HYBE × Ryan Tedder 2026 Boy Group Audition: How to Apply to the OneRepublic Producer's K-Pop Project

If you've been following K-pop audition news in May 2026, one project keeps surfacing that didn't exist on anyone's radar a year ago: HYBE × Ryan Tedder. HYBE America is now running an open global casting call for a brand-new boy group, co-piloted by the OneRepublic frontman and three-time Grammy Album of the Year winning producer. This is not the same as the standard HYBE audition track that funnels into BTS, SEVENTEEN, or TXT's label families — it's a separate American-based pipeline aimed at a long-term, English-fluent, globally marketable boy group.

Below is the full breakdown of what we know as of May 24, 2026, including the official entry portal, what they're actually screening for, and why this is the most unusual HYBE audition opening this year.

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📋 Quick Facts: HYBE × Ryan Tedder Boy Group Audition

Item	Detail
Project	New global boy group (debut date not yet announced)
Label	HYBE America
Co-producer	Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic, 3× Grammy Album of the Year)
Audition status	Open — accepting submissions worldwide
Eligibility	Male / masculine-presenting performers, all nationalities
Official portal	hybeamerica-audition.com
Casting email	hybeamericacasting@hybecorp.com
Format	Online video submission (global)

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Why Ryan Tedder Matters for K-Pop Trainees

Ryan Tedder is not a name K-pop hopefuls typically prepare around — but he should be. Beyond fronting OneRepublic, he's the songwriter and producer behind era-defining global pop hits ("Halo," "Counting Stars," "Bleeding Love"), and a three-time Grammy Album of the Year recipient. He's also worked across the K-pop axis on songs that have already gone global with the genre.

For an aspiring trainee, that signals three concrete things about this project:

1. English-language pop sensibility from day one. The training and discography is being built with a producer fluent in Top 40 song structure, not just the K-pop template.
2. Streaming-platform optimization. Tedder's catalog is built for global playlists. Expect songs engineered for Spotify and YouTube algorithm-friendly hooks.
3. A long lead-in. This is a multi-year music and performance opportunity, not a 90-day survival show. Trainees should be ready for sustained development.

This is closer to the HYBE × Geffen Records "Dream Academy" → KATSEYE template — only built around a male group, and routed through HYBE's American casting infrastructure rather than a televised competition.

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Who HYBE × Ryan Tedder Is Looking For

According to the casting brief released by HYBE America, this audition is targeting male and masculine-presenting performers from all nationalities. The agency has been explicit that potential outweighs polish.

Core attributes they've named publicly

• Vocal ability — strong, distinguishable, capable of carrying a topline
• Dance skills — sufficient to perform at modern K-pop boy group level
• On-camera confidence — comfortable performing for video-first audiences
• "Star quality" — captivating screen presence, magnetism
• Drive — willingness to commit to long-term training and development

What "potential over polish" means in practice

You don't need to be a finished idol. Translation:

• Limited dance training? Fine, if the vocal is there.
• Vocal not Grammy-level yet? Fine, if you have undeniable screen presence.
• Already debuted somewhere small? Fine — they're explicitly open to non-debuted and previously debuted talent.

What HYBE America has said matters most: drive, passion, and the spark of star quality.

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How to Apply: Step-by-Step

Step 1 — Visit the Official Portal

Go to hybeamerica-audition.com. This is the only official HYBE America audition site. If a third-party site asks for an application fee, it's not legitimate — HYBE auditions are free.

Step 2 — Prepare Your Video Submission

The standard HYBE America audition video checklist:

• Slate at the start — full name, age, nationality, contact email
• Vocal segment — 1–2 minutes a cappella or with light backing track
• Dance segment — 1–2 minutes, full body in frame, clean background
• Personality segment — 30–60 seconds talking to camera about why you want this

Total length: roughly 4–6 minutes. Shoot in landscape, in good natural light, with clean audio (a basic lavalier mic dramatically improves your chances).

Step 3 — Submit Through the Portal

Upload via the form on the official site. Include all required identity fields. Do not also email submissions — the form is the system of record.

Step 4 — Wait for Callback

Selected candidates are typically contacted within 4–8 weeks for a follow-up — either a second-round video, a live virtual audition, or an invitation to an in-person callback in Los Angeles or Seoul.

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How This Differs from a Standard HYBE Audition

This is the single most-asked question about the project. The short answer:

	Standard HYBE Audition	HYBE × Ryan Tedder
Operated by	HYBE Labels (Korea)	HYBE America
Pipeline	Feeds into existing HYBE labels (Big Hit, ADOR, PLEDIS, KOZ, etc.)	New standalone boy group
Producer involvement	In-house HYBE producers	Ryan Tedder co-piloting
Audition site	weverseaudition.com	hybeamerica-audition.com
Music direction	K-pop-first, Korean-language-heavy	Globally-pop-first, English-forward
Likely debut market	Korea-led, global expansion	US-led, global from day one

If you applied to the standard HYBE / Weverse audition earlier this year and didn't progress, you can absolutely still apply here — the screening rubric is different.

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What to Avoid

A handful of mistakes are killing applications right now:

• Filming vertically. HYBE America's review pipeline is built for landscape. Vertical clips read as unprofessional.
• Cover song choices that hide your voice. A Bruno Mars belter does not show range. Pick a song with verses and a chorus that exposes your tone.
• Choreography you can't actually do. Reviewers can spot strained execution instantly. Pick choreography one step below your ceiling and execute it cleanly.
• Skipping the personality segment. This is where Ryan Tedder's brief weighs heavily — they want to know who you are, not just what you can do.

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Is the HYBE × Ryan Tedder audition free? Yes. HYBE America does not charge application fees. Any site asking for payment is not legitimate.

Can I apply if I'm not American or Korean? Yes. The casting call is explicitly open to all nationalities.

Do I need to speak English? English is strongly preferred given the global pop direction, but it is not listed as a hard requirement. If your Korean is fluent and your performance is exceptional, you can still apply.

Can I apply if I already auditioned for HYBE through Weverse? Yes. This is a separate pipeline operated by HYBE America with a different review team.

When will the group debut? HYBE America has not announced a debut date. Based on the typical HYBE training timeline and the parallel KATSEYE precedent, a 2027–2028 window is the most realistic estimate.

Is there an age limit? HYBE America has not published a hard age cap for this specific project, but the standard HYBE training range is 13–25. Candidates outside that window should still apply if exceptional.

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The Bottom Line

The HYBE × Ryan Tedder project is the single most distinctive open audition in K-pop right now. It's the only major global-tier opening where the producer half of the brain trust is a Grammy Album of the Year winner with a Top 40 pop catalog — and where the agency has been explicit that potential beats polish.

If you've been waiting for a HYBE-affiliated opportunity that values raw star quality over years of pre-training, this is it. Submissions are open at hybeamerica-audition.com right now.

For everything else open in K-pop this month — JYP The Heat's Seoul stop on May 31, THE SCOUT's ongoing run on ENA, SM's 21-city global tour — see the May 2026 K-pop audition roundup.