“Produce_X101,” the fourth season of Mnet’s popular “Produce 101” series, is preparing a project group with an unprecedented contract length.

On February 27, reports emerged that “Produce_X101” recently settled on a contract of five years for their debut group. Mnet confirmed the news and explained, “Members will be asked to focus all of their attention on the group for the first two and a half years, with the remaining two and a half years allowing them to pursue both individual and group activities freely.”

This is the longest contract for a “Produce 101” project group, as season one’s I.O.I was active for one year, season two’s Wanna One was active for one and a half years, and season three’s IZ*ONE’s contract has been the longest at two and a half years. “Produce_X101” is doubling that length at a total of five years.

When considering the fact that most agencies will sign seven-year contracts with idols they debut under their label, the contract length is quite long and may have an impact on how people vote in the upcoming show.

“Produce_X101” is set to begin airing in the first half of the year, and the participants will begin living in dorms and start filming next month.

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