Source: Launch Media http://www.launch.com

(12/2/99, 10 a.m. ET) - The Backstreet Boys recently made a press and fan conference in Las Vegas available to fans of the pop group via its official website, www.backstreetboys.com.

Group members Howie Dorough and Kevin Richardson explained at the press conference that plans are already in the works for the next leg of the Backstreet Boys tour in the year 2000. "We're trying to get down to Central and South America on this world tour. We haven't been able to figure out exactly when, but it will most likely be sometime next year for sure."

Added Richardson, "Yeah, we're putting our spring leg of the tour together for next year, so Mexico might be in there."

Richardson also noted that plans are also underway for the group's next album, and the members are looking forward to the daunting task of improving upon the huge success of Millennium. "There's lots of things that we could do better. I mean, you always want to grow," he said. "I think.the areas that we want to grow in more now is the writing and producing aspects for our next album. There's always room for improvement. Always."

Millennium is currently at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in its 27th week on the chart.

-- Jason Gelman, New York