5SOS splits with Modest! Management & Interscope Records

Image by Jess Gleeson

Australian band 5 Seconds Of Summer (5SOS) has parted ways with Modest! Management and US record label Interscope Records.

There has been no official announcement from the band or from management, but the Sydney-born Los Angeles-based act is no longer listed on Modest! Management’s artist page, which includes Niall Horan, JLS, Little Mix, Anthony Ramos, Alexis Ffrench, Olly Murs and New Rules, among others.

In June 2019, Modest! founders Richard Griffiths and Harry Magee were given the Music Industry Trusts Award at a ceremony in London for their success and high standards in music management over 40 years.

Last year, the band and management had a slight public clash of opinion when they addressed false accusations of sexual assault against band member Michael Clifford.

A girl, 14 at the time, had claimed on Twitter he had sexually assaulted her in the crowd when the band opened for One Direction early in their career.

Clifford always denied the allegations saying he had never been allowed to go into the crowd for security reasons.

The girl then admitted that it was a case of mistaken identity and publicly apologised.

On June 26, 5SOS addressed the allegations, making it clear that it was their choice, and they were going against the wishes of Modest! Management.

“We are posting this against the advice of our team,” the band stated on their Twitter account. “We, as a band, didn’t feel it was the right time for a tour announcement.

“We felt it was much more important to address false accusations first, but we were told not to comment. We are done being silent.”

An Interscope rep confirmed the band’s departure with Variety this week.

The group’s first three albums were released on Capitol in the US, where they made history as the only band (not vocal group) to see their first three albums enter the Billboard 200 in the top spot.

Their last album Calm, on Interscope, reached Top 5 in the US, after debuting at #1 in Australia (where it is with EMI Music) and the UK.

As of last year, 5SOS have sold more than 9.6 million equivalent album units and sold over 2 million concert tickets worldwide, with cumulative streams of their songs now surpassing seven billion, according to EMI.

The Official Charts Company reported in July 2020 there was a 103% rise in cassette tape sales in the UK, with 5SOS (along with Lady Gaga and The 1975) responsible in large part for the sales.

The seven-date Australian leg of their No Shame Tour was moved back from March to November 27 to December 6.

The European leg for April is still being advertised as going ahead.