J-Pop Boy Band Travis Japan Signs With Capitol Records Following ‘America’s Got Talent’ Appearance

After high-profile American appearances, Travis Japan signed with Capitol Music Group. The seven-member Japanese boy band, formed by Japan’s leading talent management agency Johnny & Associates, announced alongside Capitol Records that they will make their “international debut” on October 28 through the label marking the first time the group’s music will be music be available worldwide.

The Tokyo group has been growing its profile stateside after the group began spending more time in the U.S. this past year. This past summer, the boy band participated in “World of Dance,” billed as “the world’s largest urban dance competition,” where they scored fourth at the U.S. level in the team division and ninth at the world competition held in July. Travis Japan gained their most notable moment of recognition by competing on America’s Got Talent this year, qualifying as a semifinalist on the latest season.

Johnny & Associates enlisted Travis Payne, the choreographer who gained notoriety through the ’90s and his work in Michael Jackson’s final This Is It concerts, to help them form a globally focused group. Named after the famous choreographer, Travis Japan has been active since 2012 with more than a dozen singles. While various members have shifted through the years, the current seven-member lineup has been together since 2017.

The J-pop group now joins Capitol Records, which houses Katy Perry, Sam Smith and the K-pop supergroup SuperM which scored a No. 1 album in America with Capitol.

“The cherished goal of Travis Japan, a major debut, has finally come to fruition!” Travis Japan’s Chaka said in a press statement. “We are grateful for all those who have supported us, especially our fans! Now we embark ever further upon our Dreamy Journey to the world!” Member Genta added, “We are going to achieve Johnny-san’s Dream!”

“Ever since the founding of our company 60 years ago, we have created and sent our boy bands off in Japan,” explained Julie K. Fujishima, President Johnny & Associates, Inc. “Today, for the first time ever, we are so thrilled to announce Travis Japan’s worldwide debut with Capitol Music Group. We are excited to embrace this new chapter of our legacy and overcome new challenges and accomplishments that come along our way. We hope to take you all on this exciting and amazing journey and deliver our Johnny’s entertainment spirit to fans all over the world!”

Sir Lucian Grainge, the chairman and CEO of Universal Music Group, said, “Having worked together to achieve enormous success in Japan in recent years, we are pleased to expand our working relationship with Julie and the great team at Johnny & Associates, and to welcome Travis Japan to the Capitol Music Group & UMG family.”

And Travis Payne added, “I’m thrilled for Travis Japan and their new music! It’s been a long time coming, but we’ve finally made it happen! So excited for the world to see!”

As confirmed through Johnny & Associates’ social media accounts, Travis Japan will release a new single via streaming on October 28. Look out for more details soon.

A new YouTube video was released announcing the “worldwide” single: