Justin Drew Bieber(/ˈbiːbər/) (born March 1, 1994)[4][5]is a Canadian singer and songwriter. Bieber's current manager,Scooter Braunfirst discovered him through hisYouTubevideos in 2007.[6]Braun was impressed with the videos, and contacted Bieb wanting to work with him. After convincing Bieber's mother, Braun arranged for Bieber to meet withUsherinAtlanta, Georgia. Bieber was signed toRBMG,[7]and then to anIsland Recordsrecording contract offered byrecord executive,L.A. Reid.[3][8]
In May 2013, a poll byPublic Policy Pollingfound that Bieber's favorability ratings among Americans were 20% positive, 26% mixed and 54% negative.[99][100]Bieber's first arrest in January 2014, coupled with a string of brushes with the law and controversial incidents in 2013, led to comments that his image has been transformed from "boy-next-door" to "bad boy".[101][102][103]In March 2014, Bieber's win of the fans' choice prize at theJuno Awardsreceived a mix of cheers and boos from the Canadian audience.[104][105]In August 2014, Bieber was described to have frequently made "headlines due to his party-intense lifestyle".[106]
Bieber is often featured inteen magazinessuch asTiger Beat,[21]and has been labeled as a "teen heartthrob".[89]Wax statues of Bieber with his changed hairstyle from that of his earlier career are on display at theMadame Tussaudswax museums in New York, Amsterdam, and London;[90]the 2010 hairstyle change led to it being called "the most expensive musical haircut of all time".[91]
In 2010, Bieber was frequently criticized for looking and sounding younger than his age,[92]and the following year forhisandrogynousappearance, which has been frequently noted in the media, including when he appeared on the cover ofLOVEmagazine's androgyny issue in 2011.[93]His teen-pop music, image (especially as a heart-throb to young teenage girls), and the media attention he receives have additionally been criticized,[92]and he has been a frequent target of Internet bloggers andmessage boardposters, notably by users of Internet message board4chanand users of YouTube.[94]Nick CollinsofTheDaily Telegraphsaid that "Bieber's character appears to strike a particularly sour note with his Internet critics" who have questioned his manner of speech, among other things.[92]
Hisfanbaseis known as "Beliebers", which theChicago Tribuneincluded as one of the topbuzzwordsof 2010.[95]Bieber's earlyfanbasedeveloped on YouTube, and predated the release of Bieber's first album.[96][97]Bieber's management team makes an effort to mobilize and coordinate Bieber's fans into taking actions related to Bieber, such as greeting him at airports.[98]
Bieber has received numerous industry awards, including both Artist of the Year Awards, at the2010 American Music Awards, and the2012 American Music Awards, and was nominated forBest New ArtistandBest Pop Vocal Albumat the53rd Grammy Awards. With a global fan base, termed as "Beliebers", and over 40 million followers onTwitter, he was namedbyForbesmagazine in 2012 as the third-most powerful celebrity in the world.[10]However Bieber fell to number 9 on the list in 2013.[11]
Bieber released his debutEP,My World, in November 2009. It was certified platinum in theUnited States. He became the first artist to have seven songs from a debut record to chart on theBillboardHot 100.[9]Bieber released his first full-lengthstudio album,My World 2.0, in March 2010. It debuted at or near number one in several countries and was certified platinum in the United States. It was preceded by the single "Baby", which is also, as of July 2014, the YouTube video with the most dislikes, and the most views on aVevoplatform. He followed up the release of his debut album with his first headlining tour, theMy World Tour, the remix albumsMy Worlds AcousticandNever Say Never – The Remixes, and the 3D biopic-concert filmJustin Bieber: Never Say Never. Bieber released his second studio albumUnder the Mistletoein November 2011, when it debuted at number one on theBillboard200. Bieber released his third studio albumBelievein June 2012. It became his fourth chart topper in the United States, debuting at number-one ontheBillboard200.
Public image
General
Usher commented that while he and Bieber were both signed at the same age, "I had the chance to ramp up my success, where this has happened to Bieber abruptly." As a result, Usher, Braun, Bieber's bodyguard and other adults surrounding Bieber constantly coach him on handling fame and his public image.[21]After signing Bieber, Usher appointed one of his former assistants, Ryan Good, to be Bieber's road manager and stylist. Good, once nicknamed Bieber's "swagger coach", created a "streetwise look" for the singer which consisted of baseball caps, hoodies, dog chains and flashy sneakers. Amy KaufmanofTheLos Angeles Timescomments, "Though a product of a middle-class suburban upbringing in Stratford, Ontario, Bieber's manner of dress and speech ("Wassupman,how youdoin'?" or "It's like, you know,whateva' ") suggest he's mimicking his favorite rappers."[88]