Why Don’t We Biography: Age, Net Worth, Songs, Members, Albums, Split, Hiatus

Why Don’t We, often abbreviated as WDW, was an American boy band formed in 2016 by Jonah Marais, Corbyn Besson, Daniel Seavey, Jack Avery, and Zach Herron, best known for their harmonious pop-R&B sound, viral social media presence, and hits like “8 Letters” and “Fallin’ (Adrenaline).”

The group rose to fame through grassroots online buzz, releasing two studio albums and six EPs while building a massive fanbase of over 10 million Instagram followers, before entering a hiatus in 2022 amid legal disputes and officially disbanding in 2025 after losing rights to their name.

Profile

• Members’ Names: Jonah Marais, Corbyn Besson, Daniel Seavey, Jack Avery, Zach Herron
• Stage Name: Why Don’t We
• Founded: 2016
• Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California
• Origin: United States
• Occupation: Singers, Songwriters, Social Media Influencers
• Net Worth: $10 million

Early Life & Members

Jonah Marais

• Early Life: Raised in a musical family, Jonah often performed with his father’s rock band and sang in church, developing his skills through self-taught piano and live streams on YouNow before joining the band.
• Date of Birth: June 16, 1998
• Age: 27 years old
• Place of Birth: Stillwater, Minnesota, USA
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Religion: Christian
• Parents: Mr. Frantzich and Mrs. Frantzich
• Siblings: Zebulon, Esther, Svea
• Education: High school graduate; no higher education pursued, focusing on music career post-graduation.

Corbyn Besson

• Early Life: Influenced by his parents’ musical talents—his mother a harpist and father a guitarist—Corbyn started playing piano young and shifted to guitar, building an online following via YouNow streams.
• Date of Birth: November 25, 1998
• Age: 26 years old
• Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. Besson and Mrs. Besson
• Siblings: Jordan, Ashley
• Education: Attended high school in Centreville, Virginia; no higher education details available, as he prioritized music early.

Daniel Seavey

• Early Life: A prodigy who appeared on American Idol at 15, finishing ninth, Daniel grew up learning multiple instruments by ear and producing music, which led to his band involvement.
• Date of Birth: April 2, 1999
• Age: 26 years old
• Place of Birth: Vancouver, Washington, USA
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Jeffrey Seavey and Keri Seavey
• Siblings: Tyler, Christian, Anna
• Education: High school graduate; studied music informally, no college attendance confirmed.

Jack Avery

• Early Life: From a creative household, Jack taught himself guitar in sixth grade and busked in Nashville as a teen, gaining early exposure through YouTube covers and short films.
• Date of Birth: July 1, 1999
• Age: 26 years old
• Place of Birth: Burbank, California, USA
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: John Avery and Kristin Stanford
• Siblings: Sydnie, Ava, Isla, Camila
• Education: High school graduate; self-taught musician, no formal higher education.

Zach Herron

• Early Life: The youngest member, Zach trained at a performing arts facility and posted viral covers on social media, honing his guitar and vocal skills from a young age.
• Date of Birth: May 27, 2001
• Age: 24 years old
• Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
• Ethnicity: Caucasian
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Josh Herron and Myta Herron
• Siblings: Ryan, Reese
• Education: Studied at Septien Entertainment Group; high school graduate, no higher education pursued.

Career

Why Don’t We started their career in 2016 when the five members—each with budding online followings from platforms like YouNow and YouTube—connected through industry contacts in Los Angeles and officially formed on September 27.

Jonah Marais and Corbyn Besson had been live-streaming performances to thousands, Daniel Seavey had gained national attention as a teen on American Idol, Jack Avery built a subscriber base with guitar covers, and Zach Herron went viral with his Shawn Mendes cover “Stitches,” amassing millions of views.

They released their debut single “Taking You” in October, followed by the EP Only the Beginning in November, which quickly built buzz through grassroots promotion and collaborations like with Logan Paul.

Initial recognition came from sold-out small venues and their relatable, self-produced vibe, earning them a deal with Atlantic Records by 2017.

The group solidified in early 2017 with a string of EPs—Why Don’t We Just, Invitation, and A Why Don’t We Christmas—while headlining the Something Different Tour, their first major outing that showcased their tight harmonies and pop-R&B style.

Signing with Atlantic in September amplified their reach, leading to features in YouTube vlogs and a growing fanbase.

By 2018, they dropped their debut album 8 Letters, largely self-written and produced, which hit number 9 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum.

Tracks like “Trust Fund Baby” (written by Ed Sheeran) topped iTunes charts, and they won the Teen Choice Award for Choice Summer Group, marking their shift from social media stars to mainstream acts with over 3 million Instagram followers.

Key accomplishments peaked with the 2021 album The Good Times and the Bad Ones, debuting at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and featuring producers like Travis Barker and Skrillex; singles “Fallin’ (Adrenaline)” charted at 37 on the Hot 100, their highest entry.

They earned another Teen Choice for Choice Music Group in 2019, performed at Madison Square Garden, and released monthly singles in 2019 to build hype, including “I Don’t Belong in This Club” with Macklemore.

Growth included international tours and soundtrack spots like “Don’t Change” for Five Feet Apart, but transitions hit in 2021 with abuse allegations against management, leading to a brief social media hiatus before their final album push.

Further along, the band navigated internal and external pressures, self-producing much of their later work to maintain creative control amid rising fame.

They starred in the YouTube docuseries 30 Days With, offering behind-the-scenes looks at album creation, and collaborated on tracks like “I Got You” for TWICE in 2024 (co-written by Jonah and Daniel post-hiatus).

Despite legal woes escalating in 2021, they released “Love Back” as a standalone single, keeping momentum with over 159 concerts worldwide.

The group’s emphasis on fan interaction via social media and merch sales helped sustain revenue, even as debates over their management surfaced publicly.

As of September 2025, Why Don’t We is defunct following the February 2025 court ruling that awarded the name and brand to their former management Signature Entertainment, ending four years of litigation; the members (except Daniel, who avoided penalties) paid nominal breach fees but parted ways without reunion plans.

Recent solo ventures include Daniel’s debut album Second Wind (March 2025), Jonah’s EPs like More Than Enough (May 2025), Jack’s single “PLEASE DON’T GO” (June 2025), and Zach’s “Caroline” (2024), with Corbyn releasing two post-hiatus tracks.

Their legacy endures through 40 million+ streams on hits like “8 Letters,” influencing modern boy bands with a blueprint for social media-driven success, though the hiatus highlighted industry pitfalls.

Social Media

• Instagram: @whydontwemusic
• TikTok: @whydontwe
• YouTube: Why Don’t We

Personal Life

Why Don’t We members have largely kept personal details low-key, focusing on music and friendships within the group; none are married, and only one has children, with relationships often shared via social media glimpses.

Jonah Marais

• Marriages: Not married
• Children: No children reported.
• Height: 6’2″
• Dating History: Dated TikTok star Lera Clark in 2024; they split later that year. Previously linked to brief romances but keeps most private, emphasizing personality in partners.

Corbyn Besson

• Marriages: Not married
• Children: No children reported.
• Height: 5’10”
• Dating History: Dated YouTuber Christina Harris from 2016 to 2020; they met at a convention and attended prom together. Single since, with no recent public relationships.

Daniel Seavey

• Marriages: Not married
• Children: No children reported.
• Height: 5’11”
• Dating History: No confirmed long-term relationships; rumored links to fans or collaborators, but he maintains privacy post-Idol fame.

Jack Avery

• Marriages: Not married
• Children: Lavender May Avery
• Height: 5’9″
• Dating History: Father of Gabriela Gonzalez’s child; they dated from 2018 but split amicably post-birth, co-parenting focused. No current partner confirmed.

Zach Herron

• Marriages: Not married
• Children: No children reported.
• Height: 5’8″
• Dating History: Dated fellow influencer Rachel Lambert from 2019 to 2021; broke up citing touring strains. Single since, with occasional fan rumors unconfirmed.

Albums

• 8 Letters (2018) – Debuted at No. 9 on Billboard 200; certified Platinum.
• The Good Times and the Bad Ones (2021) – Peaked at No. 3 on Billboard 200.

Extended Plays (EPs)

• Only the Beginning (2016)
• Why Don’t We Just (2017)
• Invitation (2017)
• A Why Don’t We Christmas (2017)
• The Fall of Jake Paul (2017, with Logan Paul)
• PS: A Why Don’t We Christmas (2018)

Notable Singles

• “Taking You” (2016)
• “Nobody Gotta Know” (2016)
• “Something Different” (2017)
• “These Girls” (2017)
• “Talk” (2018)
• “Hooked” (2018)
• “I Don’t Belong in This Club” feat. Macklemore (2019)
• “Slow Down” (2020)
• “Love Back” (2021)

Awards and Nominations

• Teen Choice Awards: Choice Summer Group (2018), Choice Music Group (2019)
• Radio Disney Music Award: Best Crush Song – “8 Letters” (2019)
• Billboard Music Award Nominee: Top Social Artist (2018, 2019)

Net Worth

Why Don’t We’s collective net worth stands at around $10 million as of 2025, accumulated through album sales, over 159 concerts, streaming royalties exceeding 40 million plays, merchandise, and brand deals with labels like Atlantic Records.

Individual earnings vary, with Jonah Marais and Daniel Seavey leading via solo releases like Jonah’s 2025 EP More Than Enough and Daniel’s album Second Wind, each estimated at $2 million to $3 million personally; the group’s early social media-driven success and tours contributed most, though the 2022 hiatus and 2025 disbandment shifted focus to solo ventures without external funding.