&Audition – The Howling – is 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: Final members of &TEAM Eliminated in the final episode 15 contestants K (ケイ) Nicholas (ニコラス) EJ (ウィジュ) Taki (タキ) Jo (ジョウ) Harua (ハルア) Maki (マキ) Yuma (ユウマ) Fuma (フウマ) Gaku (ガク) Hikaru (ヒカル) Junwon (ジュンウォン) Hayate (ハヤテ) Yejun (イェジュン) Minhyung (ミニョン)
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. +NameJapaneseNationalityPrefecture / CityDate of birthAge Before &Audition Debut TraineesKケイJapanTokyo21 October 1997 24 Former marathon athlete and I-Land contestant; trained at EXPG TokyoNicholasニコラスTaiwanTaipei9 July 200219B-boy and former I-Land contestantEJウィジュSouth KoreaGoyang7 September 200219Former Big Hit Music trainee, fencing athlete and I-Land contestantTakiタキJapanKanagawa4 May 200517Background in locking, former I-Land contestantTraineesFumaフウマJapanShizuoka29 June 199823Dancer, backup dancer, former n.cH trainee until 2019, Produce 101 Japan season 2 contestant (withdrew before program aired in early 2021)HayateハヤテJapanHyogo25 January 200121Appeared on JTBC's Stage K in 2019; ModelPress Mr High School Boy contestant in 2017JunwonジュンウォンSouth KoreaJeonju21 April 200319Former Big Hit Music, iMe Korea and Biscuit Entertainment traineeYumaユウマJapanHyogo7 February 2004 18Former Johnny's trainee under Kansai Johnny's Jr from 2012; former Avex traineeGakuガクJapanNagano25 April 200418Dance and dance battle backgroundJoジョウJapanKanagawa8 July 2004 17Junon Superboy Contest 2020 finalist, dropped out before finals presumably to become a trainee; basketball playerHikaru (Haku)ヒカルJapanGunma28 March 200517Ballet background; 2020 Japan Seifuku School Uniform Award winner HaruaハルアJapanNagano1 May 200517Formerly signed to Stardust Promotion new talent divisionMakiマキJapan / GermanyTokyo17 February 200616Musical theatre background; previously part of a musical theatre companyMinhyungミニョンSouth KoreaSeoul27 January 200715Former Big Hit Music traineeYejunイェジュンSouth KoreaSeoul28 April 200715Former Big Hit Music trainee, child actor; appeared in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Arthdal Chronicles 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 for health reasons. +EpisodeSongTeam LeaderTeam Members2TXT－"Blue Hour (Japanese ver.)"EJFuma, Harua, Yejun3Monsta X－"Hero (Japanese ver.)"NicholasGaku, HayateTVXQ－"Something (Japanese ver.)"KJo, MinhyungTaemin－"Sayonara Hitori"TakiMaki, Hikaru, Yuma
Round 3: Seventeen legendary mission Episodes 4 and 5
The trainees split into three teams and perform songs by Seventeen. They are tasked with creating original choreography, interpreting the songs in their own styles, and contributing to the design of their stage outfits. The special criterion is creativity. +EpisodeSongGroup NameTeam LeaderTeam Members5"Call Call Call!"C RidersFumaNicholas, Junwon, Minhyung, Yejun"Home;Run (Japanese Ver.)"Full CountGakuEJ, Jo, Harua, Maki"Oh My! (Japanese Ver.)"Wang WangHayateK, Taki, Hikaru, Yuma
Round 4: BTS mission
Episodes 6 and 7
The trainees are divided into two teams. Each team is tasked with performing two BTS songs, one of which is a different arrangement to the original. The fourth round has two evaluations: one centered on vocals, and another solely on performance. +EpisodeVocal SongPerformance Song RemixTeamTrainees7"Film Out""Run"ANicholas, EJ, Harua, Hayate, Jo, Junwon, Yuma"Lights""Black Swan"BK, Taki, Fuma, Gaku, Hikaru, Maki, Minhyung, Yejun
Final round
Episode 8
Junwon performed "Running with the Pack" while seated due to injury. +EpisodeOriginal SongDebut TraineesTrainees8"Melody"K, Nicholas, EJ, TakiGaku, Yejun, Harua, Hayate, Hikaru"Running with the Pack"Fuma, Jo, Junwon, Maki, Minhyung, Yuma
Final results K, Nicholas, EJ and Taki's debut was officially confirmed after Round 4. The remaining five members were decided by a combination of criteria: producer evaluation (40%), special producer evaluation (30%), preliminary global voting (20%), and final live voting (10%).
Result The finale was broadcast live on September 3, 2022, from Tokyo. Bang Si-hyuk announced the name of the newly formed boy group to be &Team.
Episode 8#NameNationalityN/AK N/ANicholasN/AEJN/ATaki1Jo2Harua3Maki / 4Yuma5Fuma
Discography
Singles Title Year Peak positionsAlbumJPN "The Final Countdown" 2022 — rowspan="3" "Melody" — "Running with the Pack" —
Aftermath &TEAM officially debuted on December 7, 2022, with the extended play First Howling: Me. On November 21, 2022, &Team released their debut song, "Under the Skin" and released their debut extended play on December 7, 2022.
Some trainees participated in other survival shows: Yoo Jun-won participated in MBC's Fantasy Boys ranked 1st at the finals, and was expected to debut as a member of Fantasy Boys in late 2023 under PocketDol Studio. However, he left the debut lineup on August 23, 2023, following several disagreements Junwon and his parents had with PocketDol Studio regarding his contract. Hikaru & Gaku participated in Oen-High (HYBE Japan Survival Show) as contestants with 9 other members. Hikaru ranked 5 as a fixed member, making him a debut member of aoen, and Gaku ended up making the final lineup ranking 6. Some trainees debuted in new groups: Hayate debuted in YK Entertainment under their boy group called Wild Blue. Hikaru & Gaku debuted in JCONIC to their boy group aoen making them &Team's little brothers. Junwon is set to debut in CONTI Inc’s boy group X_ON. Some trainees opened social media accounts: Yu Junwon reactivated his Instagram account.
References
External links &AUDITION - The Howling - Official Website Hybe Labels Japan Official Website HYBE LABELS+ Official Youtube Channel