&AUDITION, also known as &Audition – The Howling – is a Japanese and South Korean reality competition program created by HYBE Labels Japan. The show aims to form the first boy group under HYBE Labels Japan. The journey began on January 1, 2021, when Big Hit Japan announced the "Big Hit Japan Global Debut Project" to find artists to debut as a group in Japan and perform worldwide. Former I-Land contestants K, Nicholas, EJ, and Taki were confirmed as initial members, with additional trainees to be selected through the &Audition program. The program started airing in July 2022, with episodes broadcast on Hulu Japan and Hybe Labels' video-streaming channel. On September 3, 2022, the live finale revealed the nine members of the newly formed group, named &TEAM. The newly formed group made their debut on December 7, 2022. The show was hosted by Gidō Tsujioka, with special advisors and mentors including Bang Si Hyuk, Pdogg, Son Sung Deuk, and other important figures in the music industry. The show's signal song, "The Final Countdown," was released as a promotional single on June 28, 2022, and caught on with audiences. The final lineup of &TEAM featured K, Nicholas, EJ, Ta-Ki, Yuma, Jo, Maki, Harua, and Fuma.