“Today I am happy to share with you a dream I have had for a very long time. I wanted to found an international group based on the K-pop methodology and develop it into a global girl group.” With these words, Bang Si Hyuk, the founder of HYBE Entertainment, opened his speech at a press conference yesterday.
The purpose of this conference was to introduce the 20 candidates for the global girl group. So Bang Si Hyuk's dream is actually about to come true! This year, the final decision is to be made on which of the 20 global talents will debut in the new girl group.
At this sensational conference, the music industry giants HYBE and Geffen Records announced the participants for the first worldwide girl group that will emerge from this unique collaboration.
The Candidates:
After more than 120,000 applications, 20 participants from all over the world were selected to compete for a spot in this groundbreaking girl group.
With a few exceptions, the candidates are between 17 and 21 years old. The youngest participants are the two Japanese girls HINARI (14 years old) and UA (15 years old) and the Korean YOONCHAE (15 years old).
They come from all over the world! In fact, 12 different countries are represented: Thailand, USA, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Belarus, Argentina, Sweden, Slovakia and Switzerland.
We are very excited to get to know them a little better over the next few weeks!
The Debut: Dream Academy:
The 20 candidates will now take part in an audition program called “The Debut: Dream Academy”. Fans can follow the participants on their journey through the audition program. The first episode will air as early as September 1! The show will span several months and the finale will take place on November 17.
During these weeks, the candidates will compete against each other in 3 exciting missions. After each mission, a few candidates will be eliminated, until only 10 are left in the finale.
The final members of the girl group will be determined by the fans, as they can vote via Weverse and TikTok throughout the entire competition.
Netflix Docuseries:
The long-running creation of this unique girl group will also be the subject of an upcoming Netflix docuseries that is set to premiere in 2024. The series, produced by HYBE, Interscope Films and Boardwalk Pictures, offers insights into the path to global fame and sheds light on the unique training and development program of HYBE and Geffen Records.
In fact, the process began as early as the fall of 2021. That was when the Global Auditions started, where talents from all over the world could apply to make their dream come true. The auditions ended in June 2023, but as early as June 2022, the first candidates moved to LA to live and train together. And now they finally have the chance to prove their talent to the whole world!
An art film introducing the participants and showcasing their talents was uploaded to YouTube after the press conference:
This exciting project promises the birth of a groundbreaking international girl group that will influence the music industry on a global level!
Sources: Press material
