[THE INVESTOR] JYP Entertainment on June 5 said it is launching a new boy band in China, in partnership with streaming giant Tencent Music Entertainment. 

The six-member group Boy Story -- comprising young Chinese performers aged 11 to 14 years -- is set to make its official debut in September. It will be managed by Beijing Xin Sheng Entertainment, a joint venture created by JYP China and Tencent. The members -- Han Yu, Zi Hao, Xin Long, Ze Yu, Ming Rui and Shu Yang -- were handpicked by JYP head Park Jin-young.

 

Boy Story

“Boy Story, which has been preparing its launch for two years, is aiming to become a ‘real idol,’ setting it apart from other Chinese idols,” an official at JYP China said. “The band already showcased its style and skills through pre-singles, and we expect it to receive more support on debut. We are planning to hold a large showcase tour to mark the debut.”

Ahead of the official debut, Boy Story has been dropping singles, garnering fans already. In September, the band released “How Old Are You,” followed by “Cant Stop,” in December and “Jump Up” in March. On June 12, the boy band is planning to unveil “Handz Up,” the last single before its official debut.

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)