Interviewer: Billy Bush

In his introduction of the interview, he said: We turn to the future of the Backstreet Boys. Kevin Richardson is starring in the Broadway "Chicago", and he's speaking out on what happened to one of the biggest pop bands and phenomenom in the world.

In the late 90's, there were no bigger group than the Backstreet Boys who sold 65 millions cds, and incited a Beatle Mania, but then the music seemed to stop.

Billy: It's been a while since you guys have done a new album.

Kevin: Well, ah, Nick has done his solo project, which he was dying to do. He wanted to do it, so, ah, well, when he said he definitely wanted to do it, okay, step back, take a breather.

Billy: There are so many people who write about a rifts within the group, that the group was not really thrilled that Nick was gonna go and do his own thing.

Kevin: We had a meeting that said: "Schedule up", and then we had another meeting, and he kind of sprang it on us, and we were all like...(making a chocked face)

Billy: Was there ever a time when you thought there would be four guys instead of five.

Kevin: Initially, you know,there was some feelings of that, but, you know, time heals things, and we've been together for 10 years, and you know, it's either the five of us or it's none of us.

(Billy narrating) But there were other problems, the boys were angry with their label Jive Records for releasing their Greatest Hits Album nearly a year and a half ago.

Billy: When they decided to release the Greatest Hits Album before you wanted them to...

Kevin: Exactly.

Billy: You thought...

Kevin: We wanted to come out on the 10th year anniversary.

Billy: And they went ahead and did it anyway.

Kevin: And they did it anyway. They were going to do it with or without our help, and we were like: "If we don't help, if we don't promote, and it doesn't sell, then who looks bad. We do! So, you know, it's frustrating...it's business.

(Billy narrating) In the meantime, there was a growing perception that the Backstreet Boys had been taking over with popularity by 'NSYNC, who jumped label three years ago, and signed with the same record company as the Backstreet Boys.

Kevin: Our relationship with our label went down hill then. Just because we felt it was a conflict of interest.

Billy: People have written forever about: There's a rivalry between 'NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys, just like the Lakers and the Bulls, and that kind of thing. How much of this is true?

Kevin: On a personal thing, it's not true.