HYBE and Geffen Records are officially moving forward with their next big global idol project following the international breakthrough of KATSEYE.
The companies will unveil their second global girl group during the final phase of the survival program World Scout: the final piece on May 12th.
The final episode will determine the remaining debut lineup after months of competition with trainees from multiple countries. In episode 11, which aired on May 5, Japanese trainees Ayana and Sakura officially secured their spots as the final candidates still competing to debut.
For the final stage, Ayana is scheduled to perform “WE DRIVE”, while Sakura will be on display “PARTY b4 the PARTY”. Both contestants have built a stable international fan base throughout the program and are expected to deliver one of the most talked about battles of the season.
Meanwhile, three trainees have already secured confirmed positions in the debut lineup: Emily, Lexie and Samara.
The upcoming live finale in Los Angeles is is expected to serve as an official launchpad for the group before their full-scale international debut.
Emily had already attracted attention after reaching the final of The debut: Dream Academythe program that created KATSEYE. Known for her background in professional dance, she has been consistently praised for her strong stage presence and performance skills.
Samara, representing Brazil, has become popular among audiences around the world due to her exciting voice and stable live singing ability. She had previously placed seventh during the Dream Academy final and has remained one of the most talked about trainees internationally.
Swedish-born Lexie has attracted attention for her talent in songwriting and music production, leading many fans to speculate that she could play a major creative role in the group’s future musical identity.
Industry insiders believe HYBE is expanding aggressively “global girl group” the model after KATSEYE has exceeded expectations in the American and international markets.
Since debuting in 2023, KATSEYE has steadily gained momentum around the world, recently earning praise for live performances at Lollapalooza Chicago and appearing on major charts including the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200.
With HYBE’s large-scale training system and Geffen Records’ Western industrial infrastructure, expectations are already high for the new group to become another major step in the evolution of globally focused K-pop artists.
Sources: Saostar
