Zayn Malik is definitely going his own direction, as the former One Direction singer has reportedly just signed with management company Turn First Artists, according to Billboard.com.
The 22-year-old singer was previously signed to Modest! Management as a member of One Direction, but he will now be managed by the company's Sarah Stennett, who is also responsible for Iggy Azalea's successful career. Turn First Artists is also home to Ellie Goulding and Rita Ora.
Stennett started Turn First as a management and branding company with support from Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge, Billboard.com reported.
Malik released a statement in March announcing his departure from One Direction, saying he wanted to live a low-key life as a normal young adult.
"My life with One Direction has been more than I could ever have imagined. But, after five years, I feel like it is now the right time for me to leave the band. I'd like to apologize to the fans if I've let anyone down, but I have to do what feels right in my heart," he said in a statement. "I am leaving because I want to be a normal 22-year-old who is able to relax and have some private time out of the spotlight. I know I have four friends for life in Louis, Liam, Harry and Niall. I know they will continue to be the best band in the world."
Since leaving the band, it was rumored Malik left because he was considering starting a solo singing career. Days after his departure, record producer Naughty Boy posted a filtered photo of him and Malik in the recording studio, along with the caption, "Replace this." Days later, Naughty Boy posted a demo called "I Won't Mind," which featured Malik.
Simon Cowell, who has been a mentor to One Direction since their days on U.K.'s version of "X-Factor," confirmed to The Sun that Malik was dropped from his Syco label, which is a subsidiary of Sony.
"Well, because it was his decision to leave the group and we hadn't asked him to do it, I felt my main responsibility was to the band. They didn't ask for it to happen either, and I did sign One Direction as a group," he explained to the paper. "But luckily within Sony there are a lot of labels who are really good. I had a feeling there was one particular label who would love to have him and they did."
"It enables them to treat him as a priority and us to carry on with what we're doing with the boys," Cowell continued. "It also means no one has any nerves about whether we're working harder on them or him."
