"Ah sh**, here we go again."

I mean... okay... I mean...

Promotional poster for a global audition "World Scout: The Final Piece" launched by Hybe and Geffen Records (Hybe)

I’m so serious when I say I paused Season 1 Episode 20 of One Piece to check on the latest K-news and said, “You’ve gotta be kidding me.” Look at that image and the text. Really look at it. The Final Piece?

Y’all.

My head’s smashed into a pillow as I type this (yes, I’m dope enough to know home row and how to type without looking at the keyboard, thank yewww):

Stop creating *%!$#?@ groups.

Michael? You, me, same.

The Korea Herald reported that within the past 24 hours, HYPE and Geffen partnered again to launch a multinational girl group in 2026. This is the second collaboration in this capacity between the two companies. The efforts kicked off in Japan where they’ll host several auditions across the country. The goal is, from what the article says, is to enroll “[T]hose who pass the audition [therein they’ll undergo a] specialized ‘K-pop-style training,’ adapted for the US market, from October to December.”

Hol’up Brittany Broski, this kombucha might be needed

Although streaming allows us to connect with many artists of varying levels of fame, North America isn’t winning on this. I googled top 10 girl groups formed in North America as of today and it’s pitiful. Err’body’s above 40. Groups exist but they aren’t charting like they once did and this could be an opportunity.

Tomatoes. More than half of the list are from when I was still checking regularly for girl groups OR they’re the inspiration for the younger artists I hear now.

Let’s take Lollapalooza into consideration. The Chicago-based annual festival had artists from all over the world on stage but the only girl groups were TWICE (who are the first Kpop girl group to headline the festival!) and KATSEYE who are being called a “global” girl group.

*Stares at the screen* We will get to that “global” designation at another time. *Coughs in Black Swan and any other group with a lineup not compiled of all South Korean artists* ¹

And, wouldn’t you know it, that’s HYBE/Geffen’s first baby?

Credit: https://www.katseye.world/photos/

I knew of them but wasn’t actively consuming their music. I DO know that “Gnarly” took me hostage worse than any Duolingo meme ever could. I was afraid to type the song name just because that’s all it takes for the song to be stuck in my head again. That’s power and no matter if you loved or hated that song, it did what it needed to do.

They have the potential to go the distance in this wildly eclectic scene but how can they maximize on it when their labels are already planning for their in-house competition or replacement?

What do you think?

1. This is an eventual extension of my thoughts from The End of Kpop