Another Justin Bieber? Already?
The most recent pop-boy sensation – courtesy of the Interwebs, of course – is Greyson Michael Chance, a 12-year-old from Oklahoma who rocked out Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi at a school talent show. The video uploaded on April 28 has already accumulated 15 million hits on YouTube, and this past Thursday the Bieber lookalike performed his viral cover tune on the Ellen Degeneres Show.
Entertainment media are quick to label Chance the next Bieber (of Stratford, Ontario fame), but is it too soon to compare this one-hit-wonder-cover-kid to Bieber’s bubble-gum pop? Oh right, they are both chart-toppers targeting the lucrative demographic of 14-year-old girls.
Chance is getting so much love there’s a rumour circulating Interscope records has already scooped the tween to a record deal. Unfortunately, the sites posting this story aren’t the most reputable (sorry, AllieisWired and CrazedHits).
There’s a bigger story here – discovering music via YouTube. Not an entirely 2010 phenom, YouTube hits have been gaining cred with more mainstream labels and industry watchers. Bill Werde, editorial director of Billboard magazine, told CBS News on Friday: “In the last year or two, You Tube has pretty much become the go-to place to discover music. Period.”
Chance’s MTV makeover could put him in YouTube Hall of Fame status, right next to…yes, Justin Bieber. When Biebs was a wee adolescent his family shot videos of him and posted them on video sites, and several of his performances caught the eye of the right execs.
So how should Chance handle this next step in YouTube sensationalism? Lady Gaga actually offered Chance some advice when she called in to the Ellen Show when the teen stopped by.
She said, “Stay away from girls and be focused.” Riiight. And I’m sure Bieber is following the same tip.[rssbreak]
