Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Justin Bieber has shaped modern-day popular music in a big way. The Canadian singer is recognized for his genre-melding musicianship and has helped to play an influential role in the development of pop and R&B, and more recently dance-pop and EDM. Bieber is an international superstar with a massive social media following and a devoted fan base. He’s also a multi-platinum recording artist with numerous chart-topping singles, including three songs that reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 2016.
Bieber was born on March 1, 1994 in London, Ontario, Canada and raised by his mother Pattie Mallette in Stratford, Ontario. He had a passion for music at a very young age and learned to play drums, piano, guitar and trumpet. At the age of 12, he took part in a local singing competition and placed second. His mother started uploading videos of him singing and playing guitar on YouTube for family and friends to watch, but the videos attracted an audience beyond his intended audience.
His mother encouraged him to pursue a career in music. She enrolled him in music classes at the Stratford Music Academy. He also received vocal coaching from Jan Smith. In 2008, at the age of 16, he was discovered by talent manager Scooter Braun and signed with his own label, RBMG Records. The release of his debut seven-track EP, My World (2009), established him as a teen idol.
Bieber’s success and popularity increased worldwide as he began touring with major acts such as Usher and the Backstreet Boys. He is the first solo male artist to have four singles reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 before the release of a debut album. He has won two Grammy Awards and has been nominated 22 times.
He has a large social media following with over 175 million followers on Instagram, over 57 million likes on Facebook and more than 14 million subscribers to his YouTube channel. He is an ambassador for Beats By Dre and Elizabeth Arden and has endorsement deals with several other companies.
In addition to his musical achievements, Bieber has achieved considerable success as a model and actor. He has appeared in several high-profile films and was ranked as the most influential celebrity by Time magazine in 2011. He is an advocate for anti-bullying campaigns and has been involved in charitable work in support of children’s causes.
Despite the pressures of his fame, Bieber remains grounded and humble. He tries to mentor younger artists, to be the solid person for them that he wishes he had had for himself. There’s a moment in the documentary about him and Billie Eilish at Coachella, when the young girl is overwhelmed by the attention she’s receiving. And then Bieber gives her a hug, and she relaxes enough to keep going. It’s a small, sweet moment that says a lot about him.