Ado, the chart-topping Japanese singer who’s never revealed her identity publicly, has signed with WME for global representation all areas, excluding Japan, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.
The 23-year-old singer — who refers to herself as an “Utaite,” a Japanese word for a typically amateur singer who uses an avatar to post song covers online — shot to the top of music charts in her home country when she was just a teenager. She remains one of Japan’s biggest artists.
Ado has toured globally more than once, remaining one of the only J-pop acts to consistently promote in the U.S. Last year, her 34-date Hibana tour drew more than 500,000 fans across five continents, according to a release. She sold out the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and New Jesery’s Prudential Center.
Earlier this year, Ado headlined a new music festival, Zipangu, in L.A., which was the largest J-pop festival in North America. The event was put on by her management, Cloud Nine, and Goldenvoice. She’s slated to appear at Lollpalooza in Chicago later this summer.
Domestically, she’s performed at Japan’s National Stadium, which holds over 60,000 fans, and is scheduled to hold two shows at the stadium next month. She’ll then headline Japan’s Summer Sonic music festival in August, becoming the first female solo artist to do so.
