MONSTA X‘s global domination is just getting started. As the group prepares for its “We Are Here” tour, news comes that the Korean group has inked a high-profile record deal.
On May 28 it was announced that the group would be joining Western Pop royalty Mariah Carey, Outkast, and even Michael Jackson as signees under American record label Epic Records. The deal will cover MONSTA X’s English-language recordings, as well as worldwide distribution outside Korea.
"We are thrilled to join the Epic Family alongside some of the artists we admire the most. This is like a dream come true, and we still can't believe that this is happening to us," said MONSTA X in a statement. "We can't thank our Monbebe enough for their endless support and for making everything possible."
The delightful news was announced ahead of the beginning of the overseas shows for the group’s world tour 2019 “We Are Here.” Kicking off in Seoul last April, the tour will bring the seven boys to seventeen other cities all around Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia.
MONSTA X is also set to perform at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas later this year, where they will be the first K-pop group to ever perform in the music festival. The group is also working on new music, which the Epic press release teases will be available soon.
"K-pop has indelibly impacted the global conversation and influenced culture everywhere,” Sylvia Rhone, the CEO of Epic Records, stated. “At the top of that conversation, you’ll find Monsta X. They’re ushering the genre into the future with an original style befitting of their experience, passion, and diverse influences. We’re honored to welcome them to the Epic Records family."
Monsta X is the latest K-pop act to sign a deal with an American record label. Fans have already gotten a taste of Monsta X’s English-language music as they collaborated with Steve Aoki on “Play It Cool” earlier this year. And while Monsta X is no stranger to U.S. TV appearances, they recently made their animated debut on Cartoon Network’s We Bare Bears on May 27.
Monsta X was formed by Starship Entertainment through the 2015 reality show No. Mercy. The group is composed of seven members: Shownu, Wonho, Minhyuk, Kihyun, Hyungwon, Joohoney, and I.M. The group debuted on May 14, 2015, with their first EP Trespass.
