South Korean entertainment agency HYBE — home to K-pop superstars BTS — is teaming with the Universal Music Group for the first-ever HYBE x Geffen Global Girl Group Audition challenge. The alliance, announced on Thursday (Nov. 4) will find the two powerhouses launching a “global, diverse, and multi-talented girl pop group made up of artists around the world who are deeply passionate about music and aspire to be the next global superstar.”
According to the release, the collaboration marks the first time a U.S. record label and a K-pop entertainment company have teamed up to flex their A&R and music production power to “assemble, develop, and introduce a group from ground zero.” The audition process is seeking female artists between 15-19 years-old (16-19 for EU residents) who can sing, rap, dance and/or produce; interested performers are asked to send a one-minute video or music file showcasing a performance.
The companies promise that the process will emphasize artist development by focusing on music and performance training as well as life skills training, including mental wellness and music business and financial literacy as part of the first U.S.-based effort to model the legendarily rigorous K-pop training and development system. The group will be prepped in Los Angeles, where the act will make its debut. Audition videos are being accepted online starting today through 11:59 p.m. PT on Nov. 28 here.
Once the group is assembled, their music will be released on the newly formed Geffen joint-venture JV label from HYBE, with Geffen offering its extensive industry network to oversee music production, marketing and global distribution and HYBE focusing on its expertise in discovering, training and developing the group and engaging fans around the world, according to the release.
Check out the promotional video for the challenge below.
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