Entertainment

Hunting for the Next HUNTR/X: Galaxy Corporation Holds L.A. Auditions for Virtual K-Pop Group

Published

11 months ago

September 14, 2025

Vicky

Los Angeles was the epicenter of K-pop’s next evolution this week as Galaxy Corporation hosted its first-ever auditions for a virtual K-pop group at the El Rey Theatre.

From aespa’s “ae” avatars to motion-captured virtual group PLAVE to the current chart-topping success of HUNTR/X and Saja Boys of KPop Demon Hunters, virtual idols and the mix of technology and music is nothing new, but Galaxy Corporation’s auditions on Monday (Sept. 8) seemed to fall at the perfect time. The company describes itself as “enter tech” — converging IP, media and technology — and they’re betting big on a future where human performers power a virtual group that can perform and interact with fans in real time, marking another step forward in the music industry’s ongoing experimentation with digital idols. They currently have a small-but-quickly-growing roster of clients, from G-Dragon, Song Kang-ho (Parasite) and Kim Jong-kook, and also produced the Netflix breakout reality competition Physical: 100, which has gone on to have several spin-offs.

While most K-pop auditions have strict age ranges, a specified gender or other barriers to entry, Galaxy Corporation’s audition was searching for anyone with talent, regardless of genre, nationality or age. With this global search, they are “looking for creativity, emotional honesty, and the ability to connect with an audience” rather than visuals, as the group’s members will have digital avatars via motion capture, GK (Gyuhyuk Song), head of IP Music at Galaxy Corporation and senior lead for this project, tells Billboard. Some aspects of this project are based on the traditional idol group model: “Traditional idol training will remain at the core, but we’re also integrating new elements like digital performance and fan interaction in virtual spaces, to prepare artists who can move seamlessly between physical and virtual worlds.” And as intended, candidates who came in person were aged between early teens to adults. One father flew in with his auditioning daughter from the East Coast with dreams of participating in this project.

“Can an artist truly exist forever?” is a question that stuck with GK during his 12 years at SM Entertainment before joining Galaxy Corporation, noting that “groups struggle to surpass the seven-year standard contract period.” Of course, there are many exceptions these days with the global scale of K-pop and the way fans are more connected to their favorite artists than ever, but with this new project, the goal is to create “eternal artists.”

The concept of virtual artists isn’t entirely new — Gorillaz were an early pioneer the idea in the early 2000s — but what sets these newer groups apart is how their avatars are presented as fully realized individuals, with the real identities behind the characters often kept deliberately hidden.

Galaxy Corporation reinforced this approach for their auditions as well. Inside the El Rey, Galaxy Corporation prepared a holding area upstairs in the theater’s balcony and escorted candidates to the main stage while covered by large umbrellas to maintain anonymity throughout the process, aside from first name and age. A large screen was set up on the stage for the judging panel — which included GK, along with two other Galaxy Corporation representatives. Behind the screen, candidates had a mark on the floor for positioning and had a separate screen to see their motion-captured selves as one of two pre-designed avatars.

Virath Pum

There’s an existing culture of virtual artists, and with technology and AI advancing at a rapid rate, Galaxy Corporation emphasizes the importance of authenticity when it comes to building fandom. Fandom is already the core driver of so many artists’ success, and ways to integrate the fans into this new project is also top of mind.

“We believe fandom will become even more interactive and participatory,” GK says. “Fans will not only support, but also shape creative direction through AI-driven platforms. This could lead to a new culture where the line between creator and fan blurs, fostering communities that feel deeply personal and globally connected.”

Additional audition rounds are expected to be held in other cities later this year, with Galaxy targeting a debut that positions the group as a truly global act.

Entertainment

Which New Music Release Is Your Favorite This Week? Vote!

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

It’s the final new music Friday (April 24) of the month, and everyone from Noah Kahan to Kehlani and Suki Waterhouse have put forth some of their best work as May waits just around the corner.

This week, Vermont’s favorite folk-rock singer-songwriter finally returned with a new album after four years of Stick Season, his breakout album that reached No. 2 on the Billboard 200. The Great Divide is 17 tracks of Kahan reexamining his worldview after struggling with his mental health in the years since he found fame.

And, as if taking cues from the success of first-ever Billboard Hot 100 top 10 hit “Folded” (which reached No. 6 on the chart in January), Kehlani leans fully into classic R&B flavors in an intentional push to recenter the genre’s traditions. “All the R&B artists, we want R&B to be back,” the artist told Billboard ahead of being named Billboard Women in Music’s Impact honoree. “We want good, long songs. We want three verses and bridges and modulations and all the things – we want that too. We just didn’t think anybody else wanted it. I have an allegiance to the genre, and I’ll keep it there.”

On top of the bounty of new albums, several artists have released fresh singles — including Suki Waterhouse, who returns with “Tiny Raisin” shortly after announcing her next album, Loveland, as well as Hayley Kiyoko and Gigi Perez, who teamed up for heartfelt duet “Collide.” Plus, Dylan Gossett adds “My Boy” to the mix, written as a letter to his son.

But which release is your favorite this week? Let Billboard know by voting in the poll below.

Entertainment

Celeb-Loved Juicy Couture T-Shirts Are On Sale for $8 Right Now (If You Hurry)

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.

It’s been almost three decades since the LA-based casual wear brand Juicy Couture first hit store shelves, and the Hollywood-loved label has made its way back into the spotlight in recent years thanks to the Y2K trend resurgence and newfound love from influencers online.

Best known for its T-shirts, handbags and yes, those velour tracksuits (reportedly designed exclusively for Madonna at first), Juicy Couture pieces were seen on practically every major celebrity in the 2000s, from Paris Hilton and Britney Spears, to Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian. Musicians like Miley Cyrus, Nicole Scherzinger and even Beyoncé have also been spotted wearing Juicy Couture, and now, a new Amazon deal makes it easy for you to get into some JC as well.

LIMITED TIME DEAL

Table of Contents

Juicy Couture Cap Sleeve T-Shirt (Five-Pack)

$38.24 $44.99 15% off

Buy Now On Amazon

Amazon is selling a five-pack of Juicy Couture T-shirts right now for just $39. Part of the “Juicy Sport” line, the cropped T-shirts are made from a super soft and breathable “performance” fabric that features a touch of spandex for easy movement and stretch.

That makes the T-shirts as ideal for a workout or yoga session as they are for pairing with your everyday ‘fits. The crop top look leans into the Y2K aesthetic and Amazon’s website shows the shirts styled with shorts, leggings and mini skirts alike.

This Amazon deal gets you five Juicy Couture T-shirts for under $40. That brings the price of each tee down to less than $8 — a virtually unheard of deal for generic T-shirts, let alone a brand name pick.

We like the five-pack above, which gets you a T-shirt in two shades of pink (including a light pink with the signature Juicy Couture cherries), plus navy blue, gray and black. You can choose from other color combinations online. The tees are available in sizes small to XXL.

ALSO AVAILABLE

Juicy Couture T-Shirts (Three-Pack)

$29.74

Buy Now On Amazon

Don’t need five T-shirts? Amazon also sells a three-pack of Juicy Couture tees for just $30, bringing the price of each individual shirt to under $10.

ALSO CONSIDER

Juicy Couture Queen of Everything Mini Duffle Bag

$45.09 $79.00 43% off

Buy Now On Amazon

And if you need a bag to take to the gym (or for an overnight stay), we like this mini barrel-style duffle bag, on sale for 43% off. The two-tone bag measures approximate 8.2 x 4.9 inches in size, which is enough room for your wallet, keys, change of clothes and toiletries. Choose to carry the bag via the top handle or with the detachable shoulder straps.

All of the above picks are officially-licensed products sold through Amazon’s Juicy Couture storefront. As with all Amazon deals, the sale prices could end at anytime, so we recommend adding the deals to cart while they are still live.

Entertainment

Head Back to Hawkins With New ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Soundtrack

Published

3 months ago

April 25, 2026

Vicky

Netflix is bringing us back to the ’80s, and it’s making sure we have the right music for the occasion.

On Wednesday (April 22), Billboard can exclusively reveal that an original soundtrack is coming this week for the brand-new animated spin-off series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. The score album, composed by Brad Breeck (Gravity Falls, We Bare Bears), will be released globally Thursday (April 23) at midnight ET.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 also arrives Thursday on Netflix, bringing viewers back to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the ’80s and reuniting us with some of the original show’s main characters. And much like Stranger Things, music plays a large role in the new show.

“This collection bridges the gap between the eerie depths of the Upside Down and the vibrant, neon energy of the mid-’80s,” Netflix said in a statement.

Tales From ’85 will feature not only a brand-new version of the original Stranger Things theme song, but the first episodes also include a selection of ’80s hits from artists like Black Sabbath, Billy Idol, Cyndi Lauper and more. Needle drops throughout the series include “We Got the Beat” by The Go-Go’s, “A Forest” by The Cure and “We’ll Meet Again” by Vera Lynn, “Rebel Yell” by Idol, and Lauper’s Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper “Time After Time.”

If it’s anything like the original show, artists with songs played in the new series could see a bump in streams and chart placements in the aftermath of the show’s premiere. After featuring the songs in pivotal moments, Stranger Things brought Kate Bush‘s “Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)” to a new peak of No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 2022, 37 years after its initial release, while Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” made its debut on the chart the same year, 36 years after it came out.

Fans can pre-save Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) by Brad Breeck here, and find the full score track list below.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (Soundtrack from the Netflix Series) by Brad Breeck track list

Flamethrower (artists: Brad Breeck feat. Brian Parkhurst)
Kids Riding Bikes
Big Snowstorm Coming
Someone In There
HIC Theme
I Just Saved Your Life
Strange Stones
Gotta Go Dark
How Long Is Detention
Sewer Chase (artists: Brad Breeck feat. Brian Parkhurst)
Towns
Clean Up
Investigating Pumpkins
Heaven Eleven
Nice Time Tonight
Storm the Gates
What Were These Things
Ground Rules
seluR dnuorG
Her Royal Nastiness
We Have To Try
Tales from ’85 End Titles (artists: Brad Breeck feat. Cooper Babbes)