Building the Band

Building the Band
Promotional poster
Presented by	AJ McLean
Judges	Nicole Scherzinger Liam Payne Kelly Rowland
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producers	Simon Crossley Clara Elliot Alison Holloway Cat Lawson Katrina Morrison
Running time	53–54 minutes
Production company	Remarkable Entertainment
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	July 9 (2025-07-09) – July 23, 2025 (2025-07-23)

Building the Band is an American reality television singing competition that aired on Netflix in July 2025. The program format sees 50 artists form six groups through a selection process, which leads to eliminations until one group is selected as the winner and earning a $500,000 prize.

In the first round, all 50 artists sang a solo performance to the rest of the contestants while in pods, unable to see one another. Each artist was able to send 10 "likes" to performers who they wanted to see in a band alongside them. Artists who received fewer than five likes or had only been liked by performers who had been eliminated or formed a band without them, were eliminated. At the end of the round, six bands formed, each containing three to five members, who met for the first time during subsequent performances; these then competed in showcases, with each eliminating a band.

Host and Judges of Building the Band

AJ McLean

Liam Payne

Kelly Rowland

Nicole Scherzinger

Netflix announced Building the Band in May 2024 and that Banijay UK subdivision Remarkable Entertainment would produce it.^[1] They announced its host and judges, AJ McLean, Liam Payne, Kelly Rowland, and Nicole Scherzinger, that August; the four had previously been members of the Backstreet Boys, One Direction, Destiny's Child, and the Pussycat Dolls.^[2] Production took place that summer of 2024, with the final performances taped in late August in Manchester.^[3] Payne died in October 2024; the show marked his final public appearance.^[4] Episodes were broadcast in batches between 9 and 23 July 2025;^[5] the latter date also marked One Direction's 15th anniversary.^[6]

Among this episode's contestants were Chance Perez, who was previously a member of the boyband, In Real Life and Conor Smith, who previously competed on the eighth season of The Voice Australia and the ninth season of Australian Idol.

Among this episode's contestants were Malik Heard, Elise Kristine and Vibi, who both previously competed on the twenty-first season of American Idol.

Among this episode's contestants were Erica Padilla, who previously competed in Eurovision – Australia Decides for the chance to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2022, Zach Newbould, who previously competed on the twenty-second season of The Voice, Jenna Marquis, who previously competed on twenty-fourth season of The Voice, and Brianna Mazzola, who voiced singing Velvet in the film Trolls Band Together.

Among this episode's contestants were Joey McGrew, who competed on the twenty-first season of American Idol, Karlee Tanaka, who previously competed on Dream Academy, and Eric Who, who previously competed on the twenty-second season of The Voice.

After five groups had been formed, Bri, Christian, Jenna M., Jermarcus, Karlee, Max, Maya, and Thomas were eliminated due to lack of remaining connections.

After all six groups had been formed, Alexandra, Cece, Eric, Ethan, Joey, Mandy, Nico, Peter, Pillow Prince, and Vibi were eliminated.

Notes

Notes

Band Names:

• Band 1, Aaliyah, Cameron, Donzell & Katie, formed the group SZN4.
• Band 2, Bradley, Landon, Malik & Shade, formed the group Soulidified, in episode 10 they changed their name to ICONYX.
• Band 3, Brianna, Nori & Wennely, formed the group 3Quency.
• Band 4, Conor, Mason, Shane & Zach, formed the group Midnight 'Til Morning.
• Band 5, Autumn, Erica, Jenna D. & Noriella, formed the group Siren Society.
• Band 6, Alison, Elise & Haley, formed the group Sweet Seduction.

Although the show was advertised with 50 contestants, only 44 were revealed to the public.

Notes

• Building the Band on Netflix
• Building the Band at IMDb
• Building the Band at UKGameshows.com