&Audition – The Howling – was a Japanese and South Korean reality competition program that follows the formation and debut of the first boy group under Hybe Labels Japan.
In the live finale on September 3, 2022, the nine members of &Team were revealed. They debuted on December 7, 2022.
Program synopsis
&Audition – The Howling – A 60-minute, uncut version of the show where 15 trainees move forward together towards their dreams; a documentary-style program where various performances and stories unfold as they aim for debut.
Hulu Japan (Japan), Hybe Labels Youtube (Global): every Saturday at 1:30PM JST starting on July 9, 2022 (Episodes 1-7) &Audition – The Howling – Final Round Hybe Labels Youtube (Global), Hulu Japan (Japan): 4PM JST live broadcast from Tokyo on September 3, 2022 (Episode 8); two-hour special Nippon TV (Japan): 4-5PM JST; one-hour special
&Audition – Live – A shorter 30-minute version of the show, serving as support to the main broadcast, where MCs and an audience watch together with viewers.
Nippon TV (Japan): 12:59AM every Thursday starting on July 14, 2022
Background
On January 1, 2021, it was announced that Big Hit Japan would launch the "Big Hit Japan Global Debut Project" to search for artists to debut as a group in Japan and become active worldwide. Former I-Land contestants K, Nicholas, EJ and Taki were to take part as confirmed members of the group, joined by additional trainees determined through an audition program called "&Audition".
On March 19, Big Hit Entertainment re-branded and re-structured into HYBE Corporation, whereby Hybe Labels Japan would now be involved in the program and group's debut. On the same day, an official Twitter account under the name "&AUDITION Boys" was launched for the four confirmed group members. On April 26, 2021, K and EJ made a cameo in the music video for Enhypen's "Drunk-Dazed". On November 4, Hybe Labels Japan shared that the "&Audition" program would begin airing in 2022.
On January 18, 2022, Hybe Labels Japan announced the opening of YouTube channel "&Audition Boys", and various videos and vlogs were uploaded. On March 9, the program was revealed to be titled &Audition – The Howling, and broadcast would start in July 2022 as the first phase of the Global Debut Project. On May 30, the program's official website and social media accounts were opened, as well as the details of its broadcast date. On June 4, themed profile photos of the 15 participating trainees were revealed. The signal song for the program, "The Final Countdown", and its music video were released on June 28.
Producers
Special Advisor
Bang Si-hyuk
Mentors
Pdogg
Son Sung-deuk
Performance Director
Sakura Inoue
Producer and Sound Director
Soma Genda
Special Producers
Ryosuke Imai
Scooter Braun
Zico
Producer information from the official &Audition website.
Special Guests
Enhypen (Episodes 1 and 8) Tomorrow X Together (Episode 6) Seventeen (Video message; Episodes 3 and 4) BTS (Video message; Episode 6) RM (Episode 8)
Contestants
Color key:
Profile
A total of 15 trainees participated in the show—four confirmed members, who were previously contestants on the South Korean boy group survival reality show I-Land, and 11 new trainees.
Note: Profile information from the official &Audition website, and ages based on the international age system and date of release (June 2022).
Concept
Each round has a mission involving both an interim check and a performance. The trainees will be judged on vocal ability, performance and a special criteria that will change with each round. Based on evaluations of their performances, the trainees earn a certain number of &BALLs to fill the &RING. Only if they fill the &RING after four rounds can everyone advance to the final round; if they fail to fill the &RING, the planned group's debut may be cancelled.
Episodes
Missions
Round 1: Group signal song mission
Episode 1
All trainees perform the theme song "The Final Countdown" together. The special criterion is teamwork.
Minhyung was unable to participate.
Round 2: Concept mission
Episodes 2 and 3
K, EJ, Nicholas and Taki all become leaders to four teams and prepare performances with four different concepts. The special criterion is each team's chemistry.
Junwon was unable to participate due to health reasons.