BIGHIT MUSIC will conduct another global audition to create a new boy group.
BIGHIT MUSIC has grown since Bang Si Hyuk rebranded and restricted the agency under HYBE Corporation. It is currently home to BTS, TXT, and Lee Hyun.
Years after it debuted its latest boy group, TXT, BIGHIT MUSIC will start welcoming new trainees to debut a new boy band.
BIGHIT MUSIC’s Global Auditions 2023
On Friday, BIGHIT MUSIC confirmed that it would hold global auditions to search for potential trainees who could debut as part of a new boy group.
BigHit Music New Boy Group Audition will welcome any male born between 2005 to 2013. The agency also reminded everyone that the auditions would be open to anyone regardless of nationality and place of residence.
As of press time, the agency listed Japanese and Korean cities where the first leg of the auditions would happen.
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The company will visit Sapporo, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Osaka and Tokyo in March. It will also have April auditions in April in Jeju, Daegu, Busan, Daejeon, Incheon, Gwangju and Seoul.
It will also be open to those who cannot attend the auditions in-person. Details about the online auditions are yet to be finalized.
“[Applicants should] show your charms, in any categories, such as [taking] selfies, fashion, sports, acting and more,” the company said.
HYBE Acquires 14.8 Percent of SM Entertainment
The auditions were announced following HYBE’s acquisition of Lee Soo Man’s shares. The former chief producer of SM Entertainment had 14.8 percent, and HYBE bought it for 422.8 billion KRW.
SM Entertainment, which is one of the biggest entertainment agencies in the K-pop industry, is home to TVXQ, SUPER JUNIOR, Girls’ Generation, EXO, NCT, SHINee, aespa and more.
“HYBE fully agrees with former Chief Producer Lee’s strategic initiatives including metaverse, a multi-label system, and the sustainable vision campaign,” HYBE chairman Bang Si Hyuk said. “Leveraging our capabilities and resources, HYBE will further strengthen the presence of K-pop on the global stage.”
HYBE will reportedly acquire more shares from minor shareholders to protect its current standing in SM Entertainment.
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