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JYP Entertainment and Republic Records have entered into a strategic partnership deal to form a girl group that will eventually become the world's first North American team produced via the strict K-pop training system. The companies made the announcement on Monday, July 25.
According to Korea Joongang Daily, JYP Entertainment’s founder and chairman, Park Jin Young, explained that the “K-pop system” is very similar to the training system being used for training athletes who will compete in the Olympic games. This means that the trainees will really have to go through a rigorous process to be able to debut with the new girl group.
The labels will be searching for members through an audition that will be launched soon. The auditions in North America has been titled “America2Korea” or A2K, and the first round has been scheduled to take place in September.
The A2K audition will be carried out in five U.S. major cities, including Atlanta (Sept. 10), Chicago (Sept. 14), New York (Sept. 17 and 18), Dallas (Sept. 20), and Los Angeles from Sept. 23 until the 25th of the same month. Park Jin Young is expected to be present on all of the scheduled audition dates.
“We are going to find, identify and curate talent from America but by applying the JYP system in developing the supergroup, which is something we have never seen before,” Monte Lipman, Republic Record’s chief executive officer, said via a video announcement.
He added, "It is an international supergroup that we are creating as we join forces. We are bringing two incredible teams together with like-minded ideas and tremendous focus.
Lipman also is also encouraging talented people to audition by saying that the A2K is for everyone that is a Kpop fan. It is also a big opportunity for everyone, so “this is an incredible moment."
Aju Business Daily noted that Republic Records is home to international artists such as Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, and Nicki Minaj. On the other hand, JYP Entertainment is a South Koran talent agency that is home to many popular Kpop groups, including 2PM, Twice, Stray Kids, and ITZY.
