Photo credit: Ashley OsborJYT members (L-R) Toby Green, Caden Adamonis, Bryan Holden Chan, Recker Eans, Tyler George
Republic Records and producer Freddy Wexler have signed JYT, a five-member group they say will reintroduce dance-driven pop to a global audience, potentially testing whether American labels are ready to invest in the format again.
The signing comes as HYBE, the South Korean agency behind BTS, has seen recent success in pop groups includingSantos Bravos and Grammy-nominated KATSEYE, the international girl group the South Korean company jointly signed with Universal Music Group’s Geffen.
Speaking on HYBE’s Q2 earnings call in August, the company’s CEO Jason Jaesang Lee highlighted KATSEYE’s recent success as a template for what his company wishes to achieve in the US and other ‘western’ markets – i.e. carefully constructed, mass-appeal acts, who (a) require a large amount of investment and (b) borrow from the group-based success of Kpop megastars like BTS.
“About 20, 30 years ago, we had Backstreet Boys, Westlife, NSYNC and other groups,” he said. “However, because of the financial crisis, there was reluctance in [markets including the US] for massive investments to make and develop [pop groups].
“Financial and strategic investors were hesitant to make large investments because of the low possibility for returns…. so such a model almost disappeared in these markets. But now we’re going to reapply this type of methodology in these major music markets.”
JYT‘s members — Caden, Tyler, Bryan, Recker, and Toby, ages 15 to 17 — have accumulated over 500,000 combined followers online before releasing any music. Their debut single, What U Want, released on December 5.
In partnership with Wexler, the group was formed through a process where the members selected each other rather than going through traditional casting.
Wexler said: “From the moment these five kids stood in a room together, I knew we had something special. JYT isn’t a manufactured boyband, they chose each other.”
“From the moment these five kids stood in a room together, I knew we had something special. JYT isn’t a manufactured boyband, they chose each other.”
Freddy Wexler, Producer
The producer has received Grammy and Golden Globe nominations for his work. He has contributed to 11 Billboard No. 1 songs for artists including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, BLACKPINK, Laufey, Post Malone, Selena Gomez, Diana Ross, P!nk, Celine Dion and Billy Joel.
His recent projects include co-writing and producing the Golden Globe-nominated end-title song for Better Man, the RobbieWilliams biopic, and bringing Billy Joel back to the studio for his first new music in decades.
Commenting on the REPUBLIC partnership, Wexler said: “I’m thrilled to be partnering with Monte and the incredible team at Republic, with whom I’ve shared some of the most pivotal moments of my career. America hasn’t launched a global boy band in decades, and these kids are about to change that.”
“I’m proud to call Freddy an extraordinary partner as producer, label head, and creative force; as we launch an explosive new band together via his label Wexler Records / Republic Records.”
MonteLipman, REPUBLIC
MonteLipman, Founder and Chairman of REPUBLIC, said he attempted to sign Wexler as an artist two decades ago.
“He said: “Two decades later, I’m proud to call Freddy an extraordinary partner as producer, label head, and creative force; as we launch an explosive new band together via his label Wexler Records / Republic Records. In the spirit of never say never, we finally found a way to be in the Freddy Wexler business after all these years.”
The members described their training period as intense. They said: “We went from five kids to brothers fast, and this bootcamp’s been insane, but we love it. We just want to put on a show no one forgets.”
The group spent the past year training in Los Angeles with choreographer NickDeMoura, known for his work with Justin Bieber.
DeMoura said: “When I first saw JYT dance, I felt the same fire that made NSYNC a movement, not just a band.”
These kids train like athletes, perform like veterans, and have the potential to be this generation’s defining boy band…which is exactly why I wanted to be part of this.”
A multi-part documentary series documenting the group’s formation is currently in production, mirroring the K-pop strategy of documenting training processes.
The JYT model reflects a wider industry adoption of K-pop training and development processes.
For example, HYBE’s investments in SantosBravos and KATSEYE represent the company’s push to apply its K-pop methodology to groups targeting Western markets.
“We went from five kids to brothers fast, and this bootcamp’s been insane, but we love it. We just want to put on a show no one forgets.”
JYT
KATSEYE was formed in partnership with Universal Music Group‘s Geffen, while Santos Bravos was formed via HYBE’s Latin music division. KATSEYE recently received Grammy nominations for Best New Artist and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
HYBE CEO JasonJaesangLee told analysts on the company’s Q3 earnings call in November: “It is extraordinary that KATSEYE was nominated considering the fact that this group debuted just a little more than a year ago.”
“This result suggests that the group has built a strong global fandom and achieved commercial success in a short span of time.”
