Pop music fans, get ready for a major nostalgia-meets-next-gen moment. AJ McLean (Backstreet Boys) and Nick Lachey (98 Degrees) are teaming up with Lance Bass (NSYNC) to celebrate the highly anticipated launch of Building the Band and Perfect Match, two music-driven series set to debut July 9, 2025. The reunion of these iconic boy band members brings together decades of chart-topping experience in a new format aimed at discovering the next great music group.
Boy Band Reunion!
Premiering exclusively on August 1, Perfect Match is a companion to the headline-making Building the Band, a genre-pushing competition show where the spotlight is on vocal chemistry, not appearances. Hosted by AJ McLean, Building the Band features a lineup of undiscovered singers who must form their ideal band without ever seeing one another. Contestants make their choices from isolated “booths,” relying solely on musical compatibility, connection, and instinct. Once the bands are finalized, the pressure amps up as visuals, choreography, and stage presence enter the mix.
The show promises high drama, big performances, and even bigger personalities. Nicole Scherzinger (The Pussycat Dolls) steps in as the primary mentor and judge, while music legends Kelly Rowland (Destiny’s Child) and the late Liam Payne (One Direction) join as guest judges starting in episode seven. Their unique insights, forged from their own experiences in mega-successful pop groups, add depth and authenticity to the competition.
Produced by Remarkable Entertainment (a Banijay UK company), Building the Band will unfold across three weeks, with episodes dropping in batches:
- Week 1 (July 9): Episodes 1–4
- Week 2 (July 16): Episodes 5–7
- Week 3 (July 23): Episodes 8–10
Then, on August 1, 2025, it’s time for romance and a little chaos. Nick Lachey returns as host of Perfect Match, where stars from the Netflix Reality Universe are joined for the first time by favorites from Bachelor Nation, Love Island, and other hit dating series. Set in a tropical paradise, these famously single stars compete to form the strongest connections. But there’s a twist: the most compatible couples will gain the power to play matchmaker, breaking up other pairs and introducing new singles into the mix. Will they help or sabotage? Expect strategy, heartache, and high-stakes hookups as the show crowns one final couple the Perfect Match.
With back-to-back launches combining music, romance, and reality drama, this summer’s binge list just got a lot louder and a whole lot hotter.
That Hashtag Show
