VIDEO: Justin Bieber Announces 'I'm Retiring' Following New Album Release

In an interview with radio station Power 106 in Los Angeles, California today, pop star Justin Bieber announced that he will be retiring from the music industry after his latest album 'Journals' is released next week. Watch the live announcement below!

The 19-year-old told the station, 'After the new album, I'm actually retiring man. I'm retiring.' Shocked by the news, the show's host Kurt Alexander, aka, Big Boy, exclaimed, 'What?' as a gasp was heard from other members of the radio show.

Bieber backtracked on the news a bit later, clarifying, 'I want to grow as an artist and I'm taking a step out, I want My Music to mature.'

The singer has been involved in a recent string of controversies, ranging from underage drinking to spray-painting public property in Australia.

Bieber has received numerous awards, including both Artist of the Year Awards at the 2010 American Music Awards and the 2012 American Music Awards, and was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 53rd Grammy Awards.

With a global fan base, termed as "Beliebers", and over 40 million followers on Twitter, he was named by Forbes magazine in 2012 as the third-most powerful celebrity in the world.