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Justin Bieber’s Record Label Def Jam Want Him To Make Pop Music Only, Not R&B?

By Page Mackinley
Published on: 06:29 PST, Dec 11, 2014

Did Justin Bieber’s record label Def Jam withhold support for the singer’s 2013 R&B album Journals because they want him to only make pop music? That what’s Hot 97.5’s Franny Pacquiao a.k.a. DJ Franzen thinks, and tweeted about recently.

It would be fair to say many of the 20-year-old singer’s fans believe Bieber’s confessional album — released last December — was “criminally slept on,” as Vibe magazine recently put it. And not just in this year’s Grammys nominations, but by Def Jam.

This collectively-held Beliebers’ belief appears to be based on the record label’s evidently minimal investment in videos, radio, TV, print ads and general press behind Journals, and Bieber’s frustrated-sounding (and since deleted) tweet posted last November.

“wish def jam would work harder on my project labels are shady (sic),” the singer wrote at the time.

A short time later, and after a probable tongue-lashing from manager Scooter Braun, that tweet disappeared. It was followed up with another message which read,

“beliebers should work at my record label ) good promoting fans.”

Since then, Journals — which is thought to be mostly about Justin’s ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez — went on to sell over 100,000 units of the collection on iTunes (final figures were not released), and achieve a degree of praise from critics. Notably, Ernest Baker, the Los Angeles Times and Spin magazine.

Now, almost a year later, DJ Franzen — who knows the Biebs — has raised the sore topic of Def Jam’s alleged shadiness again.

Taking to Twitter earlier this week, DJ Franzen blasted, “It’s crazy how many people slept on JB’s Journals project. Def Jam didn’t want him to make R&B music & that’s their los[s]!”

Then, specifically outing the record label, Franzen added, “I remember a Def Jam exec telling me how he loves ‘Journals’ but they want him to only make pop music! #SMH.”

Both tweets received hundreds of retweets from Justins’ fans, with many applauding DJ Franzen for what they see as “telling it like it is.”

Although the issue of Journals’ fate is redundant, the possibility that Bieber might be stuck in a behind-the-scenes, creative Vs.commercial battle with Def Jam is a continuing one, as he is still signed to the label.

While it’s understandable that the star’s record company want him to repeat the millions-selling success of previous chart topping albums such as My World (2009), My World 2.0 (2010), Under The Mistletoe (2011), Believe (2012) and Believe Acoustic (2013) — clearly, creative freedom is vital for any artist.

Not surprisingly, neither Justin or Def Jam have joined in the online debate that Franzen’s comments generated, although Braun apparently told a fan it wasn’t true.

Meanwhile, in addition to reportedly recording the first single for his 2015-due, upcoming, solo album on Tuesday, the Canadian recently talked about his music plans for next year.

At the Burbank opening of West Coast Customs over the weekend, a noticeably healthier and blonde Biebs told Hustle TV that he has been prepping for a comeback after his one-year break.

“I wanted to have a moment where people didn’t see me for a while and then I could come back stronger.”

While his now ended romance with Selena and legal woes continue to hit headlines, Justin added that he was “not done” and has been “growing up” and “finding myself as a man.”

He signed off, promising 2015 was, “going to be a great next chapter.”

Let’s hope Def Jam and Bieber are working together for exactly that.

[Images via WENN]

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