NewJeans changes name to 'NJZ' after dispute with former agency
NewJeans has finally decided on a new identity after their controversial split from their former label ADOR.
Through American media company COMPLEX, the five-member girl group announced on Instagram that NewJeans will now be known as "NJZ."
"Get ready for an exciting journey with NJZ in 2025!" the group teased in the caption.
Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein also delighted their fans with individual shoots of themselves in promotion of the reveal.
In an interview with CNN, Hanni said that the new name is their way of "turning this rough period of time into something more exciting."
"We are working a lot to resolve everything so that we can go… back to normal," she continued.
Amid their legal dispute with ADOR, the group said that they are focusing their attention on making and performing new music, which Haerin described as having a "very unique and different sound."
"There’s nothing holding us back anymore," Hanni underscored.
They are set to debut as NJZ during their performance at the ComplexCon Hong Kong festival in March.
The new name comes after the girls held a two-day public contest for suggestions on a possible group name. Their fans, fondly called "Bunnies," flooded the comment section with suggestions like Jeanz, JEAN5, BEJEANZ, Lovenniez, Jeanz Club, and Blue Jeanz.
Despite the rebrand, Hanni told the news outlet that "not fully moving on from" their identity as NewJeans.
"[Being NewJeans] was still a very special period of time to us, and it’s something that our fans also probably hold really dear," she reasoned.
Nevertheless, they expressed excitement about experimenting with different types of performances.
"Beforehand, we were very focused on being the kind of ‘girl next door’… So, we’re going for a (look that’s) a lot more sharp, a lot more bold," Hanni shared.
The singer added, "And fashion-wise, we love wearing streetwear and non-gendered kind of clothing. I think that concept and aspect is going to play a really strong role in our [new] fashion as well."
NJZ left ADOR back in November, with Hanni alleging they have "faced mistreatment, not just towards us but also including our staff," without elaborating.
But ADOR insisted that their contract "remains in full effect" and therefore, they "respectfully request that the group continue its collaboration with ADOR on upcoming activities, as has been the practice to date."
As NewJeans, the group made their debut in 2022 and has since become among HYBE's most successful groups. They have topped global charts, including the Billboard 200, and broke the Guinness World Record last year for "Fastest K-pop act to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify."
They are known for their hit songs, How Sweet, Bubble Gum, Right Now, Supernatural, and Hype Boy, among others.
