Hunt For New One Direction: Simon Cowell Ropes In Ricky Martin To Find Members For New Five-Member Latin Boyband

Simon Cowell has roped in “Livin La Vida Loca” singer Ricky Martin to executive produce his upcoming music reality show, “La Banda.” Martin will also be one of the judges on the upcoming talent search show. The singing competition will see various Spanish-speaking contestants compete for a five-person boy band.

The 43-year-old singer is “very excited” to work with Cowell and revealed he was invited for the show by Cowell through a phone call. "We started throwing ideas and I was fascinated by this concept. I was fascinated by this show,” Ricky is quoted as saying by Daily Mail. Cowell and his production company Syco Entertainment will bring La Banda to American television.

Martin told the website that it is very important for young musicians to come on talent shows like La Banda as it gives them platform to showcase their talent. He also wished that such shows existed when he started his musical career. Martin said he hopes to find the “next musical phenomenon with the help of not only the judges but also the fans.”

Martin's previous reality television experience includes being a coach at “The Voice: Australia” for its third season. But the singer says he will not be as “brutally honest” with the contestants as Cowell is. The “Maria” singer says he wants to “nurture” the contestants on the show with his vast experience.

The auditions for “La Banda” will kick off in Los Angeles on March 7 but the registration process has already started. The show will air on Univision and the hunt for Martin's fellow judges is also on. The show is looking for “Spanish-speaking male contestants” from the United States and Puerto Rico. The reality program will hunt for the “the Ultimate Latino Boyband.”

The five winners will be awarded a recording contract with Sony Music Latin and Syco Music. Syco Music is the recording label behind the world’s most successful boyband of today's time – One Direction. Martin will also mentor the five winners. The show will be hosted by Alejandra Espinoza and will premiere in the fall season of 2015. More details can be found here.

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