CJ ENM to launch new K-pop-inspired boy group in Latin America

Logos of CJ ENM, Endemol Shine Boomdog and HBO Max / Courtesy of CJ ENM, Endemol Shine Boomdog, HBO Max

By Dong Sun-hwa

A new K-pop-inspired boy group is set to debut in Latin America.

Korean entertainment giant CJ ENM announced Thursday that it will join forces with HBO Max, an over-the-top (OTT) platform of Warner Media, and Mexico-based production company Endemol Shine Boomdog to launch a K-pop audition program for aspiring singers in Latin America.

"This is the first time for a Korean entertainment company to produce an audition show targeting the Latin American market," CJ ENM said in a statement. "The production team of CJ ENM's music channel Mnet ― which has expertise in making an audition program ― will team up with its partners to create content for Latin American people."

The company added the winners will be trained under the K-pop system before making their official debut.

For the show, several K-pop stars and Latin American celebrities will appear as judges, but CJ ENM has not yet unveiled their names. The program's release date has been kept under wraps, too.

According to International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI)'s 2019 global report, the average annual growth rate of Latin American music market stood at 18.9 percent, making it the world's fastest-growing region.

"Given this fact, a singer's success in Latin America can be a bridgehead to their global success," CJ ENM said.

In a similar vein, HYBE, a Korean music label that houses K-pop sensation BTS, has recently joined hands with Universal Music Group (UMG) that is based in the Netherlands and operates in the U.S. to create a new boy group through an audition program. The new act, which is slated to make its debut in the U.S., will also follow the K-pop trainee system. The show is scheduled to go to air in 2022.

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