A2K (TV program)
A2K is an American reality competition show that aired between July 14 and September 22, 2023 on YouTube. The series was a joint project between JYP Entertainment and Republic Records. The goal of the series was to create the first American girl group using the rigorous K-pop training system.
The series revolved around JYP Entertainment founder Park Jin-young as he picked members for an American girl group from the United States and Canada through an evaluation process.
The winning contestants from A2K went on to form the girl group VCHA.
On June 29, 2023, A2K was announced to be broadcast digitally through JYP Entertainment's YouTube channel from July 13, 2023, with new episodes being released on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. or 9:00 p.m.. The series finale officially aired on September 22, 2023 at 6PM PT.
Background
Following Republic and JYP's initial strategic partnership in 2020 with Twice, the collaboration was extended on February 10, 2022, to include JYP groups such Stray Kids and Itzy as part of the alliance.On March 15, 2022, JYP Entertainment officially launched their North American label, JYP USA, following its expanded strategic collaboration with Republic Records.
On July 25, 2022, both J.Y. Park and the CEO of Republic Records, Monte Lipman made an official announcement in a virtual press video that was released via JYP Entertainment's YouTube channel. It was revealed at the end of the video that parents could submit the application on behalf of their child. Five contestants from each audition city were selected to move on to the live audition stage. Contestants from the United States and Canada who were born between January 1, 2005, and September 1, 2010, were eligible to submit their applications to attend the audition in one of the five US cities that were held in September 2022.
| City | Submission Deadline | In-Person Audition |
| Atlanta | September 3, 2022 | September 10, 2022 |
| Chicago | September 7, 2022 | September 14, 2022 |
| New York City | September 10, 2022 | September 17–18, 2022 |
| Dallas | September 13, 2022 | September 20, 2022 |
| Los Angeles | September 16, 2022 | September 23–25, 2022 |
Episodes
Contestants
Summary
;Color keyShowcase
| Team | Original artist | Song | Contestants |
| Team A | Wonder Girls | "Be My Baby" | Camila |
| Team A | Wonder Girls | "Be My Baby" | KG |
| Team A | Wonder Girls | "Be My Baby" | Cristina |
| Team B | ITZY | "Wannabe" | Kendall |
| Team B | ITZY | "Wannabe" | Kaylee |
| Team B | ITZY | "Wannabe" | Savanna |
| Team B | ITZY | "Wannabe" | Mischa |
| Team C | TWICE | "The Feels" | Melissa |
| Team C | TWICE | "The Feels" | Lexus |
| Team C | TWICE | "The Feels" | Yuna |
| Team C | TWICE | "The Feels" | Gina |
Team Battle
;Color key| Team | Result | Original artist | Song | Contestants |
| Marteami | 3rd place | TWICE | "Alcohol-Free" | Lexus |
| Marteami | 3rd place | TWICE | "Alcohol-Free" | Kendall |
| Marteami | 3rd place | TWICE | "Alcohol-Free" | Yuna |
| Back Dawgz | 2nd place | Stray Kids | "Back Door" | Camila |
| Back Dawgz | 2nd place | Stray Kids | "Back Door" | Gina |
| Back Dawgz | 2nd place | Stray Kids | "Back Door" | Cristina |
| SP3KTRUM | Won | NMIXX | "Love Me Like This" | KG |
| SP3KTRUM | Won | NMIXX | "Love Me Like This" | Savanna |
| SP3KTRUM | Won | NMIXX | "Love Me Like This" | Kaylee |
Final mission
Round 1 Individual song
Round 2 Common Song
;Color key| Team | Result | Original artist | Song | Contestants |
| Clover | Lost | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Kaylee |
| Clover | Lost | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Kendall |
| Clover | Lost | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | KG |
| Clover | Lost | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Cristina |
| TOPIC | Won | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Gina |
| TOPIC | Won | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Lexus |
| TOPIC | Won | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Savanna |
| TOPIC | Won | Original Song | "Y.O.Universe" | Camila |