Justin Bieber is eyeing a return to the music after four years, as insiders say he’s motivated and recharged for a bounceback in his professional endeavors.
The Canadian pop star, 30, ‘needs the money and wants to work,’ sources told Puck News’ Matthew Belloni in his What I’m Hearing newsletter Friday, in a column making entertainment predictions for the new year.
The Love Yourself singer – who in August welcomed his first child, son Jack Blues, with wife Hailey Bieber, 28 – ‘still owes’ the touring company AEG ‘a ton for his canceled tour’ in March of 2023, Belloni reported.
The Peaches artist also has a hot of ‘other pop star expenses’ weighing on his bottom line, Belloni reported.
The Grammy-winning singer’s return to the limelight will come with a new lineup of supporting staff, after he parted ways with manager Scooter Braun within the last two years.
Braun last summer announced his retirement from music management, after past having represented superstars including Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato.
Justin Bieber, 30, is eyeing a return to the music after four years, as insiders say he’s motivated and recharged for a bounceback in his professional endeavors. Pictured last year in Toronto
According to the newsletter, Bieber is now being represented by lawyer Michael Rhodes, who has past represented celebrities such as Madonna and members of the Kardashian family.
Bieber’s financial issues come two years after he sold rights to his catalog for $200 million in 2023, in a deal the Los Angeles Times reported Rhodes was integral in.
Bieber’s rumored return to the musical world comes more than four months after musical artist Mk.gee, 28, told The New York Times that he had written and recorded tracks with Bieber.
Mk.gee said that creatively, Bieber was ‘searching’ after having cemented his place atop the genre throughout the 2010s and early part of this decade.
‘Anything that comes out of his mouth: That’s pop music,’ Mk.gee said of Bieber. ‘You can really do pretty wild stuff behind that, just because it represents something.’
Bieber’s most recent studio album was Justice in 2021.
The album garnered critical acclaim and spawned successful commercial tracks such as Peaches, a Billboard Hot 200 chart-topper; and the top 10 hits Holy, Anyone and Ghost.
Bieber in February of 2023 officially canceled the remainder of his Justice World Tour after the singer said he was diagnosed with the condition Ramsay Hunt syndrome, which can lead to facial paralysis.
The Canadian pop star ‘needs the money and wants to work,’ sources told Puck News. Pictured in 2022
Bieber is now being represented by lawyer Michael Rhodes (pictured in 2022), who has past represented celebrities such as Madonna and members of the Kardashian family
Bieber had previously had to cancel shows on the tour in the fall of 2022, explaining his absences from the stage in an emotional post on his Instagram Stories.
‘Earlier this year, I went public with my battle with Ramsay-Hunt Syndrome, where my face was partially paralyzed,’ he said. ‘As a result of this illness, I was not able to complete the North American leg of the Justice Tour.
He said that he suffered health woes after performing a set at the Rock in Rio festival.
‘After getting off stage, the exhaustion overtook me and I realized that I need to make my health the priority right now,’ he said. ‘So I’m going to take a break from touring for the time being. I’m going to be OK, but I need time to rest and get better.
‘I’ve been so proud to bring this show and our message of Justice to the world. Thank you for your prayers and support throughout all of this! I love you all passionately!’