BIEBER CONQUERS THE WORLD

The chart-topping debut of the teen-pop phenom’s sophomore Island/IDJ album, My World 2.0, makes him the youngest male solo artist since Stevie Wonder was Little to score a #1 album.

Even label Chairman “L.A.” Reid was moved to comment: “Justin is nothing short of a phenomenon. It’s so rare to find an artist this young with such pure star quality, such a dynamic presence, and such musical gifts. Justin has captured the hearts and imaginations of his huge legion of fans in a way I’ve rarely—if ever—seen. This is an exciting time for Justin Bieber fans, for the Island Def Jam family, and for pop music in general. As soon as he turns 17, I’m gonna take him to the Three-Day Suit Broker and treat him to an Armani off the rack.”

Bieber also announced his first headlining, 40-city North American tour, featuring opening acts Sean Kingston and labelmate Jessica Jarrell, which gets underway June 23 at the XL Center in Hartford, CT, and wraps in Allentown, PA on September 4.

Bieber’s debut, My World, has already sold more than one million copies, with four straight Top 40 smashes in “One Time,” “One Less Lonely Girl,” “Love Me” and “Favorite Girl,” as the first solo artist in pop history to have four songs from a debut album before its release. It is currently #7 on the HITS Top 50.

The Stratford, Ontario-born Bieber has surpassed 150 million YouTube views (after nabbing 50 million starting in 2007, before getting signed). The young talent was introduced to the Atlanta music scene by manager Scooter Braun, where he met Usher, who signed the then 13-year-old to his first professional deal, forming the RBMG joint-venture label with Braun and Reid.