Update: Justin Bieber will reportedly perform his new single “What Do You Mean” live for the first time at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.
Sources have told http://t.co/AMNX7hAfp9 #justinbieber will premiere his new single at the VMAs. #TheVersion pic.twitter.com/ZXdzQCw0WR
— T H E V E R S I O N (@theversion) August 16, 2015
Premiere as in live premiere
— T H E V E R S I O N (@theversion) August 16, 2015
Original article:
Is Justin Bieber’s ongoing — and so far, on track — comeback, eyeing a performance at MTV’ s upcoming Video Music Awards?
The Miley-Cyrus hosted music and pop culture event airs from Los Angeles on August 30 at 9 pm ET/PT, two days after the 21-year-old singer’s highly anticipated new single “What Do You Mean” drops on August 28.
It’s a no brainer that a Bieber VMAs performance would likely boost his new song’s chart progress and also expose it to millions of worldwide viewers. So, will he be performing at the awards ceremony, or not?
According to Hits Daily Double , the Canadian superstar “will get a big look on the VMAs.” That wide wording stops short of confirming the heartthrob is actually performing at MTV ‘s oft-controversy generating show. But there seems little doubt that Bieber will be among the guests at Los Angeles’ Microsoft Theater on VMAs night.
The music video for “Where are Ü Now,” Bieber’s collaborative banger with Jack Ü’s Diplo and Skrillex, is nominated for three technical VMA awards , so there is reason enough for a Team Bieber showing.
Whether Justin also takes the stage as a presenter, performs “What Do You Mean” live, or hypothetically previews a music video for the single remains to be seen. Further signs that he may attend the VMAs were prompted by his surprise withdrawal (due to an “unforeseen issue”) from the U.K.’s Fusion Festival. The headliner date was the same day that his new single rolls out, which strongly suggests the Biebs’ management team became aware of a scheduling conflict.
So far, Bieber’s comeback has been steadily surging forward since he stepped back into the spotlight at the beginning of 2015. The U.S. platinum certified success of “Where Are Ü Now” shows he can still sell (it is now double platinum in Australia), despite damage to his image following late teen-like antics — many of which have been over blown and even outright fabricated by clickbait- centric media outlets .
Australian certifications ( @ARIA_Official ): @Skrillex & @diplo Feat. @justinbieber , Where Are Ü Now 2x Platinum (140,000).
— Chart News (@chartnews) August 15, 2015
On July 29, the returning icon announced his upcoming single on Ryan Seacrest’s radio show, describing the up-tempo as “summery” and “cool,” before kicking off his celebrity-assisted 30-day countdown to the track’s release. To date, it has featured Mariah Carey , Ruby Rose, Luke Bryan , Fifth Harmony , Little Mix, Ed Sheeran, Shaq, Ariana Grande, CL, Alanis Morissette , Christina Perri, Tony Hawk , Hilary Duff, Twenty One Pilots, and more.
Even Charlie “See You Again” Puth endorsed the single, tweeting that it’s a hit.
just heard ‘what do you mean’ by justin bieber… #yesitsahit #wow
— Charlie Puth (@charlieputh) August 11, 2015
Hits Daily Double then Billboard were the first to report that Bieber’s fourth studio album will touch down on November 13. This will be his first full-length since 2012’s Believe .
Confirmed: @JustinBieber ‘s next album comes out November 13! http://t.co/Kwl06euEDC
— billboard (@billboard) August 12, 2015
Amid the positive news, Hits Daily Double’s report asked, “Is the social-networking power of Braun’s team enough to overcome the obstacles in their path?”
The site went on, “It’s assumed that Bieber’s Q4 album will put up big first-week numbers, but will a hot start be enough to carry it over the finish line? There’s big money riding on this play; can Bieber’s support team make his return look big enough using the socials to keep the millions in brand money in the game.”
Good questions. Beliebers and their support for Bieber’s comeback — or not — will decide most of those answers. For our money, we’ll add it’s high time the Bieber hate-bandwagon was retired off, and an undeniably talented youngster is allowed to get on with his life and continue his career.
The singer’s next live date before a likely stage spot at the 2015 VMAs will be performing “Where Are Ü Now” during Skrillex’s headlining set at Billboard’s inaugural Hot 100 Music Festival in New York on August 23.
Check out a clip of the Biebs and Jack Ü playing out their hit at the recent Hard Summer Music Festival below.
[Images via Getty Images / Instagram]