Gomez began her career as a child actress, starring on the children's television series Barney & Friends (2002–2004).
She rose to prominence and emerged as a teen idol, for her leading role as Alex Russo on the Disney Channel sitcom
Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012). Gomez also starred in the series' corresponding film and Princess Protection 
Program (both 2009). She signed with Hollywood Records in 2008. 

Gomez released her debut studio album, Kiss & Tell, with her band Selena Gomez & the Scene in 2009. The album was a
commercial success reaching number nine on the Billboard 200 chart. Gomez has since released three more studio albums:
A Year Without Rain (2010), When the Sun Goes Down (2011) and Stars Dance (2013). Her music is primarily characterized as
dance-pop and EDM but she has also experimented with different music genres.