K-Pop Powerhouse SM Entertainment and Leading UK Production Company Moon&Back Announce Search for New UK Boy Band

Powerhouse K-pop entertainment company SM Entertainment partners with UK television production heavyweights at the newly launched Moon&Back Media to create and debut a new UK boy band to TV audiences worldwide – a first-of-its-kind partnership between Korea and the UK.

The unique new series unites power players in both K-pop and global television production to find the next worldwide boy band sensation. Korea’s SM Entertainment is widely credited with being the company that created K-pop and launched over a dozen globally successful pop groups like NCT, aespa, SuperM, Red Velvet, RIIZE, and more. Meanwhile, Moon&Back was founded by multi-BAFTA-winning producer Nigel Hall (Britain’s Got Talent, The X Factor, One Direction) acclaimed broadcast leader Dawn Airey (C4, C5, ITV, Sky, Getty Images), and leading talent manager Russ Lindsay (Ant & Dec, Simon Cowell). Asylum Entertainment Group invested in Moon&Back earlier this year.

The series’ executive team includes music industry executive Ben Karter (The Script, Westlife, Taylor Swift) and multi-award-winning producer and Emmy-nominated showrunner James McKinlay (X Factor, America’s Got Talent) and BAFTA-winning Executive Producer David Hall (Deal or No Deal, The Chase, The Greatest Dancer).

Shot over the course of six months, the unique TV series will follow a fledgling boy band as they depart London in early 2024 on the adventure of a lifetime. Pre-production for the series, which will be shot in the UK and South Korea, is underway as are discussions with major broadcasters, record labels and music publishers.

Joseph Chang, CEO of SM & Kakao Entertainment America, said, "This collaboration signifies our first footprint in Europe. Our expansion blueprint will continue to span across North and South America, Europe, and other pivotal markets, leveraging SM Entertainment’s vast artist roster and extensive networks for unprecedented synergies ahead. We are thrilled to partner with power players who were critical in the creation and success of One Direction, and together we are aiming to find that next global sensation.”

Dawn Airey, Co-Founder, Moon&Back said, “Take one of the world’s best entertainment producers and combine it with the world’s best K-pop producer and watch the magic unfold. This is a global first, creating a British boy band and exposing them to the wonders and rigours of the premier K-pop process with SM Entertainment. This alchemy will create compelling television and a boy band that will entertain the world.”

About Moon&Back Media 

Moon&Back Media is a partnership between Nigel Hall, Dawn Airey and Russ Lindsay borne out of a longstanding relationship at the highest level of the global television industry, where the three multi award winning founders have been launching talent, creating IP and producing / commissioning the world’s most successful television shows for over three decades. LA based Asylum Entertainment Group invested in Moon&Back earlier this year. Utilising Nigel’s exceptional creative prowess, Dawn’s global experience in traditional television and digital exploitation, Russ’s extensive knowledge of IP creation and marketing, and their combined relationships with the very best broadcast talent, they have combined their unique skills once again.  Hall’s success is highlighted by his work as former Head of Light Entertainment at ITV, creating hits like Celebrity Stars in their Eyes, You’ve Been Framed and Saturday Night Takeaway. Later, Lindsay – who, as co-founder of UK-based talent agency James Grant, had been managing top-tier talent – pulled in Hall to forge Syco Entertainment with Simon Cowell.  As Managing Director, Hall co-created, formatted and executive produced the two biggest formats in the last 20 years: the UK and global versions of The X Factor and the Got Talent franchise. Through Hall’s stewardship, The X Factor spawned local versions in 56 countries while Got Talent currently airs in more than 190 international territories. Lindsay also co-founded Talent Bank, which bridges the entertainment industry’s preeminent talent with a sophisticated network of digital broadcast platforms. Airey’s television career is punctuated by her roles as Controller of Arts & Ent at Channel 4, CEO of Channel 5 and Managing Director of Sky Channels and ITV Productions.  Drawing on immense experience in the global digital space, Airey also served as SVP of Yahoo! and CEO of Getty Images.  

About SM Entertainment

SM Entertainment is South Korea's No. 1 entertainment and media group, leading the way in overseas markets with its unique production and training system and excellent overseas marketing strategies, and as a leading company, it has produced many global K-pop stars. SM Entertainment focuses on the music business, including album planning, production, distribution, promotion, and artist management, based on the excellent know-how accumulated over the years. The company manages artists including KANGTA, BoA, TVXQ!, SUPER JUNIOR, Girls’ Generation, SHINee, EXO, Red Velvet, NCT U, NCT 127, NCT DREAM, WayV, SuperM, aespa, GOT the beat, RIIZE, and NCT NEW TEAM.SM Entertainment has 37 companies including SM C&C, Key East, Dear You, and SM Brand Marketing as subsidiaries. As of the end of June 2023, the total number of employees reached 649. It has also created a unique performance brand called SMTOWN, which has successfully held performances in major cities around the world and continues to set new records in the performance business. SM Entertainment is growing to become the world's No. 1 entertainment company, and as the creator of K-pop's original and unrivaled system, it continues to produce representative K-pop stars.