Pop with purpose: In defence of Justin Bieber

Pop music world is ephemeral at best, and tricky to navigate for even the most successful artists

Justin Bieber may be one of the most successful pop singers of recent years, but he does a fine job of obscuring his musical talent with some questionable off-stage behaviour. From driving under the influence to accusations of assault, it seems easy to paint Bieber as a troublesome and troubled figure swayed by the trappings of pop stardom.

Yet the excessive media focus on this behaviour diverts attention away from his music and artistry, which have become more sophisticated and mature in recent years. As such, we think it’s time to come to the