Want to be a K-pop star? BTS, Blackpink’s music labels to hold auditions in Bay Area

(KRON) — Blackpink and BTS are two of the biggest K-pop groups in the world today, cracking through the mainstream and gaining millions of fans across all continents. Their respective labels, YG Entertainment (Blackpink) and HYBE (BTS), are looking for the next big star.

South Korea’s biggest music labels are holding auditions in the Bay Area this month.

HYBE subsidiary, Pledis, is holding auditions on Friday, Sept. 12 at EDS in Fremont, the dance studio announced on its Instagram page. The audition welcomes all children born after 2007, and they can prepare the following:

• Vocal/rap (A cappella)
• Dance (Bring your own track)
• Modeling (Catwalk, three poses)
• “Any other special talent”

The tryout is from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the studio on 6076 Stevenson Blvd., according to the audition signup page. The judges from the HYBE label will be present virtually for an online interview. Pledis is the sublabel that manages TWS and SEVENTEEN.

Related video above: IU’s first Bay Area concert in Oakland last year

YG Entertainment’s audition is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 4:30 p.m. at Tingna in San Jose, the dance studio announced on Instagram. All genders of anyone born between 2007 and 2014 are welcome to audition. They have an option to audition in one of three categories: singing, rapping and dancing.

“Don’t miss your chance to shine and chase your K-pop dream,” the post announcement read. “Sign up now via the link in our bio!”

The YG audition signup page can be viewed here. Tingna Dance Studio is located at 1510 Oakland Road #120 in San Jose.

YG Entertainment has orchestrated the rise of Blackpink since the group’s debut in 2016. Blackpink was the first K-pop act to headline Coachella when the quartet performed in 2023. They have the most YouTube subscribers (98.7 million) of any musical artist today.

HYBE is the parent company of Big Hit Music, the music label that released BTS’s debut album in 2014. The seven-member boy band was the first K-pop group to reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200.