This is a very insightful interview with JYP on the Wonder Girls, how the Internet is breaking down barriers for Asian artists, and the Asian Music Movement. It’s part of NY1’s Asian Music Special as they explore America’s Great Asian Pop Star Race

JYP talks about how the Wonder Girls got together, each member of Wonder Girls (Sun Ye, Ye Eun, Yubin, Sohee, Sun Mi), and on the popularity of Wonder Girls globally

This is the most interesting section of the interview as JYP talks about how the Internet is breaking down barriers and helping Wonder Girls take off globally. (You can see the footage JYP is referencing here.) In the past, no Asian singer has successfully crossed over to the US. This has been one of the biggest obstacles for JYP. However, by showing the YouTube footage that shows people from Madison, WI to Northern Ireland singing and dancing to Wonder Girls have opened some doors. JYP believes that the reason why no Asian stars have made it in America are the timing wasn’t right (the US was not ready) and artists were trying to Americanize themselves to cross over. By keep true to their colors, Wonder Girls should be able to breakthrough. Another thing to note with the latest artist trying to crossover is collaboration with US artists. For example, BoA collaborated with Sean Garrett and Se7en collaborated with Darkchild. Is the right strategy to collaborate or go at it alone?

JYP thinks there is an Asian Movement going on as 4 different record labels trying to bring their Asian music star over to the US including JYP Entertainment with Wonder Girls, SM Entertainement with BoA, Island Records with Utada, and YG Entertainment with Se7en. While BoA, Se7en, and Utada are Americanizing their music, Wonder Girls are staying to their true colors. With his Michael Jackson inspired influence, JYP has crossed over behind the scenes where other Asian artists have failed. JYP has already worked with Will Smith, Mase, and Cassie. Besides his experience in the US market, he also leverages his background in choreography to help his group cross over to the US.