News
Film & TV
Gaming
Tech & Business
Features
Video
Best of 2024
en
Sign Up Sign In
About Us Advertising Events & Campaigns Labs Career Privacy Policy Submit Gig Contact Editorial Contact Advertising Download media kit

Latest on Instagram

HYBE LABELS JAPAN debuts new boy group, &TEAM

HYBE LABELS JAPAN debuts new boy group, &TEAM

Estimated:  reading

HYBE LABELS JAPAN's new boy group is finally here.

On 3 September, the final round of &AUDITION - The Howling took place to decide on the members to join K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki. 

The likes of HYBE founder Bang Si-Hyuk, global superstar RM of BTS, and I-LAND alums, ENHYPEN, were also in attendance for the grand finale.

BANDWAGON TV

Fuma, Yuma, Jo, Harua, and Maki have emerged victorious after months of training and intense competition, and are the final additions to the new boy group called &TEAM. The group is set to make their official debut on 7 December 2022.

The name &TEAM was coined by BTS' executive producer Bang Si-Hyuk (a.k.a. "hitman" bang), and "means a team of nine members with diverse backgrounds connecting with fans around the world through music and performance." In a statement, the name is said to "convey the members' aspiration to become a better version of themselves as they strive to break all barriers as a team come together by fate."

&TEAM shared, "We'd like to share this joy with our families and fans first and foremost". Looking back on the experience, K said, "It was an invaluable time I got to spend with fourteen friends. The six trainees who did not make it will continue to work hard towards their next dream, and we will also work hard as &TEAM". Meanwhile, HARUA said, "We've been working together tirelessly for this day. I thought today was the day that the fifteen of us shined brightest".

HARUA on their goals as a group: "I want the nine of us to come together as one in building a long-lasting, genuine relationship with our fans through '&'". TAKI added, "I hope &TEAM can feel like a family the fans can trust any time". YUMA also expressed his goal as "an artist whose music speaks for itself" while MAKI aspires to become "a world-renowned artist". JO said, "I want to be able to perform on a world stage and always keep the aspiration I have now in mind wherever I go". NICHOLAS and EJ look forward to &TEAM to become a "group that spread joy and positivity to many people". 

K commented, "While always being serious about our music and fans, I would say our ultimate goal is to reach a global audience and be charted on Billboard like BTS". FUMA added, "I was able to come this far without giving up because I looked up to the artists that came before us. We aspire to become a great artist that would make future generations say 'I want to be like &TEAM'".

Fans of the brand new boyband can now communicate with the members via their newly-opened Weverse community.

Watch the final round of &AUDITION - The Howling here.

Sign in to Bandwagon

or sign in with your Bandwagon account