Austin Mahone was pictured as the next Justin Bieber, but things happened differently for him after his instant popularity.
Like Bieber, Mahone earned attention when he started posting song covers on YouTube in 2010. Fans thought he could be like the "Ghost" singer, especially since his musical style resembled the Canadian singer has.
But a decade after he launched his career, fans started seeing a little of him.
What Happened to Austin Mahone?
"They see a young kid who sings and dances and.. they're like, 'Oh another Justin Bieber,'" he told NBC News years ago. "Like, you don't even know. You don't know me. You don't know my music. You're just making assumptions."
Indeed, over a decade after he catapulted to fame, the singer from San Antonio, Texas, did not see his career take off.
In the past years since he debuted, he became the center of attraction due to his hit songs like "Say Something" and features in Pitbull's "Mmm Yeah" and Flo Rida's "Say You're Just a Friend."
READ ALSO: Why Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber Do Not Have Child Yet Revealed: 'I'm Scared'
Despite those milestones, they did not help Mahone to get the same approval for his major-label debut album. His second EP, "The Secret," only sold 46,000 copies in its first week despite immediately appearing on Billboard 200's Top 5.
According to TheThings, Mahone's one and only studio album, "Dirty Work: The Album," was released exclusively in the Japanese market in 2017 via Universal Music Japan.
After his second EP turned out to be a flop, Republic Records executive Avery Lipman said the other label's executives had high expectations from him.
"The kid can close down any mall in America, but we are struggling to sell a meaningful amount of records," he said at that time. "It sounds good, looks good; goes right in the weeds."
Mahone signed a short-lived deal with APG after Republic Records dropped him and became a solo artist in the years thereafter. In 2020, he joined OnlyFans, where he auctioned a video of him.
Where Is Austin Mahone Now?
His most recent project, "A Lone Star Story" album, was released on June 23, succeeding his single, "Withdrawal," in February.
He has not confirmed whether he will release new music soon, but Celebrity Net Worth estimates that Austin Mahone's net worth as of 2023 is $5 million.
READ MORE: Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez End Feud? Justin Bieber's Wife Makes Shocking Move
