After 8 Years NU’EST Got Their First Music Show Win EVER And Here’s Why It’s A Huge Deal

On the May 8 episode of MBC‘s Show Champion, NU’EST were able to take home their very first music show win after 8 years as a group. They were up against industry heavyweights like BTS, TWICE, and Super Junior, so the odds definitely were not in their favor. However, despite all of the competition they were able to finally push through and get the win.

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 #NUEST1stWin #BETBET1stWin pic.twitter.com/yUbCRKFHam

— 쩨알이 좋아하는 알 (@egglovejr) May 8, 2019

NU’EST debuted in 2012 and are very well known, however they were never able to gain much traction on music shows. It wasn’t until 2016 – 4 years after their debut – that they were even nominated for first place on a music show.

2016’s Canvas got them their first music show nomination

In 2017, four of the members appeared on Produce 101 Season 2. With the pool of contestants being mostly unknown trainees, seeing an already-debuted group appear on the show as trainees from their company was heartbreaking. They saw the show as their last chance at success as they were getting older and not being able to breakout as NU’EST.

(From left to right) Baekho, JR, Ren, and Minhyun as Pledis trainees on 2017’s Produce 101 Season 2

Their efforts on the show paid off! Their previous works rose in sales after they appeared, all 4 members made it into the top 20, and one member, Minhyun, made it into the final lineup of Wanna One, ranking 9th overall.

Minhyun ranking 9th place and securing a spot in Wanna One

After Produce 101, Minhyun promoted with Wanna One and the remaining members promoted as NU’EST W until his return. After Wanna One’s disbandment in 2018, Minhyun returned to NU’EST and the group released their mini-album Happily Ever After on April 29, 2019.