Unveiled in a glitzy event in Los Angeles, the members of KATSEYE emerged from a global melting pot of talent, spanning the United States, South Korea, the Philippines, and Switzerland. Geffen Records and HYBE, the renowned K-Pop powerhouse behind BTS, handpicked the six final members to launch this international sensation.
The journey began on September 1, when the top 20 contestants, narrowed down from a whopping 120,000 hopefuls, embarked on their path to superstardom. Through rigorous training modeled after the esteemed K-Pop development system, they battled it out in the audition program, 'The Debut: Dream Academy,' streamed worldwide on YouTube and Abema, the Japanese streaming giant.
On Friday night, the curtains fell, revealing the final lineup of KATSEYE. Daniela Avanzini, Lara Rajagopalan, and Megan Skiendiel represent the United States, while Yoonchae Jeong hails from South Korea. Sophia Laforteza brings the Philippines' charm, and Manon Bannerman represents the Swiss spirit. The lineup was curated by a combination of early fan votes, real-time votes during the thrilling live finale, and the keen eyes of the evaluators.
KATSEYE is poised to release their debut album in 2024, and fans can already groove to their first three singles, "Dirty Water," "Girls Don't Like," and "All The Same," available now on YouTube.
"This has been a journey filled with challenges and unprecedented collaboration between HYBE and Geffen," said Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman of HYBE. "We are thrilled with the outcome and are immensely proud of all the participants. We wish KATSEYE all the success in the world, as we believe they will captivate fans across the globe."
The behind-the-scenes journey of KATSEYE's formation will be captured in an upcoming Netflix documentary series, slated for release in 2024. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Nadia Hallgren, whose credits include the poignant Michelle Obama documentary 'Becoming' and 'Civil: Ben Crump,' will helm the project.
HYBE, formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, announced its strategic partnership with Universal Music Group's Geffen Records in 2021. Geffen boasts an illustrious roster including Olivia Rodrigo and Kali Uchis, while HYBE has launched chart-topping groups like Tomorrow X Together, Seventeen, and Enhypen, alongside the global phenomenon BTS. Since their debut in 2013, BTS has achieved 10 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including six number ones, making them the first Korean act to reach the summit and the first to receive a Grammy nomination, garnering five nods from the Recording Academy.
"Witnessing the dedication and talent of these artists throughout this process has been truly remarkable," said John Janick, chairman and CEO of Interscope Geffen A&M. "For the new members of KATSEYE, I firmly believe that their potential is limitless, and they will achieve remarkable feats together."
