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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.

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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.

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