As the year 2021 approaches, more and more rumors about Big Hit Labels' plans to debut new girl groups are spread increasingly fast.
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During the recent Big Hit Labels' quarterly meeting, the company confirmed that in 2021 they will have a bunch of new groups debuting. Originally, Big Hit Labels plans to announce the debut of two new girl groups. However, there have been rumors that there will be 3 rookie girl groups to be released next year.
Project 1: Source Music Girls
This will be the first K-Pop girl group to debut from Source Music after 6 years, since GFriend in January 2015. Although there have been many reports that Big Hit will be in charge of training and directing this new girl group, in fact they still give the full authority to Source Music. This will be a girl group consisting of trainees under Source Music.
Project 2: HYBE Girls
Earlier, according to official information, a new girl group under Big Hit Labels will be created by director Bang Shi Hyuk and CBO Min Heejin. Bang Shi Hyuk is in charge of the production, including music production, while Min Heejin will be responsible for the creative direction and branding of the group, including their concept, video, image.
Initially, netizens thought that the Source Music's new girl group would be created by Min Heejin - a former creative director of SM. However, it seems that the Source Music's project is completely unrelated to Min Heejin.
In December 2019, fans also discovered that Big Hit had registered trademark and account rights for 'HYBE'. This may be the name of the new girl group, but it could also be the name of a separate brand that Big Hit made for Min Heejin (Min Heejin is the CBO, though). Therefore, the new group is called 'HYBE Girls' for the time being.
The female trainees who have passed the Plus Global Auditions and get qualified are rumored to be part of this upcoming girl group. In addition, there have been rumors recently that Min Heejin is considering recruiting SM trainees and former 'Produce 48' contestants for HYBE Girls.
Project 3: BELIFT:LAB Girls
After the success of 'I-LAND' - the survival show that created the rookie boy group ENHYPEN, BELIFT:LAB (a joint venture company between Big Hit and CJ ENM) planned to hold another version for female trainees in 2021. The winners will debut as a new girl group under BELIFT:LAB.
'I-LAND 2' is expected to air as early as mid-2021, meaning this girl group will have a chance to debut by the end of 2021, after Source Music Girls and HYBE Girls debut.
What Korean netizens think
Although these are just rumors, some details turned out to be accurate according to Big Hit's plans. If Big Hit Labels actually debut 3 new girl groups in the same year, they will increase the number of the company's girl groups from 1 (GFriend) to 4. This shows Big Hit's ambition in conquering the K-Pop girl group market.
However, many fans still believe that Big Hit Labels will only debut 2 new girl groups, one by Min Heejin (together with Source Music) and one from BELIFT:LAB. In addition, Big Hit Labels is expected to debut two more boy groups: Pledis' new boy group in 2021 and Big Hit's new boy group in 2022.
Many people are concerned that if they produce too many new groups, the quality of the new artists and the treatment of the current artists will be affected.
What do you think about Big Hit's ambition to conquer the K-Pop girl group market?
