MONSTA X's I.M Decided to Part Ways With Sony Music After 3 Years

MONSTA X's I.M and his agency split mutually.
The group just celebrated a huge anniversary milestone.
Let's wish him the best future endeavors.

In a significant shift for the K-pop industry, MONSTA X's rapper and producer I.M (real name Im Chang-kyun) has officially decided to part ways with his agency, Sony Music Korea. This move marks the end of a three-year partnership that began in 2022, a period during which I.M solidified his unique musical identity as a solo artist with releases like his debut EP "Duality" and its follow-ups.

The news comes as a surprise to many fans, especially as it arrives just on the heels of MONSTA X's monumental 10th-anniversary celebrations, a testament to the group's enduring legacy and bond with their fandom, MONBEBE.

The agency itself confirmed the amicable nature of this departure through an official statement released on September 15.

"Since signing with us in 2022, I.M has spent the past three years building a stronger and more distinctive musical identity together with our company. We sincerely thank I.M for sharing his music and sincerity with us, and we will continue to support him with affection and respect," Sony Music Korea expressed their gratitude, quoted from Soompi.

The statement concluded with a request for continued support for I.M as he "embarks on a new chapter of his journey."

A Triumphant Comeback Amidst Change

This development is particularly poignant given the group's recent and tremendous success. Just three weeks ago, the full group of MONSTA X was celebrating their 10th anniversary with the release of their mini-album "THE X," their first full-group comeback in four years.

The album was a resounding triumph, shattering records left and right. It broke the group's own first-week sales record by moving an impressive 427,086 copies in its first week, surpassing their previous high set by the 2023 mini album "REASON." Furthermore, "THE X" made history by becoming MONSTA X's first Korean album to ever enter the prestigious Billboard 200 chart, debuting at an impressive No. 31.

This period of immense professional success was also marked by a personal challenge for I.M. His health concerns first became public in May 2025, when Starship Entertainment announced that he had been advised by doctors to scale back his schedule due to worsening health. The issue came to a head in July 2025, forcing him to miss the WATERBOMB BUSAN 2025 festival.

At the time, Starship Entertainment released a detailed statement explaining the situation.

"Recently, MONSTA X member I.M visited the hospital after experiencing back pain and was advised by medical professionals to rest and undergo treatment. Currently, I.M is focusing on recovery while undergoing treatment and taking time to rest. As a result, we regret to inform you that he will not be able to participate… As this decision was made with the artist’s health as our top priority, we ask for your kind understanding," stated Starship Entertainment.

After a month of dedicated rest and rehabilitation, a welcome update arrived in late August. Starship Entertainment shared the positive news with fans.

"Since suspending activities in July due to back pain, I.M has been focusing on rehabilitation treatment as advised by medical professionals, and his condition has been gradually improving. After thorough discussions with the artist, it has been decided that he will gradually resume activities within a manageable scope," they revealed.

This meant I.M was fully able to participate in the group's historic 10th-anniversary promotions for "THE X," making their recent achievements a true full-group triumph before the news of his agency departure emerged.

For those less familiar, I.M is not just a member of MONSTA X, he is a respected rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer known for his deep, distinctive voice and significant contributions to the group's music production. As the group's maknae (youngest member), he has been an integral part of their sound and identity since their debut in 2015.

The big questions now loom, Will I.M set sail for a new agency to continue his solo endeavors? And what does this mean for the future structure and activities of MONSTA X itself? While we don't have those answers yet, one thing remains certain which is the support from MONBEBE will be unwavering. We can only wish I.M the absolute best in his future endeavors and look forward to whatever path he, and MONSTA X, choose to take next.

Source: SONY Music, Starship Entertainment, Soompi