The first season of Netflix's new competition Building The Band has finally come to an end. After ten dramatic episodes, the reality TV show revealed which of the self-assembled musical groups would be taking home the $500k prize.
Fans of the show will know that, in the end, the competition came down to two groups, SZN4 and 3QUENCY. So which of the two hopefuls was actually victorious in the end?
3QUENCY Officially Won The First Season
Though many viewers thought that SZN4 may have been a shoo-in from the very start, the finale saw an upset in the competition. That is, at the last moment, girl group trio 3QUENCY was named the winner of Season 1. While the season initially started out with six bands, slowly other groups were eliminated at different phases, with both the guest judges and the live audience playing a part in deciding who would carry on.
For the final showdown between the top two groups, it was the judges' call to decide the victor. The panel, which consists of Nicole Scherzinger, Liam Payne, and Kelly Rowland, noted that it was extremely close, but that they felt 3QUENCY brought an extra special dynamic to the last stage performance.
When they were announced as the winners, the members of 3QUENCY jumped up and hugged each other, hardly able to contain their excitement. The three women, Brianna Mazzola, Nori Royale, and Wennely Quezada, noted how close they had grown throughout the season, and that, even if they hadn't won, they still would've planned on remaining in the band together.
One of the members, Brianna, shared in the final episode how much the winning prize meant to them. She elaborated that it opened doors for their future career that they might not have access to otherwise:
We can take care of our future. This is a life-changing amount of money and the fact that we all get to figure out what to do with it — maybe an album or a tour — we really get to shape what this looks like moving forward and it’s gonna make endless possibilities possible. It’s a crazy feeling.
The Judges Think The Group Has A Bright Future Ahead
The members of 3QUENCY weren't the only ones ecstatic about their win. The judges themselves commended the three young artists on their achievement—Kelly Rowland, in particular, seemed to take a liking to the women, perhaps because she herself was in one of the most iconic female vocal trios of all time, Destiny's Child.
For his part, Liam noted that, as the judges were watching 3QUENCY's final stage performance, he looked over and noticed goosebumps on both Kelly and Nicole's arms, a clear sign of the young singers' impact. Nicole also made sure to compliment the artists on their impeccable work ethic throughout the season:
This is a true testament to your focus, your heart, your dedication and your hard work. So this is on you. Congratulations.
Kelly beamed through much of the final moments of the season, sharing in the group's excitement like it was her own. Her parting advice to Brianna, Nori, and Wennely was simple but wise: "Work hard, be humble, and have fun."
As of now, a second season of the show has yet to be announced, though, given its popularity, there's a good chance it'll be back for a Season 2 with new hopefuls. All episodes of Building The Band can be streamed now on Netflix.
- Network
- Netflix
- Cast
- Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, AJ McLean
- Genre
- Reality TV
- Premiere Date
- July 9, 2025
Building The Band is a music competition reality series that takes a unique approach to forming the next big pop group. Premiering July 9, 2025, on Netflix, the show begins with 50 solo singers auditioning in blind, isolated pods, where they can only hear each other’s voices. Contestants swipe “like” or “pass” as they listen, focusing purely on vocal chemistry rather than looks or personality. From there, selected musicians join forces to form six separate bands, moving through a series of challenges including live performances, songwriting workshops, and branding exercises. The show emphasizes not just vocal talent but also teamwork, versatility, and group cohesion, with the goal of launching a real, fully developed music act by the end of the season.
Guiding the competition is a high-profile judging panel made up of music industry veterans: Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne, with hosting duties handled by AJ McLean. Each judge brings personal experience from global groups—Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, Rowland from Destiny’s Child, and Payne from One Direction—offering both critique and hands-on mentorship to the contestants. Their feedback isn’t limited to vocal performance; they also focus on interpersonal dynamics, branding, and long-term career viability. Liam Payne’s participation adds an emotional layer to the series, as Building The Band marks his final project before his passing in 2024. Throughout the show, viewers witness not just the formation of new bands but also honest, often vulnerable conversations about fame, pressure, and what it takes to truly succeed as a collective rather than as a solo act.
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