Justin Bieber

Pop singer Justin Bieber was barely into his teens when he released his platinum-selling debut, My World, and became one of 2009's youngest success stories.

An Ontario native, Bieber had placed second in a local singing competition two years prior and began posting his performances on YouTube.

The videos caught the attention of Scooter Braun, a talent agent and former So So Def marketing executive, who helped Bieber land an impromptu audition with the R&B star Usher.

Impressed by what he saw, Usher -- along with Island/Def Jam chairman L.A.

Reid -- quickly signed the 15-year-old Bieber to a recording contract.

Bieber released his first single, "One Time," in May 2009.

Supported by a popular video that featured an appearance by Usher, "One Time" went platinum in both Canada and America, a feat that was replicated later that year with the release of My World.

The disc was technically an EP, featuring only seven songs, but it reached number six on the Billboard 200 album chart and sold over a million copies.

Less than a year after his debut, Bieber returned with the "second half" of My World, a ten-song release titled My World 2.0.

Further demonstrating his and his management's marketing power, over 8,000 fans who pre-ordered My World 2.0 had their head shots used in a photo mosaic (formed to look like a portrait of Bieber) that was displayed on the back side of the disc's booklet.

The release topped the Billboard 200.

A few weeks later, a combination of My World and My World 2.0, titled My Worlds, appeared in some territories.

By the end of 2010, Bieber issued My Worlds Acoustic, a set featuring acoustic versions of nine songs off the My World discs, as well as one new song.

The following February, the 3-D documentary Never Say Never was released to theaters.

The seven-track Never Say Never: The Remixes, released just days after the film, maintained the flow of Bieber product, and featured appearances from the likes of Kanye West, Usher, and Miley Cyrus.

Just in time for Christmas 2011 came the holiday-themed Under the Mistletoe, complete with several celebrity guest duets and an original song, "Mistletoe," for the first single, which entered the Holiday Songs chart at number two.

~ Matt Collar & Andy Kellman, Rovi

Justin Bieber has released a rap video under the alias Shawty Mane.

(BANG) -

Justin Bieber has released a rap video.

The 'Baby' singer has made the jokey video under the alias 'Shawty Mane' in which he seeks to "prove his skills in the rap game."

In the video he is shown rapping in oversize glasses at a studio microphone and pulling hip hop moves on a street.

In the rap he references Lady Gaga and NFL star Tom Brady as well as saying he is "tearing up like a tractor".

At the end of the video he adds: "I'm Justin Bieber, you might know me as the guy who sings 'Baby'. I'm a pop singer, I'm white. But I wanted to do this to prove I've got skills in the rap game. So yeah, word up, I killed that, peace."

Justin was also today announced as the online host of MTV's European Music Awards (EMAs), which take place in Madrid in November.

Video of the singer discussing the event will be streamed on the awards show's website and Justin will also be taking to social media platforms, such as Facebook and twitter to discuss the happenings on the show, which will feature performances from Katy Perry and Shakira, among others.

Justin said: "I'm so excited to have all my fans come watch the show with me online. It will be like one giant, global viewing party at my house!"

The MTV EMAs, hosted by US actress Eva Longoria, will take place on November 7 and will be broadcast live on the channel.

Teen singing sensation Justin Bieber has been immortalised in plastic by getting his own range of toy dolls.

(BANG) -

Justin Bieber has been turned into a toy.

The teen singing sensation's likeness has been turned into two ranges of dolls - the Music Video Collection and the JB Style Collection.

The Music Video Collection sees figures playing 30-second clips from his hit songs 'Baby' and 'One Less Lonely Girl' and the dolls are dressed in Justin's outfits from those videos.

The JB Style Collection, features Justin figurines dressed in "street style", "awards style" and "red carpet style" outfits.

The mini Justin dolls will be released in December.

Justin, 16, is not the first star to be made into a toy.

During the peak of their fame in the 90s, the Spice Girls all had their own figurines, as did Take That and Britney Spears.

Last year, Sienna Miller was turned into an action figure in the guise of her 'G.I Joe: Rise of the Cobra' character Baroness.

She said "I'm not sure if I'm going to be playing with my own doll - but I'm going to have happy nieces and nephews, I'm sure."

British boy band JLS are also set to be immortalised in plastic, with their range of dolls coming out later this year.

'Glee' actress Lea Michele thinks Justin Bieber would be an ''awesome'' guest to make a cameo appearance in the hit drama series.

(BANG) -

Lea Michele wants Justin Bieber to appear on 'Glee'.

The brunette beauty is excited about forthcoming celebrity cameos in the US musical drama series but would love producers to approach the teenage singing sensation about a role in the show.

She told E! Online: "I don't know about Justin Bieber coming on the show, but he would be awesome.

"But I will tell you this-breaking news from Lea Michele!-we have an Academy Award winner coming on 'Glee' in the next few episodes that is not Justin Bieber."

However, the 24-year-old actress - who plays Rachel Berry in the show - is disappointed she won't get the chance to get close to Javier Bardem when he makes a guest appearance.

Speaking about the forthcoming appearance of the actor - who is expecting a baby with wife Penelope Cruz - Lea joked: "I know the storyline and it's not with me. Maybe I'll be like, 'Don't I look like Penelope Cruz? Hey, It's me-I'm Penelope.' "

Justin, 16, may welcome the chance to appear on the show alongside people of a similar age after recently confessing he finds life on the road can get lonely.

He said: "Lonely, yeah. I want to hang out with my friends, but I need security. I'm going to get my dog to come on the road in a couple of weeks."