Global entertainment company HYBE is set to fully target the Latin American market by launching a large-scale band audition program in collaboration with Telemundo, a U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster, through its Mexican subsidiary, HYBE Latin America.
On May 25th (Korean time), HYBE Latin America announced that the survival music competition program ‘Pase a la Fama’ (Step to Fame), aimed at discovering a Mexican band, will premiere on Telemundo on June 8th (local time). True to its name, which signifies “steps towards a dream,” HYBE plans to inject new vitality into the Mexican music market through this audition and discover a band with the potential to grow into global stars.
Telemundo, a major Spanish-language broadcaster under NBCUniversal in the U.S., boasts significant influence by providing diverse content such as dramas, reality shows, and news to a wide range of Latino viewers across the United States. HYBE anticipates that its collaboration with Telemundo will maximize the program's impact and effectively expand HYBE's brand recognition not only in Mexico but also among Latino viewers in the U.S.
In this audition program, 55 contestants who have passed fierce competition will participate in the ‘Pase a la Fama’ artist camp to begin their journey to become band members. The program will vividly capture the various competition processes they undergo, along with HYBE's systematic training system and the contestants' growth stories. Viewers will likely experience the diverse charm of Mexican music and the passionate challenges of the participants through the broadcast.
The winner or team ultimately selected as band members will receive a total prize of $100,000 (approximately 140 million Korean won) along with a special opportunity for a record deal with HYBE Latin America. This is expected to provide a stepping stone for young and talented Mexican musicians to enter the global music market.
To enhance the musical quality of this project, renowned musicians with impressive careers are participating. Edgar Barrera, who has won a remarkable 21 Latin Grammy Awards and a Grammy Award at the 57th ceremony, will oversee the composition of the program's theme song and the production of original albums. His extensive experience and outstanding musical capabilities are expected to enrich the program's musical color and provide high-level musical guidance to the participants.
Furthermore, prominent figures representing the Mexican popular music scene will participate as judges in the program, ensuring fair and professional evaluations. Singer and actress Ana Bárbara, talented singer Adriel Favela, and renowned composer Horacio Palencia, who has created numerous hit songs, will join as judges to deeply assess the potential and musicality of the contestants. Their participation is expected to increase the program's credibility and provide viewers with more engaging entertainment.
Isaac Lee, Chairman of HYBE Latin America, expressed his deep affection for the program, stating, "'Pase a la Fama' is a love letter to the intrinsic power of music and the process of creating something unforgettable." He further added, "It will show the incredible possibilities that unfold when talent and opportunity meet, starting from the artist's roots to reaching HYBE's global vision." This demonstrates HYBE's vision to go beyond being just a K-pop company, aiming to understand and respect the music markets of various cultures and lead the global music industry.
HYBE's launch of this Mexican band audition program is interpreted as an active investment in the rapidly growing Latin music market and a strategic move to diversify the global music market. Having already achieved global success with K-pop, HYBE aims to discover the musical potential of Mexico and other Latin American regions through this program and create new global stars, thereby expanding the horizons of the music industry.
In particular, the collaboration with the powerful media platform Telemundo is expected to provide a solid foundation for HYBE's entry into the Latin American market. Telemundo's broad viewership, HYBE's systematic production system, and the participation of prominent figures in the Mexican music scene increase the possibility of ‘Pase a la Fama’ growing beyond a simple audition program into an important platform that creates new icons of Latin music culture.
Attention is focused on whether HYBE's latest endeavor can write a new success story in the Latin music market, beyond the success case of K-pop. Music fans around the world are raising their expectations for the fresh wave that the new Mexican band discovered through ‘Pase a la Fama’ will bring to the global music market.
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