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Netflix’s new singing competition really puts contestants through the ringer. The reality TV show, Building The Band, allows musicians to put themselves into bands, but without ever seeing each other.
Once the groups are formed, the members are allowed to meet in real life, but from there, several challenges await them. When only one band can be crowned the victor, what are the winnings at the end of the journey?
The Winning Band Gets A Cash Prize
When the show was first announced, Netflix described the concept as a “social experiment” that would bring singers together. An executive shared with Deadline how the series format made it completely original:
It’s going to be an interesting social experiment paired with a singing competition. At Netflix, we like to twist it a little bit so it’s not just completely straightforward, it’s not like a show you’ve seen elsewhere.
At the time of the announcement, it was said that only one of the six bands would be voted the winning group at the end of the season. It was also announced that the winning group would take home a $500,000 cash prize.
The hoops needed to jump through to get to that point are extensive. As the show’s description notes, all the hopeful singers have to do is master their vocals, choreography, presence, and style—and do so with people they’ve only just met.
The Artists Will Also Get An Unconventional Prize
While the cash prize will certainly help establish the new artists in their musical careers, there’s something else less tangible that they’ll also walk away with. Because the winning band receives money, they do not enter into a contract with a record label at the end of the season.
The show’s host, former Backstreet Boy AJ McLean, noted that he actually believes this decision by the show is a gift to the contestants. He elaborated in a conversation with Fox how this structure ensured that young artists just getting started in the industry didn’t get “stuck” in a deal that didn’t serve them:
What I love so much about it [is that] unlike other music competition shows, it’s twofold. One, it’s a cash prize. There’s no getting stuck in a box with a major record deal and potentially getting shelved or being told what to wear and what kind of music to do and who’s the frontman or frontwoman. These bands get to control their own destiny, and it gives the power back to the artist. So that’s a huge plus for me.
That is, the winning band can take comfort in the fact that they’ll have some flexibility and freedom in their decisions coming out of the show. As of this article’s writing, seven episodes of the season have been released so far, and we’ve seen the bands give their first performances in front of a live audience.
While there were six bands at the outset of the competition, the first cut is about to be made; based on the audience’s votes and the input from the judges, one of the bands will soon be sent home. After that, the remaining five groups will recommit to their training, working hard to become a cohesive group before their next step, which is an even larger showcase performance. Episodes of Building The Band are available to stream on Netflix now.
- Network
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Netflix
- Cast
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Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, Liam Payne, AJ McLean
- Genre
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Reality TV
- Premiere Date
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July 9, 2025
Building The Band is a music competition reality series that takes a unique approach to forming the next big pop group. Premiering July 9, 2025, on Netflix, the show begins with 50 solo singers auditioning in blind, isolated pods, where they can only hear each other’s voices. Contestants swipe “like” or “pass” as they listen, focusing purely on vocal chemistry rather than looks or personality. From there, selected musicians join forces to form six separate bands, moving through a series of challenges including live performances, songwriting workshops, and branding exercises. The show emphasizes not just vocal talent but also teamwork, versatility, and group cohesion, with the goal of launching a real, fully developed music act by the end of the season.
Guiding the competition is a high-profile judging panel made up of music industry veterans: Nicole Scherzinger, Kelly Rowland, and the late Liam Payne, with hosting duties handled by AJ McLean. Each judge brings personal experience from global groups—Scherzinger from The Pussycat Dolls, Rowland from Destiny’s Child, and Payne from One Direction—offering both critique and hands-on mentorship to the contestants. Their feedback isn’t limited to vocal performance; they also focus on interpersonal dynamics, branding, and long-term career viability. Liam Payne’s participation adds an emotional layer to the series, as Building The Band marks his final project before his passing in 2024. Throughout the show, viewers witness not just the formation of new bands but also honest, often vulnerable conversations about fame, pressure, and what it takes to truly succeed as a collective rather than as a solo act.
