He has more than a million likes on his Facebook page, more than a million followers on Twitter and well over 85 million views on his YouTube channel.
Austin Mahone is just 16, but he has caught the attention of the music world, by covering his favorite musicians in his bedroom, backyard and even sitting on the washing machine. Sounds like someone else who’s taken pop culture my storm – Justin Bieber.
Austin has been dubbed “Baby Bieber,” but he’s is looking to do more than follow in the Bieb’s footsteps – he wants to become a star with his own story and sound.
“It can be a good and bad thing. It’s good because he’s so successful, it’s very flattering to hear that, but it’s also bad because I don’t want to be the ‘Baby Bieber,’ I want to be something different,” says Mahone of the nickname.
Mahone, who is originally from Texas, and his mother Michele made the move to Miami to catapult his music career.
"It’s just easier to do music from a place where you know there’s a lot of music stuff going on, rather than Texas where you know not much going on there, but I like it here,” he said.
He is well on his way to making his own name as his new album is due out in November and his new single, “Say Somethin,” with more than 1.9 million views on YouTube, took a spot at 19 on Billboard’s Social 50 chart following its release.
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Mahone just inked a seven-figure deal with Universal Republic Records, the home for Florence & The Machine and the late Amy Winehouse.
