MUMBAI: After discovering some of the biggest talents in the UK, Simon Cowell will now put his talent hunting skills into finding the next Latin boy band in a new singing competition show- ‘La Banda’ (The Band). And helping him on his search will be Latino pop superstar Ricky Martin, who has signed on as the reality show’s first celebrity judge and executive producer.
The show has been developed by Cowell’s Syco Entertainment with Univision, and Saban Brands, and will aim at forming a “the ultimate Latino boy band through the largest talent search in U.S. history,” as stated in the press release.
In a statement, the British music mogul said, “We are on a search for a world class band and we needed a world class judge. I know Ricky and he is as excited and passionate as me about the show and I know he’s going to do an amazing job.”
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This will not be Martin’s first time as a judge. The ‘She Bangs’ singer served as coach for season three ‘The Voice: Australia’. However, this will be the first time he is executive producer for a television show. Additionally, he has also agreed to become manager for the winning five-person group. “I am very excited to be a part of this innovative program, together with Simon Cowell,” Martin said of his new gig.
Thanks @SimonCowell , we are going to put together the next Latin supergroup! #SoyLaBanda
— Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) February 20, 2015
Martin probably knows a thing or two about boy bands, considering he rose to prominence in 1984, when at the age of 13 he joined the boy band Menudo. The band was one of the biggest Latin boy bands in history, and one of the most famous Latin American musical groups in the 80s, before disbanding in 2009.
When the concept of ‘La Banda’ was first announced in May last year, Cowell spoke of his delight to be partnering with Univision on the “new format”. “They are fantastically ambitious and most importantly for La Banda they are totally focused on discovering and creating the next music superstars. There is a huge opportunity for this band and we are going to be giving the power via this show to the millions of teenage fans,” he added at that time.
A press release stated, “La Banda will search the US and Latin America to put together the ultimate Latino boyband. Representing all Hispanic cultures, contestants will compete for their place in La Banda and for a coveted recording contract with Sony Music Latin along with executive producer Simon Cowell’s SYCO Music, the recording label for the world’s biggest selling boyband, One Direction.”
Contestants will be featured from South and Central America, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, with the first audition taking place in Los Angeles on 7 March 2015. Auditions will then travel to Puerto Rico (March 14), Houston (March 21), New York (March 28), Chicago (April 4) and Miami (April 11).
‘La Banda’ will be broadcast on Univision this September.
