NEED TO KNOW
- Earlier than his demise in October 2024, Liam Payne filmed the Netflix collection Constructing the Band
- The singing competitors invitations 50 singers to kind six bands with out seeing one another
- Filming for the collection, the primary 4 episodes of which premiered on July 9, wrapped earlier than the previous One Route singer died after falling off a balcony
Few folks knew bands like Liam Payne.
The late One Route star — who rose to fame with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Kinds and Louis Tomlinson as teenagers on The X Issue in 2010 — introduced his expertise full circle as a decide on Netflix’s Constructing the Band. Filming for the singing competitors wrapped shortly earlier than he died after falling from a resort balcony in October 2024.
Constructing the Band was the singer’s ultimate TV venture. A supply instructed ipromiseyoumedia in October 2024 that the “Strip That Down” singer was so moved by his expertise on the present that he needed to proceed working with the bands after manufacturing.
After receiving help from Payne’s household, Netflix proceeded with the collection and set a premiere date for July 9.
“Its all the time time [for a talent show] though I believe it genuinely takes time to give you one thing new and contemporary,” Constructing the Band govt producer Cat Lawson instructed Deadline in July 2025. “The scarier the world will get, the lighter our leisure must develop into and I really feel a singing present can carry numerous pleasure.”
Right here’s all the pieces to find out about Constructing the Band and the way the collection pays tribute to the late Liam Payne.
What’s Constructing the Band about?
Constructing the Band is a actuality competitors collection that challenges 50 singers to kind their dream bands sight unseen.
The vocalists start in particular person sound cubicles the place they hear to one another and choose their bandmates based mostly solely on chemistry, musical compatibility and, in fact, killer vocals. Solely six bands make it out of the sales space.
Lawson instructed Deadline that within the second and third phases of the collection, the newly fashioned bandmates transfer in collectively after which spend time within the studio with Payne and the opposite judges. After 10 episodes, just one band will probably be left standing.
“The ‘not seeing’ half is sort of secondary whenever you watch the episodes,” Lawson instructed the outlet. “Bands have traditionally been manufactured however our place to begin was about placing the facility within the fingers of the singers. How do you Construct a Band? You’re on the lookout for voice, but additionally vibe and longevity.”
In contrast to different competitors singing exhibits, Constructing the Band doesn’t supply a document deal or money prize, however somewhat a worldwide platform to launch a newly fashioned band.
Who’s the host of Constructing the Band?
AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys hosts Constructing the Band and affords steering to the singers all through every section of the competitors. Forward of the present’s launch, the singer shared his pleasure for the collection on Instagram and famous that the individuals left him speechless.
“Constructing the Band is the model new music competitors the place singers decide their bandmates—with out ever laying eyes on ‘em first,” McLean captioned the June 2025 publish. “Wild, proper? The expertise blew me away… and it’s gonna blow you away too.”
Who’re the judges of Constructing the Band?
Along with Payne, Tony Award-winning singer Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls serves as a mentor and decide on the collection alongside Kelly Rowland of Future’s Baby.
Scherzinger — who judged The X Issue when Payne was a participant and helped spark the concept to kind One Route — shared on Instagram about the way it was “such a blessing” to work with him once more.
“Expensive Liam, I’ll ceaselessly cherish and treasure the time we shared collectively, from fifteen years in the past when One Route was born, proper up till just some weeks in the past,” the singer wrote in October 2024 alongside a selfie with Payne and Rowland. “We shared the identical love and keenness for music and I’ll ceaselessly bear in mind the significant and joyful conversations we had.”
She continued, “It’s been so laborious to course of that you simply’re now not right here, however I’m grateful to have recognized your sort coronary heart, candy soul and character.”
When was Constructing the Band filmed?
After getting the inexperienced mild in Could 2024, Deadline reported that Constructing of the Band wrapped manufacturing on the present by October 2024.
The collection’s executives instructed the outlet on the time that Payne had completed filming earlier than he died on Oct. 16.
The ultimate three episodes have been shot dwell in August 2024 at a studio in Manchester, England, the place followers serenaded the singer after the ultimate recording for the present, which was the day after his thirty first birthday.
How does Constructing the Band deal with Payne’s demise?
Deadline reported that Netflix determined to maneuver ahead with the present after talking to his household. The primary episode begins with a tribute to the previous One Route star.
“The present is devoted to him and that’s completely proper,” stated Lawson. “All of us liked him and I believe he was wonderful within the present … It’s a must to bear in mind you get to know folks actually rapidly and deeply [on these shows] and he was a wonderful particular person.”
She added, “None of us noticed this coming.”
The place can I watch Constructing the Band?
The primary 4 episodes of Constructing of the Band premiered on Netflix on July 9, with three extra episodes dropping the next week on July 16.
The season’s final three episodes will hit the streamer on July 23.
