HYBE Music Group's labels are represented by global stars BTS and SEVENTEEN. In the United States, KATSEYE (CatsEye) has established itself as the "next-generation pop icon," and in Japan &TEAM (Anthem) produced million-selling albums, cementing a milestone for HYBE's "multi-home, multi-genre" strategy. In addition, the band "MUSZA" has joined. They are the winning team of HYBE Latin America's band audition program Pase a la Fama.
When MUSZA begins full-fledged activities and reaches a steady trajectory, HYBE will complete the first lineup of a global hub triangle linking Asia, English- and Spanish-speaking regions. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk's vision of exporting the "K-pop production system" is their powerful growth engine. The strategy is to fuse and expand the "K-pop methodology" into local music ecosystems to discover and develop new global artists. Chairman Bang Si-hyuk believes these challenges can add to K-pop's longevity and change the paradigm of the global music market. MUSZA members also said, "We dream of reaching fans around the world with music that strongly resonates with our roots in Latin America," and "We think the contract with HYBE Latin America is truly an incredible opportunity and the start of a journey to perform music that crosses barriers."
The following is a Q&A from the band MUSZA delivered through HYBE Latin America's new label S1ENTO Records.
Q. Congratulations on winning Pase a la Fama. How does it feel to sign with HYBE Latin America and achieve your debut dream?
Gerardo Rodríguez (vocals): I still can't fully believe it. Winning Pase a la Fama feels like a dream come true, but at the same time it carries a huge sense of responsibility. Each member entered this competition with different hardships and stories, and the fact that we became the winning team proves that something powerful happens when everyone comes together.
Rodolfo Blackmore (bass): It's a great honor. I've been making music since I was very young, but I learned that being part of MUSZA gives me even greater strength when sharing music. Winning Pase a la Fama is not a simple award to me. It's a responsibility to continue creating sincerely.
Cynthia Ochoa (drums): I'm proud. My parents made many sacrifices so I could pursue this dream. I'm happy that our team winning Pase a la Fama seemed to show that women in a band can shine on stage.
Ramiro Zuñiga (bajo quinto/sub vocalist): I grew up surrounded by norteño music (traditional music of northern Mexico). So this win means bringing my roots onto a new stage. I'm very excited to show that tradition can develop into a modern, global stage.
Jordi Blanco (saxophone): I'm grateful to my family and everyone by my side who endlessly supported me so I would never stop. Pase a la Fama gave us the opportunity to perform in front of many audiences, and winning showed that the music we made reached people's hearts.
Oscar Campos (accordion): It feels like destiny. Music has always been my refuge, and I'm so thankful for the experience with MUSZA and Pase a la Fama. Now I can share everything I've gone through and felt with the world.
Q. Pase a la Fama was the first band audition program in the North and South American region. It must have been both inspiring and an unfamiliar, new format of competition—what moment stands out the most?
MUSZA: Pase a la Fama was completely different from what we had experienced before. It was intense, emotions surged, and it pushed us beyond our limits. The moment we first formed as a team and performed in front of many people, the energy at the venue gave me confidence. Although it was a competition, the friendships built with fellow participants always became a solid source of strength for us.
Q. All six members come from different regions. What kind of music does MUSZA want to present going forward?
MUSZA: Each member has a unique color. We harmoniously encompass everything from traditional Mexican music to pop, R&B, rock, and urban styles. We want to create music that feels fresh while touching our roots. We plan to present music that contains real stories about our lives and communities. At the same time, we are exploring global music. We hope fans will feel our music represents them while also receiving it as something new.
Q. With HYBE Latin America, global expansion is expected. What goals do you hope to achieve in the future?
MUSZA: We dream of reaching fans around the world with music that strongly resonates with our roots in Latin America. In that regard, the contract with HYBE Latin America is truly an incredible opportunity and the start of a journey to perform music that crosses barriers. We hope to stand on global stages, collaborate with artists of various genres, and give other young generations hope that their culture and identity can shine on the world stage.
[Photo] HYBE Labels
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