The label behind Korean pop sensations BTS have revealed the 20 contestants competing for a spot in the next "global girl group".
The X Factor-style audition process will be documented for a series on Netflix after South Korean entertainment company Hybe, the label behind K-pop superstar boyband BTS, joined forces with US music label Geffen Records to select the final group of female contestants from 120,000 submissions.
The audition programme marks the first time a US-based girl group will use the "world-renowned" K-pop training and development system, under which the contestants have been "quietly training" over the last year in Los Angeles, the labels have announced.
Fans can follow the 20 aspiring artists on a YouTube series titled The Debut: Dream Academy from 1 September, almost two years after the search was first launched.
The final members of the group will be determined later this year along with the name of the band.
Then, in 2024, Netflix is set to release a docuseries about the process, directed by filmmaker Nadia Hallgren, who created Netflix's Emmy-nominated documentary about Michelle Obama, Becoming.
The venture comes as K-pop, an abbreviation of Korean popular music, has grown beyond its origins of electronic, hip-hop, pop and rock into a subculture of its own.
K-pop boyband BTS have won global recognition for their self-produced music and activism since their debut in 2013, as well as winning a host of awards including nods at the MTV European and Video Music Awards.
Speaking at the press event for the venture, chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M John Janick said, "To develop a global group... with the best of K-Pop methodology, and our Geffen team, is truly special and will bring to life a first-of-its kind experience in music.
"Each candidate is incredibly talented, dedicated, and driven, making this an exciting moment for music fans around the world."
The Debut: Dream Academy on YouTube will span 12 weeks, leading up to the live finale on 17 November where the top contestants will vie for a spot in the final group.
K-pop training academies involve young trainees living together in a regulated environment and spending many hours a day learning how to sing, dance, speak foreign languages, and gain other skills in preparation for a pop career.
The regime has been criticised, with some commentators saying it is overly competitive and intense, and potentially damaging to mental health.
Source: Press Association
