PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN SCHOELLER

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
Mogul In the Making

AGE 26
WHY HIM After winning over critics and CD shoppers alike with last year's FutureSex/LoveSounds, Timberlake is ready for the challenge of recruiting talent for his new label, Tennman Records. ''I've run the gamut on things I can do for myself [as an artist],'' explains the freshly minted CEO. ''I feel inspired to give someone else a chance to have what I've been lucky enough to have.''

GOING DUTCH Timberlake signed 18-year-old Netherlands resident Esmée Denters as Tennman's first act after seeing her self-produced online clips. ''I turned on YouTube and I was literally blown away,'' he recalls. Denters, too, is feeling giddy: ''Justin is an artist as well, so he really understands the way artists feel.... I'm such a fan.''

NEXT Songwriting and production work for some of his own idols, including Duran Duran and Madonna.

I'LL RETIRE WHEN... ''It's gonna have to take something pretty apocalyptic,'' Timberlake says. ''I don't know that I'll ever retire.''