&Team

Lore & Background

&Team was created in September 2022 through the survival reality competition program &Audition – The Howling. Four members—K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki—had previously competed on the 2020 South Korean survival show I-Land, which produced Enhypen. The group's name refers to '9 diverse members forming a team and connecting diverse worlds.' Their fandom name, Luné, meaning moon, is a backronym for 'Light Up New Energy.'

The group released their debut EP First Howling: Me on December 7, 2022, which sold 151,000 copies in its first week. They followed with EPs First Howling: We (June 2023) and their first studio album First Howling: NOW (November 15, 2023), which placed first on the Billboard Japan Hot albums chart. In 2024, they released singles 'Samidare,' 'Aoarashi,' and 'Jyuugoya,' with 'Aoarashi' peaking at number 2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 singles chart. Their 2025 single 'Go in Blind' became their first release certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of Japan.

In October 2025, &Team made their official Korean debut with the mini-album Back to Life. The lead single 'Back to Life' achieved a television triple crown on Korean music programs. In 2026, they released their third EP We on Fire, which sold over one million copies on its first day and became the first Japanese album to surpass one million sales on the Korean Hanteo chart.

Reader's Guide

&Team represents a significant milestone in Hybe's global expansion strategy, being the first 'global group' developed under the company's 'multi-home, multi-genre' approach. Their formation through the survival show &Audition – The Howling, which included members who had previously appeared on I-Land, illustrates the interconnected nature of modern K-pop and J-pop idol training systems. The group's commercial achievements—including multiple platinum certifications in Japan and a record-breaking Korean debut—demonstrate their ability to cross markets successfully. Their Korean debut with Back to Life in 2025 marked a historic moment as the first Korean album by a Japanese artist to top Oricon's daily album chart. &Team's entry into the Billboard 200 in 2026 with We on Fire further solidified their international reach. The group's appearances in media such as the film Ya Boy Kongming! the Movie and their involvement in anime soundtracks (e.g., 'Beat the Odds' for Trillion Game) highlight their multimedia presence. Their legacy lies in proving that a Japanese boy band can achieve mainstream success in South Korea while maintaining a strong domestic fanbase, serving as a model for future cross-border idol groups.

Did You Know?

• Four &Team members—K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki—previously competed on the 2020 survival show I-Land, which produced Enhypen.
• Their fandom name Luné is a backronym for 'Light Up New Energy' and means moon.
• &Team's 2025 single 'Go in Blind' was their first release certified Platinum by RIAJ, with cumulative sales exceeding 1,000,000 physical units.

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