 2000. As of 2015 the group consisted of Erik-Michael Estrada, Trevor Penick, Jacob Underwood, and Dan Miller. The line up also included Ashley Parker Angel. Ikaika Kahoano was originally part of the band but was replaced by Miller after dropping out of the group.
O-Town | |
|---|---|
 Original members | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | OTWN |
| Origin | Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Genres | Pop |
| Years active | 2000–2003, 2013–present |
| Labels | Sony BMG, Transcontinental, J, Atlantic/Elektra Records/Warner Records (United States only), Universal Music Group (France/Japan/International only) |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | Trevor Penick Jacob Underwood Dan Miller Erik Michael Estrada |
| Past members | Ashley Parker Angel Ikaika Kahoano |
After releasing two albums near the end of the boy band fad of the late 1990s and early 2000s, the group disbanded in 2003. The group was originally managed by Lou Pearlman during their first season of Making the Band, but later managed by Mike Cronin and Mike Morin for their debut album and remaining television seasons.
History
Formation, Kahoano's departure and Miller's arrival (2000)
O-Town was assembled for the first season of the ABC reality television series Making the Band. Originally, Ikaika Kahoano was one of the five members selected, but he and his family decided he should go to med school instead causing him to back out, making way for Dan Miller (who was selected by the four remaining members). The ratings of Making the Band were strong enough to warrant a second (and eventually third) season. These subsequent seasons depicted their development as a pop group, following their tours and performances. Such events included the development of their second album, O2, their transition to a new record label (J Records), and an ongoing effort to establish themselves. The third season of Making the Band was broadcast on MTV, instead of the original network, ABC.
Self-titled debut album (2000–2001)
After season one, Clive Davis of J Records signed O-Town to his new label. Davis believed in the marketability of the group, and scheduled O-Town to be the label's debut act. Their first release, the self-titled O-Town, boosted by the publicity of the weekly television series, sold more than three million copies. Their first single, "Liquid Dreams", was the first single to reach number 1 on the Billboard singles sales chart without making the Airplay chart. The single managed to peak at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. However, their novelty as television personalities soon wore off, and O-Town would enjoy only temporary success. Jacob Underwood even commented, on a Making the Band recap of seasons one and two, that after "Liquid Dreams", they alone had to prove themselves to the public that they weren't a "flash-in-the-pan" success. In the late spring of 2001, O-Town released "All or Nothing" (July 21, 2001), and the song became their biggest hit of their career as a group. "All or Nothing" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the song was nominated for numerous awards, including "Song of the Year" during the 2001 Radio Music Awards. The success of "All or Nothing" granted them the ability to air another season of Making the Band. Near the end of the third season, O-town fans and television viewers watched as they tried to take their careers to the next level by writing their own music, earn the respect of their industry peers, and market themselves beyond being labeled as a "boy band". They never found the market acceptance they sought.
In 2001, the group was the opening act for Britney Spears' Dream Within a Dream Tour in the US.
O2 (2002–2003)
Their second album, O2, originally scheduled for the summer of 2002 (and planned debut single "I Showed Her" a few weeks before release), was delayed numerous times, and as time passed between their last U.S. single, the moderately successful "We Fit Together", and the anticipation of "O2", without any new singles getting radio airplay and no new episodes of Making the Band, the popularity of O-Town began to wane.
O-Town had burst onto the scene when boy bands and other types of bubblegum pop were beginning to decline and lose their influence. Sales of O-Town's second album, O2, were below expectations. Their debut single for O2, "These are the Days" eventually broke into the Billboard Top 40 at 40, and critics, such as those from Billboard.com, praised their second single, "I Showed Her" for being a well-developed song. Despite this moderate success, "O2" was nowhere near the commercial success of their first album, O-Town, and the band went on tour in the summer of 2003 to promote the album. J Records dropped the band from the label in November 2003.
Split (2003)
Though fans tried to organize campaigns to get O-Town signed to a new label, their efforts met with little success. O-Town sent a personal e-mail to all their fans, via the now defunct Inside O-town.com, thanking them for the great memories and experience they had shared together. In the e-mail, O-Town themselves stated that they had disbanded due to the changing climate of the music industry, along with certain financial problems, hinting that Lou Pearlman and his company, Trans Continental Records, may have been involved with these issues. At that point, Pearlman had already experienced many legal challenges by previous acts managed by his company, Trans Continental, including highly successful acts such as the Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, and Aaron Carter.
Solo careers (2003–2013)
The members of O-Town moved on to solo careers. The most successful member was Ashley Parker Angel, who was signed to Universal's Blackground Records, and also given his own reality show on MTV, There and Back. Released in 2006, Ashley's solo debut album was heavily promoted but did not achieve solid sales numbers. In January 2007, he began playing the role of Link Larkin in the Broadway production of Hairspray. Ex-bandmate, Trevor Penick, now professionally known as "Tre Scott", was signed to Mach 1 Music, and worked with established industry producer Eddie Galan. After the disbandment of O-Town in 2003, Trevor worked for Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill as a waiter. The other band members retained a fanbase and had success in their own right, as evidenced by their Myspace profiles. Erik stayed in the music business and went on to collaborate and co-write songs for other artists. Jacob Underwood went on to start his own country band "Jacobs Loc".
Back in January 2011, rumors were swirling that a reunion was in the works for the band. TMZ reported that Erik, Trevor, Dan & Jacob have returned to the studio to record the follow-up to O2, however, it was confirmed that Ashley Parker Angel declined the offer from the guys. Ashley told TMZ in a following article his explanation. "O-Town was one of the greatest chapters of my life, so when the idea of a reunion was brought to me, of course I was intrigued. However I have made the decision not to be a part of an O-Town reunion. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately necessary to move on with the next chapter of my career." [1] He has, however, given the guys his blessing for them to reunite without him. When interviewed about their rejection, Erik said that the guys eventually come to terms with it, but admitted "I would just think they would want to come on board and be a part of it ... but they don’t and that's cool." [2]
The remaining guys continued to pursue the reunion over the next few years, keeping details very private.
Lines & Circles and single Empty Space (2013–present)
On May 28, 2014, O-Town released a preview of the single "Skydive" on SoundCloud. The single is from their third studio album Lines & Circles. The album was released on August 24, 2014.[3]
In 2017, they premiered a new single "Empty Space" in addition to announcing a new EP.[4][5] They also announced a new 2017 tour featuring Ryan Cabrera on select dates, as well as some spots on the I Love the 90s nationwide tour.
Their Part 1 EP is set for an August 4, 2017 release.[6]
In June 2019, O-Town planned on filing a trademark for their band name, which Universal Music Group believed was too similar to the Motown Records label.[7]
On August 2, 2019, they released The O.T.W.N. Album.
Members
- Current
- Erik-Michael Estrada (2000–2003, 2013–present)
- Dan Miller (2000-2003, 2013-present)
- Jacob Underwood (2000–2003, 2013-present)
- Trevor Penick (2000–2003, 2013–present)
- Former
- Ashley Parker Angel (2000–2003)
- Ikaika Kahoano (2000)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Music: Breakout Artist | Themselves | Won | [8] |
| Choice Music: Pop Group | Nominated | ||||
Tours
Opening act
- Britney Spears – Dream Within a Dream Tour (2001)
- Pop2000Tour hosted by Lance Bass. (active)
References
- "Ashley Parker-Angel - Why I Won't Rejoin O-Town ..." TMZ.com. 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
- "'O-Town' - Ashley's Rejection 'Really Hurt'". TMZ.com. 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2014-05-26.
- "Skydive by All About The Melody on SoundCloud". SoundCloud. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- "O-Town Return With New Song, 'Empty Space'". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-03-06.
- "Song Premiere: O-Town Debuts 'Empty Space'". Retrieved 2018-03-06.
- O-Town, Part 1, retrieved 2018-03-06
- "O-Town Locked in Trademark Dispute With Universal Music Group". Billboard.com. June 24, 2019. Retrieved 2020-04-25.
- "2001 Teen Choice Awards". Hollywood.com. August 12, 2001. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
External links
| First First season of show |
Making the Band winners 2000 |
Succeeded by Da Band |
Authority control  |
|
|---|