HYBE Labels Japan has revealed the start of the broadcast of their audition program called "&AUDITION," which will form the agency's first boy group.
Read on to know where to watch the show.
HYBE Labels Japan's '&AUDITION' to Begin Airing This July 2022
On March 9, media outlets reported that the broadcast of HYBE Labels Japan's "&AUDITION - The Howling" has been confirmed to begin this coming July.
"&AUDITION" will be the first phase of HYBE Labels Japan's global debut project, which aims to discover the next stars who will later take the world stage. It is a joint project of HYBE's main branch in Japan, HYBE Japan, and its affiliate, HYBE Labels Japan.
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The holding of this audition program is to select the additional members of the agency's first boy group, which is tentatively called "&AUDITION Boys" and is set to debut sometime this year. Moreover, the reality show will present the efforts and growth of the aspirants as they chase their dream of becoming an idol.
Previously, the first four members of the group have been revealed and they are K, Nicholas, Taki, and EJ. All four of them were initially introduced to global audiences through their participation in Mnet's audition program "I-LAND" in 2020. Along with the contestants, they will also appear on "&AUDITION."
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Kyungmin, who is also a former "I-LAND" participant, was also originally part of the lineup of &AUDITION Boys, but he departed from the label after learning there were differences in the musical directions being pursued.
Mentors appointed for the global debut project are Bang Si Hyuk (chairman & CEO, producer), Big Hit Music's Pdogg (producer), and Sakura Inoue (performance director). Soma Genda (producer and sound director) and Son Sung Deuk (performance director) will participate as well. Along with these mentors, UTA and Ryosuke Imai will take part as Special Advisors.
The exact premiere date of HYBE Labels Japan's "&AUDITION" is yet to be announced. Stay tuned!
Where to Watch HYBE Labels Japan's Audition Program '&AUDITION'?
"&AUDITION" will air for a total of 30 minutes per episode on Nippon TV in Japan starting from July. The 60-minute full version of each episode will then be released on HYBE Labels' official YouTube channel and the Japanese video platform Hulu.
HYBE to Hold Auditions in the United States for Its New Girl Group
In other news, HYBE has announced its plan to hold auditions in the United States to search for the members of its brand-new girl group. The auditions, which are in collaboration with Universal Music Group's Geffen Records, will take place online and in-person.
On March 8, the two labels took to Twitter to make a joint announcement concerning the upcoming US auditions. The on-site auditions will be held across five cities throughout March and April, including New York, Houston, Los Angeles, and more.
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As for the online auditions, they will open from March 7 to April 30 PST on the official HYBE x Geffen audition website.
HYBE's in-person audition dates are subject to COVID-19 protocols, which may differ in each city. Details about the location will be given via email after signing up.
Anyone between the ages of 15 and 19 is qualified to audition. Participants can showcase their skills in singing, dancing, rapping, and producing. Take note that producers may only audition online.
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Written by Mhaliya Scott
