Fifteen-year-old Johnny Orlando, who rose to fame posting covers of songs by Shawn Mendes (44 million views) and Taylor Swift (37 million views) on YouTube, has inked a record deal with Universal Music Canada (UMC) The Toronto native currently counts 3 million followers on YouTube and 5 million followers on Instagram.
Orlando’s signing announcement arrives as he releases his latest single, “What If” (see below) — a duet with frequent collaborator Mackenzie Ziegler, who previously starred in the Lifetime reality series Dance Moms and has since gone on to become a digital personality and musician in her own right. Orlando and Ziegler toured North America and Europe in 2017, and are set to hit the road again this summer, Variety reports.
“He’s just 15, but since the impressively young age of eight, Johnny has been shaping global culture and inspiring millions with his incredible musical talent,” Jeffrey Remedios, UMC’s president and CEO, said in a statement. (UMC is a division of Universal Music Group). “Together, from our shared home base in Toronto, we’ll take Johnny and his music to Canadians and to the world.”
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“My team at Universal Music Canada already feels like an extension of my family,” added Orlando, who will release a solo EP later this year. “I’m so excited to be working with some of the most gifted musicians and songwriters that I’ve ever met, and I can’t wait for my fans to hear my new stuff, starting with ‘What If’ alongside Mackenzie.”
Orlando is also repped by digital network Collab, which he signed with back in November 2016.
