Big Hit Plans to Debut New Boyband for 2019

BTS’s label Big Hit Entertainment confirmed plans to debut a new boy band next year.

We plan to launch a new boy band next year,” a Big Hit rep told Forbes. “Target is to be by early next year, and we will provide more details when it’s confirmed.”

Speculation is swirling around the new group, but the only detail that Big Hit confirmed is that their debut is slated for early 2019.

This is Big Hit’s first group in six years following BTS’s formation in 2013. The first company-created group, GLAM, disbanded in 2015. The agency previously co-managed 2AM with JYP Entertainment, where Big Hit CEO Bang Si-hyuk worked as a producer until founding Big Hit in 2005.

Korean outlet Ilgan Sports recently cited industry insiders who said the group will have five members and an average age of 17. Their report also claims that the rookie group would have a different concept from BTS. Korea’s Star News 
additionally reported that the member lineup would be determined by a survival show. Big Hit wouldn’t comment on these details to Forbes.

Last December, Bloomberg reported that Bang was preparing to introduce a new boy band “using a ‘success formula’ that could be replicated with other K-pop bands seeking to break into the U.S. charts.”

This has been a whirlwind year for Big Hit as flagship act BTS sealed their place as the biggest boy band in the world. Their record-breaking achievements include two No. 1 albums, a handful of RIAA certifications and even the cover of Time. The septet recently renewed their contract with Big Hit for another seven years.