[OSENWORLD] Could HYBE’s latest project be the start of a “Latin BTS”? The company’s new reality competition Santos Bravos launches tomorrow (Aug. 15) with a powerhouse creative lineup and big ambitions for the global stage.
The production brings together top-tier talent from around the world: Kenny Ortega (High School Musical, Descendants) serves as art director; hitmaker Johnny Goldstein (Shakira, BTS’s J-Hope, ENHYPEN) takes on music production; and RAab Stevenson (Justin Timberlake, Rihanna, SZA) is vocal coach. Colombian producer Jaime Escallón (X Factor, Survivor) steps in as showrunner, joined by producer Lucas Jaramillo. Emmy-winning director Alejandro Bernal and HYBE Latin America’s Training & Development head Kwon Ae-young round out the team.
Set in Mexico, the series will form a brand-new boy group from 16 contestants chosen through auditions across Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, Spain, and the United States. The winners will debut under the same name, Santos Bravos.
The show premieres Aug. 15 at 9 a.m. KST via YouTube Premiere, followed by releases on Spotify (Aug. 16), U.S. Spanish-language streamer ViX (Aug. 17), and Latin America’s EXA TV (Aug. 17). New episodes will air weekly across multiple platforms, making it easy for global fans to follow.
As HYBE’s second major Latin music project under its “multi-home, multi-genre” strategy, Santos Bravos builds on the success of Pase a la Fama, the region’s first band audition program, which premiered in June and topped U.S. Spanish-language ratings in its time slot with 688,000 viewers for its debut episode (Nielsen ratings).
The hype is already building. Tickets have sold out for the HYBE Experience exhibition in Mexico City’s Bicentenario Park, and more than 150 global brand representatives and 100 media outlets attended “The Drop,” an event introducing Santos Bravos and HYBE Latin America’s artist development vision.
HYBE Latin America says the series will showcase “contestants’ challenges and growth, special guest appearances, artist collaborations, and the cultural moments that will captivate global music fans,” aiming to “connect music, culture, and community beyond borders.”
/k_inside@osen.co.kr
[Photo] Courtesy of HYBE
