Ex-Monsta X member Wonho signs with Maverick Management, home to Britney Spears, Madonna and Miley Cyrus
K-pop solo artiste and former MONSTA X member Wonho has signed with Maverick Management for his US activities.
On April 10, 2020, Wonho signed with Highline Entertainment, a subsidiary of Starship Entertainment, as a solo artiste and a producer. The idol was previously a member of the group Monsta X but was forced to exit following a series of legal issues. Following the resolution of these issues, Wonho returned to the industry and his former agency but is yet to announce any plans to reunite with his former members.
Monsta X, for their part, have continued to perform as a six-member group, and even as a five-member group when rapper Joohoney took a mental health-related break. And despite a string of bad luck that continues to impact the release and promotion schedules, the group has steadily put out new music.
Wonho, meanwhile, now joins Maverick Management’s roster along with Britney Spears, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, The Weeknd and many more big-name artists. The idol is revealed to have signed an agreement with the management group as a solo artist under Eshy Gazit, who has worked with Wonho in the past for Monsta X’s previous promotions, which made this partnership a natural decision for the two.
"I’m thrilled to be managing Wonho internationally and have him join the Maverick family," states Gazit. "Wonho is one of the kindest artists out there with the biggest heart I know. He is the real deal and his talent in singing, producing, writing music and dancing is undeniably extraordinary."
Gazit is one of the most acclaimed music industry experts specifically known for his artist development and breaking new artists in the US. He began his career as a musician and music producer before going on to work with renowned artists such as John Legend, Estelle, Chrisette Michelle and many others as the house engineer/producer for the Cutting Room Studios in NY.
However, Gazit was dissatisfied with some of the companies he hired for PR and radio promo, among other things, and made the decision to start his own boutique record label to support some of the artists he was producing. After over a decade in the music industry, Gazit founded Gramophone Media Inc, taking his extensive musical education and experience with creating music as well as his business development knowledge to create an umbrella company that now housed all the companies he had created over the years.
Gramophone Media and Gazit have previously worked as the US managing partner of South Korean acts like BTS, Tiffany Young and Cravity, earning a name for themselves as the designated company for idols looking to break into the US market. Gazit currently works with Monsta X, among other K-pop artistes, and now joins hands with Wonho.
Monsta X has already managed to make their mark in the US with their all-English album 'All About Luv', released in February this year. The album included collaborations with artists like French Montana, Will.i.am and Pitbull. In addition, members of Before You Exit featured as co-writers on the track, 'Someone's Someone', while 'Love U' was produced by Andres Torres and Mauricio Rengifo of 'Despacito' fame. Wonho's vocals featured on the album despite him being absent from the album's release and promotion.
Follow Wonho on Twitter and Instagram to stay up-to-date on his latest projects.