R&B boy band B5 made a surprising revelation about a major opportunity they claim was derailed by music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
According to the group, they were once in talks to become the flagship boy band for Disney—an opportunity that ultimately fell through. They now allege that the botched deal opened the door for the rise of the Jonas Brothers.
Hip-Hop entrepreneur Sean “P. Diddy” Combs makes an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live at MTV Studios June 15, 2005 in New York City.
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At the height of their popularity in the mid-2000s, B5 was heavily featured on Disney Radio and contributed to numerous Disney Channel properties, including That’s So Raven, High School Musical, and Hannah Montana.
In a recent interview with HipHopWired, the group said that their momentum had caught the attention of Disney executives, who proposed a TV show tailored for the band on the Disney Channel—a move that could have catapulted their careers to global superstardom.
P. Diddy and B5 attend a taping of BET’s 106 & Park on July 19, 2007 in New York City.
Scott Gries/Getty Images
However, there was one major obstacle: B5 was under contract with Bad Boy Records. Disney’s offer reportedly hinged on the group being released from that deal so they could sign with Hollywood Records, the entertainment giant’s music subsidiary.
“Puffy wanted a certain amount of dollars for that, which Hollywood wasn’t like, ‘Aye, that a big check, we can use all of that over here,’” B5 revealed.
B5 attends the front row for Liu Yong x Rishikensh during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery I at Spring Studios on September 10, 2019 in New York City.
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Liu Yong x Rishikensh
“The show, the idea that we ended up creating with them ended up being switched over to another group. And they took the TV show, blew up, and that was The Jonas Brothers.”
The missed opportunity remains a sore point for B5, whose peak came with the success of their 2005 debut and hit single “All I Do.”
In contrast, The Jonas Brothers—who would go on to star in the Disney Channel series Jonas—achieved massive mainstream success, selling over 20 million records worldwide and earning a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas and Joe Jonas at the star ceremony where the Jonas Brothers are honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 30, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.
Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images
While the Jonas Brothers became one of the biggest pop acts of their generation, B5’s story underscores how behind-the-scenes negotiations can make or break a career—even when talent and timing are perfectly aligned.
Watch B5’s interview with HipHopWired below.
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