SM Entertainment to hold first-ever global auditions to form new girl group

As K-pop continues to extend its reach beyond South Korea, one of its leading entertainment powerhouses, SM Entertainment, is ready to tap into global talent like never before. For the first time, they will be holding global auditions to form a brand-new girl group, and the excitement is palpable.

SM Entertainment has been a major player in the K-pop industry, giving us iconic acts like Super Junior, TVXQ, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, NCT, Aespa, and RIIZE. Now, they’re on the hunt for fresh faces from around the world, inviting girls of any nationality born between 2005 and 2011 to audition—do note that young hopefuls under 14 will need parental consent to participate.

To ensure everyone gets a fair shot, SM has posted multi-language instructions for the application and audition requirements.

The application window is open until June 22, and after the deadline, a select few will be invited for in-person auditions. This isn’t just any audition—while SM Entertainment has been holding annual global auditions for over a decade, this marks the first time they are specifically looking to create a new girl group. In 2021, they conducted a similar search for a boy group. This year is set to be monumental for SM, with plans to debut four new groups, including a British K-pop boy band and a virtual artist.

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How to audition for SM Entertainment’s next global girl group

If you dream of stardom, here’s your chance. The 2024 SM New Girl Group Audition (SMNGG) is open for online registration until 22 June 2024. Applicants must be female and born between 2005 and 2011, with the flexibility to come from any country. After all, talent knows no borders.

For the first round, you’ll need to submit a self-introduction video. This isn’t just a name and age situation; you’ll need to share your hobbies, talents, previous audition experiences, and details about your vocal and dance training. Remember, no makeup or filters—SM Entertainment wants to see the real you.

Next, participants will have to show off your singing and dancing abilities. For the vocal portion, you can choose from a list of songs including Atlantis Princess and Merry-Chri by BoA, All About You by Taeyeon, Bad Boy by Red Velvet, When This Rain Stops by Wendy, Spicy, and Better Things by Aespa—select the one that best fits your voice range.

For the dance portion, the song choices are Better by BoA, Into The New World by Girls’ Generation, Feel The Rhythm by Red Velvet, and Illusion by Aespa.

Successful candidates from the first round will be invited to a second round of in-person auditions. If you make the cut, you’ll be notified individually about the date and location. Finalists will have the golden opportunity to debut as part of SM Entertainment’s new girl group.

To submit your applications, visit this page.

This move by SM Entertainment isn’t happening in a vacuum. In fact, HYBE, the company behind BTS, recently announced global auditions for a new boy group. Meanwhile, YG Entertainment, which brought us BLACKPINK and BabyMonster, has been conducting idol auditions worldwide, from China and Australia to Indonesia and the U.S.

Aspiring K-pop stars often spend several years as trainees before they finally debut—sometimes over a decade. The road to stardom is grueling, with the pressure to stay on top of an industry that churns out pop stars with relentless efficiency. Just last year, we saw a total of 63 new K-pop groups debuted. Amidst the glamour, celebrities are increasingly vocal about the mental health challenges they face.

Yet, the dream of becoming a K-pop idol continues to burn bright among young hopefuls worldwide. The rise of boot camps and schools dedicated to training these future stars is a testament to the enduring appeal of the K-pop industry. Now, with SM Entertainment’s global auditions, that dream is within reach for more people than ever before. So, if you’ve got the talent and the passion, this could be your moment to shine.

For more details and updates, check out the official SM Entertainment Instagram page here.

(Hero and feature images credit: Instagram/ @smtown)