&Team (English: andTeam, Japanese: エンティーム, Korean: 앤팀; stylized in all caps) is a Japanese boy band based in Japan and South Korea formed by HYBE Labels Japan.[1] The group is composed of nine members: K, Fuma, Nicholas, EJ, Yuma, Jo, Harua, Taki, and Maki.[2][3] They were formed through the reality-survival program &Audition – The Howling – as their label's first group. &Team released their debut single "Under the Skin" on November 21, 2022, and officially debuted with their first extended play First Howling: Me on December 7, 2022.[4]
Name
The group's name, &Team, refers to "9 diverse members forming a team and connecting diverse worlds". They aim to be a group that grows while running towards tomorrow.[5]
History
2020–2022: Pre-debut activities and formation
K, Nicholas, EJ and Taki competed on the South Korean survival show I-Land in 2020 which produced boy-group Enhypen.[6] On January 1, 2021, Big Hit Japan announced the launch of the "Big Hit Japan Global Debut Project" to search for artists to debut as a group in Japan and become active worldwide.[7] On March 19, Big Hit Entertainment re-branded and re-structured into Hybe Corporation.[8] On April 26, K and EJ made cameo appearances in the music video for Enhypen's "Drunk-Dazed".[9]
On November 4, it was announced that K, Nicholas, EJ and Taki would participate as confirmed members of the planned group and would be joined by additional trainees to be selected through a new audition program.[10]&Audition – The Howling – began airing on July 9, 2022, and the nine final members were unveiled on September 3 via live broadcast from Tokyo.[11][12] On September 26, their fandom name was then announced to be LUNÉ.
2022–2023: Debut with First Howling: Me, first fanmeeting, "W.O.L.F. (Win Or Lose Fight)", "Blind Love", First Howling: WE andFirst Howling: NOW
Hybe Labels Japan announced that &Team would release their debut extended play (EP), First Howling: Me on December 7, 2022.[13] The group's self-variety show, &Team学園 (stylized and pronounced: &TEAM Gakuen), began airing on November 12; various guests were invited while viewers were able to see their debut preparations in South Korea and Japan.[8] On November 21, 2022, &Team released their first music video and digital single, titled "Under the Skin".[4] On December 5, 2022, a webtoon featuring the group's members, Dark Moon: The Grey City, was published.[14] Two days later, they released First Howling: Me alongside the music video for "Scent of You";[15] in the first week of its release, the EP sold 151,000 copies.[16]
On March 2, 2023, it was announced the group would hold their first Japanese fanmeeting tour 2023 &Team Fantour Luné Mare: Tsuki-Nami, from May 27 to June 16. On March 2, it was announced that members EJ, K, Nicholas, and Taki would release "W.O.L.F. (Win Or Lose Fight)" on March 16 as the soundtrack for their webtoon Dark Moon: The Grey City.
On May 7, &Team released "Blind Love" as the theme song of the NTV drama Dr. Chocolate.
&Team released their second extended play First Howling: We on June 14, 2023.[17][18] On May 14, the track list for their new mini album was released, revealing their title track "Firework".
On September 3, &TEAM held their first anniversary event &Team 1st Anniversary [縁 Day] in Japan, as well as in Seoul on September 9.
On November 15, the group released their first studio album First Howling: Now.[19] Following the release of the album on November 15, the album placed first on the Billboard Japan Hot albums and second on the Oricon Albums Chart in Japan.
On December 19, &Team announced that they would embark on a concert tour in 2024, titled First Paw Print. The tour will occur from January 21 to March 3 and will take place in seven Japanese cities and one South Korean city.[20]
2024: "Samidare"
On March 12, 2024, &TEAM announced that they will be releasing their first single on May 8. On April 6, the title of their first single album was revealed to be "Samidare".
Variety show following &Team in South Korea and Japan as they prepare for their debut receive visits from various guests and seniors in the entertainment industry.
&Team 1st Album Showcase 'First Howling: Now' (November 16, 2023 in Tokyo) YouTube: HYBE Labels
&Team 1st Single Showcase '五月雨 (Samidare)' (May 7, 2024 in Tokyo)
Other events
Year
Date
Event
Venue
2022
December 13
2022 Asia Artist Awards
Nippon Gaishi Hall, Japan
December 30
Countdown Japan 22/23
Makuhari Messe, Japan
2023
January 15
ANNX Special Live 2023
Yokohama Arena, Japan
January 28
GMO Sonic 2023
Saitama Super Arena, Japan
March 11–12
DUNK Showcase
Makuhari Messe, Japan
May 14
KCON 2023 Japan
Makuhari Messe, Japan
June 11–12
2023 Weverse Con Festival
Olympic Park KSPO Dome, South Korea
July 16
Join Alive 2023
Iwamizawa Park (Kitaon Outdoor Music Hall & Hokkaido Greenland Amusement Park)
November 28
2023 MAMA Awards
Tokyo Dome, Japan
December 2–3
DUNK Showcase
Kyocera Dome, Japan
December 14
2023 Asia Artist Awards
Philippine Arena, Philippines
December 23
BEAT AX Vol.1
Ariake Arena, Japan
2024
January 16–17
BEAT AX Vol.2
Yokohama Arena, Japan
April 13
Golden Wave Concert
Kaohsiung National Stadium, Taiwan
May 12
KCON Japan 2024
Zozo Marine Stadium, Japan
June 15-16
2024 Weverse Con Festival
Inspire Arena, South Korea
June 29-30
Music Core in Japan
Belluna Dome, Japan
July 28
WATERBOMB TOKYO 2024
Sea Forest Aquatic Stadium (Koto-ku, Tokyo)
August 12
ROCK IN JAPAN FESTIVAL 2024
Hillside Stage, Chiba City Soga Sports Park
Notes
^"Maybe" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart, but debuted and peaked at number 25 on the component Download Chart.[38]
^"Scar to Scar" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart, but debuted and peaked at number 47 on the component Download Chart.[38]
^"Blind Love" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart, but debuted and peaked at number 74 on the component Download Chart.[38]
^"W.O.L.F. (Win or Lose Fight)" did not enter the Billboard Japan Hot 100 Chart, but debuted and peaked at number 68 on the component Download Chart.[38]
^Japan digital sales figures for First Howling: Now
週間 デジタルアルバムランキング (2023年11月13日~2023年11月19日) [Oricon Weekly Digital Album Ranking November 13, 2023 – November 19, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
週間 デジタルアルバムランキング (2023年11月20日~2023年11月26日) [Oricon Weekly Digital Album Ranking November 20, 2023 – November 26, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
月間 アルバムランキング 2023年06月度 [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking for June, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on July 12, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
月間 アルバムランキング 2023年07月度 [Oricon Monthly Album Ranking for July, 2023] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on August 9, 2023. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
^Japan digital sales figures for First Howling: We
^뉴진스→임영웅, AAA 베스트 초이스상 수상 "이 순간 함께해 영광" [2023 AAA] [NewJeans → Lim Young Woong won AAA Best Choice Award "Honor to be with you at this moment" [2023 AAA]]. Star News Korea (in Korean). December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
^원어스·보이넥스트도어·앤팀, AAA 이모티브상 "값진 상 감사" [2023 AAA] [ONEUS, BOYNEXTDOOR, & &TEAM, AAA Emotive Award "Thank You for the Valuable Award" [2023 AAA]]. Star News Korea (in Korean). December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.