Looks like Justin Bieber has some competition. Yesterday, June 10th, upcoming pop star Austin Mahone released the music video for his new single titled “What About Love.”
Mahone, like Bieber, was discovered on YouTube when he, ironically enough, covered Justin Bieber’s Mistletoe. However, Mahone states that he wishes to stray away from the comparison. He told Entertainmentwise that he hopes people give him the chance to be himself as an artist.
And Mahone is taking every opportunity to show the world that he is different. The 17 year-old has been selling 10-minute Skype calls for $50 to fans according to Hollywood Reporter. He stated that the idea came to him to talk to his fans on their birthdays, some even getting up to two-hour Skype calls with him. Then Mahone put his Skype name out on his Twitter and it was all downhill from there. Skype requests from “Mahomies” (much like Bieber’s “Beliebers”) came pouring in. The Skype calls are taken place in Mahone’s small bedroom, the walls covered ceiling to floor with his fans’ handmade signs.
“I’ve had a lot of people tell me I’m doing something no one has ever done before,” Mahone tells Hollywood Reporter.