10/10/00,
1 p.m. ET) - The 'N
Sync </music/artistpage/1,,1033340,00.html>-versus-Backstreet
Boys </music/artistpage/1,,1001612,00.html> rivalry may be
going strong, but that's only in the minds of the fans, according to 'N Sync.
The group harbors no ill will toward its labelmates and says that the two acts
are pitted against each other by outside forces, as 'N Sync member JC Chasez
tells LAUNCH. "I think everybody puts us in direct competition with
them," he says. "We really don't care either way. We just do our thing
day to day and we're thankful that we've achieved what we have. We don't want to
take anything away from them--I mean, hey, they're just trying to do their
thing, so we have nothing against them. We know what it's like to try and make a
living at this."
While
'N Sync denies any negative relationship with the Backstreet Boys, there is a
healthy sense of competition that produces positive results, as Chasez explains.
"I guess people set it up that way, and in a way it's a good thing, 'cause
it really kind of helps drive everybody and it motivates everybody to do
positive."'N Sync is gearing up for the second leg of its No Strings
Attached tour, which will kick off in Charlotte, North Carolina, on October 17.
The tour will wrap up on December 1 in San Diego, California, after which the
group will head into the studio to record its next album. 'N Sync is hoping to
have the new project completed by February.
--
Margy Holland, Nashville