HYBE, the South Korean entertainment company behind global sensations like BTS and TXT, has teamed up with Geffen Records, a subsidiary of Universal Music Group and home to legendary artists like Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses, to create a new international girl group unlike any other.
This joint venture is a landmark initiative, as it marks the first time a major U.S. record label and a K-pop entertainment powerhouse have combined their know-how of finding and nurturing talent to create an inclusive and diverse group that will appeal to audiences worldwide.
The aspirants have been training in Los Angeles over the past year based on the globally acclaimed K-pop training and development system, signifying another first in the formation of a U.S.-based global girl group.
The Debut: Dream Academy – A High-Level Audition Program
From over 120,000 submissions that flowed post the announcement of the HYBE x Geffen Global Girl Group Audition in November 2021, 20 contestants from around the world have been selected to participate in a high-level audition program named The Debut: Dream Academy.
The course of their journey will culminate at the end of this year, revealing the final group members and the group’s name. The Weverse platform will be incorporated into this revolutionary global girl group initiative, facilitating global fans to trace the transformative journey of the contestants.
The Debut: Dream Academy will air on YouTube starting from September 1st, and will run for nearly three months before the audition’s finale on November 17th. The program will showcase the contestants’ skills, personalities, and teamwork as they undergo various challenges and evaluations.
The 20 Hopefuls – A Diverse and Dynamic Mix of Talents
The 20 hopefuls who will be competing for a spot in the first-ever HYBE x Geffen Records global girl group are:
- Alyssa (21) from USA
- Annie (18) from Sweden
- Bella (16) from Brazil
- Cara (19) from USA
- Ezrela (15) from Australia
- Hana (18) from Japan
- Isabella (16) from Argentina
- Jade (17) from Philippines
- Jenny (19) from South Korea
- Jessica (18) from Switzerland
- Julia (17) from USA
- Lara (14) from USA
- Lena (19) from South Korea
- Lily (16) from Thailand
- Mia (15) from USA
- Nadia (17) from France
- Nina (16) from Japan
- Ria (18) from India
- Sara (20) from South Korea
- Zoe (21) from Australia
The contestants are from various ethnicities and nationalities, including those from Asia, Europe, Australia, and South America. They all introduced themselves in English and in another language, depending on their location. They also expressed their excitement and passion for being part of this historic project.
A Netflix Docuseries to Document the Journey to Global Fame
Notably, the prolonged process of putting together this unique girl group will be documented and shared with viewers through an upcoming Netflix series set for release in 2024, offering an insider’s perspective to the journey to global fame.
The docuseries will be directed by Nadia Hallgren, who directed the 2020 Becoming documentary on Michelle Obama. The series will feature interviews with the contestants, mentors, producers, and executives involved in the project, as well as behind-the-scenes footage of their training, rehearsals, performances, and interactions.
A Shared Vision for Music and Creativity
The collaboration between HYBE and Geffen Records is based on a shared vision for music and creativity. Bang Si-Hyuk, HYBE’s chairman who helped form BTS over a decade ago, said in a statement that he has wanted to form an international group based on K-pop methodology for a while.
“To do this I believed we needed a capable partner. When I met John (Janick, Interscope Geffen A&M’s chairman and CEO), from the first moment, we both felt instantly that we had a connection, musically and creatively.”
As Janick said: “Since we began our partnership two years ago, Bang and I have often spoken about our shared beliefs in artist development, music and creativity. We are both excited to see the results of this collaboration and look forward to introducing this new girl group to the world.”