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Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
'Building the Band' has Liam Payne's last major appearance before his death
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Netflix's new reality show, 'Building the Band,' unexpectedly became Liam Payne's last major appearance — moments the show's hosts say they, along with contestants and viewers, are lucky to have. The show features Payne as a guest judge, offering pointed but witty advice to young bands chasing success not unlike what he achieved as part of the culture-shifting boy band, One Direction. Payne died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, not long after the show's production wrapped. 'Getting to see the real, true him that the world gets to remember him for, which you'll see on this show, is just a beautiful thing,' says the Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, the show's host. 'Building the Band' flips traditional music competitions on their head, bringing together 50 up-and-coming artists who are tasked with singing for each other and forming groups based on those performances. The catch? They can't see how anyone looks. The first batch of episodes premiered in early July and the last few episodes, including the finale, will drop Wednesday. The show ultimately follows six bands working to develop their group sound and performances — until only one band is left standing, winning the $500,000 prize. The show is hosted by McLean, with Pussycat Dolls frontwoman — and newly minted Tony winner — Nicole Scherzinger mentoring the bands and Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland serving as a guest judge alongside Payne. Payne's impact on 'Building the Band' The series opened with a dedication to Payne and his family, in which McLean said they 'never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend' while filming the show. Payne first appears in the seventh episode for the showcase, where each band performs in front of a live audience and the judges, only about a week after they form. 'We were amazing dancers, obviously, in One Direction,' Payne joked in the episode while offering critiques to boy band Midnight 'til Morning, whose members expressed hesitations with dancing onstage. Band member Mason Watts then revealed his family had won tickets to sit front row at a One Direction concert when he was 11, stoking applause from the crowd and a heartfelt response from Payne. 'Ever since that moment, I wanted to be in a group,' Watts, originally from Australia, said in the episode. 'It's kind of a full-circle moment to be here with a group and performing in front of you. So, thank you, man.' Landon Boyce, a member of the show's other boy band, Soulidified, told The Associated Press that Payne left a lasting impact and was a leading example of how he hopes to carry himself as a performer. 'I remember Liam just said, 'Have fun,'' Boyce says. 'He just told us, 'I wish One Direction kind of, like, did what you guys were doing.' And I kind of just took that as like, let's just have fun and dance.' Payne is seen nodding along with excitement during the band's showcase performance, when they sang 'Sure Thing' by Miguel. Bradley Rittmann, another Soulidified member, told the AP they were 'on Cloud 9' after Payne said he would join their band. Payne applauded their ability to own the stage and acknowledged the unconventionality of their band due to the members' varying musical and fashion styles, saying he 'wouldn't put you guys together, but the result was amazing.' How it works: 'Love is Blind' meets 'The Voice'This show mashes together the likes of 'Love is Blind' with music competition shows like 'The Voice,' secluding contestants in pods, where they can only hear each other. Contestants can express interest by hitting a button during the performance, and then speak through voice chats to test their chemistry. The initial 50 contestants dwindled to just 22, comprising two boy bands, three girl bands and one mixed-gender group. Contestants chose their bandmates without input from the host or judges. 'It formed in the most real, raw, authentic way,' says Aaliyah Rose Larsen, a member of the mixed-gender band SZN4. 'I think we would have re-found each other in a million other lifetimes, in a billion other shows, because we were always meant to find each other.' The result of this process, judges say, are bands that labels traditionally wouldn't form, given members' differences in style and appearance — an important pillar of the show, McLean and Rowland say, given the current state of the music industry. 'Back in the beginning of our careers, your sophomore album was the one that would make or break you. Now you get one shot,' McLean says. 'To be able to give the power back to these individuals, to let them put each other together based on just raw talent and chemistry, never seeing each other, is a testament to truly what it is to be in a band.' An audience vote determines which bands continue on after each live performance. The last episode of the first batch left viewers on a cliffhanger, as Midnight 'til Morning and girl group Siren Society were voted in the bottom two. The next batch will reveal who was eliminated. Payne embraced the mentorship role Rowland says Payne was fully invested in the process and checked in regarding the bands' progress after filming. Payne had also expressed interest in mentoring the bands after the show ended, Boyce remembers. 'He was just honest. He called everything out, you know what I mean? Before they saw it, before we saw it,' Rowland says, adding that Payne had 'many shining moments' during his storied and decorated career, 'but this was a really incredible one.' Nori Moore, a member of 3Quency, 'had a lot of firsts' in the show as a young performer and says Payne's advice to contestants that they claim the moment every time they walk onstage was pivotal to her development as an artist. Larsen says viewers can watch the show and 'see his heart.' 'We know how much he loves the show,' says Katie Roeder, another SZN4 member. 'I know he's very proud of us and looking down on us.'
The Independent
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
'Building the Band' has Liam Payne's last major appearance before his death
Netflix's new reality show, 'Building the Band,' unexpectedly became Liam Payne's last major appearance — moments the show's hosts say they, along with contestants and viewers, are lucky to have. The show features Payne as a guest judge, offering pointed but witty advice to young bands chasing success not unlike what he achieved as part of the culture-shifting boy band, One Direction. Payne died in October after falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina, not long after the show's production wrapped. 'Getting to see the real, true him that the world gets to remember him for, which you'll see on this show, is just a beautiful thing,' says the Backstreet Boys' AJ McLean, the show's host. 'Building the Band' flips traditional music competitions on their head, bringing together 50 up-and-coming artists who are tasked with singing for each other and forming groups based on those performances. The catch? They can't see how anyone looks. The first batch of episodes premiered in early July and the last few episodes, including the finale, will drop Wednesday. The show ultimately follows six bands working to develop their group sound and performances — until only one band is left standing, winning the $500,000 prize. The show is hosted by McLean, with Pussycat Dolls frontwoman — and newly minted Tony winner — Nicole Scherzinger mentoring the bands and Destiny's Child star Kelly Rowland serving as a guest judge alongside Payne. Payne's impact on 'Building the Band' The series opened with a dedication to Payne and his family, in which McLean said they 'never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend' while filming the show. Payne first appears in the seventh episode for the showcase, where each band performs in front of a live audience and the judges, only about a week after they form. 'We were amazing dancers, obviously, in One Direction,' Payne joked in the episode while offering critiques to boy band Midnight 'til Morning, whose members expressed hesitations with dancing onstage. Band member Mason Watts then revealed his family had won tickets to sit front row at a One Direction concert when he was 11, stoking applause from the crowd and a heartfelt response from Payne. 'Ever since that moment, I wanted to be in a group,' Watts, originally from Australia, said in the episode. 'It's kind of a full-circle moment to be here with a group and performing in front of you. So, thank you, man.' Landon Boyce, a member of the show's other boy band, Soulidified, told The Associated Press that Payne left a lasting impact and was a leading example of how he hopes to carry himself as a performer. 'I remember Liam just said, 'Have fun,'' Boyce says. 'He just told us, 'I wish One Direction kind of, like, did what you guys were doing.' And I kind of just took that as like, let's just have fun and dance.' Payne is seen nodding along with excitement during the band's showcase performance, when they sang 'Sure Thing' by Miguel. Bradley Rittmann, another Soulidified member, told the AP they were 'on Cloud 9' after Payne said he would join their band. Payne applauded their ability to own the stage and acknowledged the unconventionality of their band due to the members' varying musical and fashion styles, saying he 'wouldn't put you guys together, but the result was amazing.' How it works: 'Love is Blind' meets 'The Voice' This show mashes together the likes of 'Love is Blind' with music competition shows like 'The Voice,' secluding contestants in pods, where they can only hear each other. Contestants can express interest by hitting a button during the performance, and then speak through voice chats to test their chemistry. The initial 50 contestants dwindled to just 22, comprising two boy bands, three girl bands and one mixed-gender group. Contestants chose their bandmates without input from the host or judges. 'It formed in the most real, raw, authentic way,' says Aaliyah Rose Larsen, a member of the mixed-gender band SZN4. 'I think we would have re-found each other in a million other lifetimes, in a billion other shows, because we were always meant to find each other.' The result of this process, judges say, are bands that labels traditionally wouldn't form, given members' differences in style and appearance — an important pillar of the show, McLean and Rowland say, given the current state of the music industry. 'Back in the beginning of our careers, your sophomore album was the one that would make or break you. Now you get one shot,' McLean says. 'To be able to give the power back to these individuals, to let them put each other together based on just raw talent and chemistry, never seeing each other, is a testament to truly what it is to be in a band.' An audience vote determines which bands continue on after each live performance. The last episode of the first batch left viewers on a cliffhanger, as Midnight 'til Morning and girl group Siren Society were voted in the bottom two. The next batch will reveal who was eliminated. Payne embraced the mentorship role Rowland says Payne was fully invested in the process and checked in regarding the bands' progress after filming. Payne had also expressed interest in mentoring the bands after the show ended, Boyce remembers. 'He was just honest. He called everything out, you know what I mean? Before they saw it, before we saw it,' Rowland says, adding that Payne had 'many shining moments' during his storied and decorated career, 'but this was a really incredible one.' Nori Moore, a member of 3Quency, 'had a lot of firsts' in the show as a young performer and says Payne's advice to contestants that they claim the moment every time they walk onstage was pivotal to her development as an artist. Larsen says viewers can watch the show and 'see his heart.' 'We know how much he loves the show,' says Katie Roeder, another SZN4 member. 'I know he's very proud of us and looking down on us.'
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lil Baby, Rick Ross & Lil Yachty to Appear in Season 2 of Druski's ‘Coulda Been House': Watch the Trailer
Druski's Coulda Been House is spinning the block. The comedic superstar announced the release of season two's CBH with a trailer arriving on Tuesday (July 15) featuring appearances from plenty of his famous rap friends. Premiering on July 17, Coulda Been House will pack 16 contestants and aspiring artists chasing their music dreams under one roof while competing for a grand prize of $50,000 and a record deal. More from Billboard Premios Juventud 2025 Will Take Place in Panama: Here's Everything We Know Demi Lovato Is Ready to Heat Up Summer With Sizzling Preview of Dance Floor-Ready 'Fast' Single Clipse Pay Tribute to Parents With Moving 'The Birds Don't Sing' Performance on 'Tonight Show' A star-studded lineup featuring Lil Baby, Rick Ross, Lil Yachty, Ray J, Saucy Santana, Bob Menery, Sway Calloway and Chocolate Droppa (Kevin Hart) will lend their expertise to CBH throughout a jam-packed season two. 'We're taking Coulda Been House to the next level — we have a bigger house, wilder artists and new special guests,' Druski said in a statement. 'This season is definitely going to be extreme, but the competition and pressure will be all worth it for the winner to sign with Coulda Been Records and cash that $50,000 check thanks to Raising Cane's.' As usual with his endeavors, look for a new track from Druski that will serve as the theme song for the upcoming season. Coulda Been House looks to build on a successful debut, which compiled more than 80 million views across the eight-episode first season and saw appearances from Snoop Dogg, Chris Brown and Birdman. Druski continues to stand on business with a busy 2025 campaign, which recently found him making multiple skit cameos on Justin Bieber's SWAG album in the role of the pop star's de facto therapist. Look for the premiere of Coulda Been House's season two at 9 p.m. ET on July 17 on Druski's YouTube channel. Watch the trailer of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart Solve the daily Crossword
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Netflix honours Liam Payne in ‘Building the Band' series
Netflix has aired a tribute to Liam Payne on the reality music competition Building the Band, which premiered on Wednesday. The former One Direction star featured as a guest judge on the show before his death, with the first episode beginning with a tribute to him. Host AJ McLean said that the series was dedicated to Payne. Payne died aged 31 on 16 October 2024, after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Watch the video in full above.
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Building the Band review – Liam Payne's controversial final show is the kind of reality TV that made him
Netflix's new series is the latest in a long line of TV shows attempting to talent-spot the next big pop phenomenon. It feels as if the format has been dormant for a while, its role as A&R taken over by social media aeons ago. The glory days of American Idol and The X Factor have passed, and while The Voice trundles steadily on, it has been many years since those on-screen machines churned out the stars they were once capable of creating. Building the Band aims to modernise the format by bolting on parts of other reality TV shows. Its wannabe singers perform to other singers, sight-unseen, who then decide whether they'd like to be in a band with each other, by pressing a button, and collecting 'likes'. It is Love Is Blind meets The Circle meets The Voice, though mostly, it is The Voice, replacing celebrity judges, in the early stages, with peers. Though he does not appear in the first batch of episodes, Liam Payne features as a guest judge further down the line, alongside Kelly Rowland and Nicole Scherzinger. Payne died, aged 31, last October, and this is his final project. There has been some backlash already, questioning whether the show should be released at all. Some have seen it as a ghoulish enterprise: it is easy to see how watching Payne return to the kind of reality show that made him a star, knowing where and how his story came to an end, would be uncomfortable. The show chooses to frame its release as a tribute. Presenter AJ McLean, of the Backstreet Boys, opens the series with a sincere acknowledgment of Payne's 'deep love for music', acknowledging that they 'never imagined we'd soon be saying goodbye to our friend'. As a reality show, it is fine, watchable, well-crafted, leaving sufficient cliffhangers to keep you pressing play, though its first four episodes do begin to feel a little drawn-out and repetitive. There are 50 singers, each in their own pods, or 'sound booths'. Everyone auditions as an individual. Six bands will be formed, each having between three and five members. Everyone has a maximum of 10 likes, which they can use, Voice-like, by thumping a big button. If a singer gets fewer than five likes, they are out. If they run out of people who have liked them, because they have formed other bands, then they are also out. It is not as mathematically demanding as it sounds. All of the singers, or at least the ones we see performing, are professional-sounding and highly competent, in that belting-it-out, face-slappingly emotional, semi-strained sort of way. (As a point of contrast, watch old clips of Pop Idol or Pop Stars: The Rivals auditions on YouTube, if only to see how singing has evolved over the last 25 years. It's the difference between a bicycle and a Maserati.) In these early stages, the critiques are left to the performers themselves, and mostly, they offer these with tact, rather than cruelty. There are none of the old 'bad for comic effect' auditions here. The rejections, when they come, are swift, but heartfelt, and McLean is left to deliver the bad news. Eventually, as those who impress most move into their bands, they perform together for the first time, when they are able to see who they've chosen as bandmates. As with Love Is Blind, you can tell whether there is chemistry or not in an instant. It reminds me of the moment when people finally see above the knee on Naked Attraction. They say one thing, but their expressions say something else entirely. At the end of this first batch of episodes, there are hints of a more ruthless reality show beginning to emerge, not least because the winning band will walk away with half a million dollars. People make promises to each other that they are not sure they can keep. There is a Regina George character, one of those 'I'm not afraid of conflict' reality show staples. The bands live and work together, 24/7. The respectful peer-to-peer notes of the sound booths may not be the enduring mood of the series. I did question why Building the Band would choose to focus on groups, in an era of solo singer dominance, but perhaps it has been designed less for making stars, and more for the dramatic spectacle. Whether that revives the format, or simply shifts it into a more standardised reality TV lane, remains to be seen. Incidentally, I keep calling it 'Breaking the Band', mostly because of the early 00s show Making the Band, but I do wonder if there might be something more to the slip. Building the Band is on Netflix
