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Maybe not, but the phenomenon of kids managing their own image, brand, and marketing is pretty unusual. Michael Jackson et al never did that.

For all Michael Jackson's issues, he was undeniably talented, extremely talented. And even if you have examples from a while ago of not particularly talented child celebrities (modern example, somebody like Miley Cyrus), at least they're becoming famous for doing something.

What is really new is that people can become celebrities just by deciding they want to (or sometimes without even that), it doesn't neccesarily require marketing, TV exposure, etc.

Phenomenon itself isn't new, but surely rate of incidence is, right? However meaningless it all is.