MBAND

History

After the reality show "I Want to VIA Gra", Konstantin Meladze decided to launch a project to find members for a new boy band. Casting for young people from CIS countries was announced on April 30, 2014. The show premiered on September 6, 2014, in Russia (NTV), Belarus (ONT), and Kazakhstan (Seventh), and on September 7, 2014, in Ukraine (Ukraine). The jury included Konstantin Meladze as chairman, along with Anna Sedokova, Polina Gagarina, Eva Polna, Sergey Lazarev, Vladimir Presnyakov Jr., and Timati. On November 22, 2014, the audience chose the winners via SMS-voting: Anatoliy Tsoi, Artem Pindyura, Nikita Kiosse, and Vladislav Ramm. In December 2014, the group, named MBAND, released its debut video for "Ona vernyotsa". The song had first been performed during the grand final and was released as a single on November 24, 2014. Music was by Konstantin Meladze, lyrics by Konstantin and Artem Pindyura. The video, directed by Sergei Solodky, surpassed 10 million YouTube views in five months. The single topped the Golden Gramophone Award hit parade for two weeks, received that prize, led the Russian radiochart Tophit, and a similar Kyiv radio chart.