HYBE (formerly Big Hit Entertainment), a prominent South Korean entertainment company, and Geffen Records, a United States-based record label, announced a venture partnership to form a global girl group produced on the K-pop training and development system, or HYBE T&D, which combines vigorous vocal and dance training. The first collaboration between these two major record labels was announced in November 2021. HYBE x Geffen Global Girl Group Auditions followed, with 120,000 submissions to HYBE, ultimately selecting 20 contestants to take part in Dream Academy. Auditions were held across South Korea, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom and Australia in 2022, with the goal of forming a girl group that “transcend[s] national, cultural, and artistic boundaries.”
During their first year, they made the first-ever global girl group using K-pop training and development methodologies. The objective of the JV was to apply both K-pop development methods and aesthetics to create a group of international girls who would be marketed to the U.S. and beyond. Six of the 20 contestants debuted as KATSEYE: Manon, Sophia, Daniela, Lara, Megan and Yoonchae. With an international group, their debut EP, “SIS (Soft Is Strong),” was released on Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.
HYBE and Geffen executives documented the entire process of creating KATSEYE and produced a docuseries called “Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE,” which was released Aug. 21 on Netflix. Through eight episodes, the audience follows 20 aspiring pop stars who leave everything behind and start their new lives in the T&D program in Los Angeles. The docuseries sheds light on the physical demands and mental strain of meeting or exceeding performance expectations. Throughout the show, it is uncertain who will be eliminated and who will make it in the final group.
The docuseries delves into the narrative of KATSEYE, with many of the contestants sharing their upbringing, past vocal and dance experience and their journey in competitive environments. The docuseries dissects what goes into the decision-making process of who progresses to the next round and ultimately makes the group.
Daniela, Naisha, Adela, Nikky, Megan, Lexie and Emily in Pop Star Academy: KATSEYE Courtesy of Netflix—© 2024 Netflix, Inc.
Traditionally, in the K-Pop trainee system, young, hopeful artists audition for Korean music companies with the hope of being signed as trainees. Trainees then take numerous types of classes for months or years in skills such as vocal training and dance. The system is notorious for its intense training process — its objective is to increase potential K-pop group members’ singing and dancing endurance. Because of the limited time frame for debuting and training the girls, there are unpredictable cuts throughout the program; in other words, contestants could be sent home unexpectedly based on their performance compared to other contestants.
For KATSEYE, the 20 girls were evaluated on their development in vocals, dance, attitude and star quality. The docuseries provides context and sheds light on each girls’ journey, their strengths and weaknesses, and how fast they progressed and improved in the training program. The girls were given a skills level test to assess their starting levels and were provided with training to help them progress and potentially reach the next level with the help of their instructors. The show also provides a framework for viewers less familiar with the K-pop trainee system to understand the behind-the-scenes of making a group.
Picture showing the 20 contestants, by HYBE x Geffen Records
The aim of KATSEYE’s formation, according to HYBE x Geffen executives and the project’s creative director Humberto Leon, is to apply K-pop concepts of maintaining “uniformity while celebrating all of their individualness.” The group is targeted towards an international audience not only in the West but globally.
“Pop Star Academy” showed the reality of the K-pop training system and how performers have to give it their all in performances. It effectively portrays how slim the chances of debuting are despite years of training. For instance, some of the original girls trained in the program for up to two years but still did not debut. One of the most prominent aspects of “Pop Star Academy” is how transparent the docuseries is at how the girl group is formed. In the season finale, it is established that the group KATSEYE will be formed from the final six members. The docuseries is easy to follow and the production is high-quality so that all of the details and stages of the training camp are clear. The show also sheds light on how fast-paced and high-pressure the training environment is. Although many of the girls have years of experience, the goal remains the same: to get better. In one of the episodes, the girls had a dance class in heels, which revealed who might succeed and had stellar dance technique, and who lacked the foundation for it.
One of the most controversial aspects of the show was the ranking system of the trainees, which placed a lot of weight on whether they would go to the next round. The viewers can see how the trainees are ranked on a list numbered from best to worst, with trainees being able to move up or down based on their performance. Manon, one of the contestants who was scouted on social media, missed many rehearsals and arrived late, but ended up ranking fourth after Mission 1 (the first stage of making cuts) based on fan voting; she already had a strong social media presence prior to the series.
The executives from HYBE x Geffen made big decisions about which contestants they thought stood out and the show effectively lets us see the feedback given to the girls, whether it is positive or negative. There was footage of the executives and the trainees discussing what they thought of their progress and performance. Overall, the formation of KATSEYE sheds light on the journey of the trainees and the decision-making process. The docuseries generated discussions and debates online, how trainees are selected to debut and why some don’t make it.