First J Balvin, then Demi Lovato and now reportedly Ariana Grande. The list of stars reportedly parting ways with manager Scooter Braun seems to be getting longer.
The music mogul has collaborated with several big names over the years, including Usher, The Black Eyed Peas and Call Me Maybe singer Carly Rae Jepson. Longtime client Justin Bieber is also reportedly on the hunt for new management, although both the 29-year-old and Braun have denied the claims.
But who is brown? And why does his list of top clients seem to be getting smaller and smaller?
What does Scooter Braun do?
Braun made Billboard’s 30 Under 30 list in 2009 and began his music career promoting parties in Atlanta. At just 20 years old, Braun was picked out of the local club scene by rapper and producer Jermaine Dupri and hired as executive marketing director of his record label So So Def.
In 2008 he co-founded Raymond Braun Media Group with R&B artist Usher. But Braun’s real career breakthrough came when he spotted a 14-year-old Justin Bieber singing on YouTube. Braun turned the 29-year-old into a teenage idol and has guided the star’s career ever since.
Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber in January 2020. Braun discovered 14-year-old singer Justin Bieber on YouTube in 2008 and has since guided the star’s career.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment
The Taylor Swift Feud Explained
Though his client list is impressive, few industry outsiders knew Braun’s name until the 42-year-old’s feud with Taylor Swift in 2019. Braun supported ex-client Kanye West in the second half of the Swift-West debacle, which was sparked by the rapper’s song Famous.
The track contains sexual references to Swift, as well as a music video featuring a mannequin of her likeness in bed with West. The singer claimed she never approved of the lyrics, but West’s ex-wife Kim Kardashian shared a Snapchat recording of Swift claiming the opposite.
In 2019, Braun bought Big Machine Records – Swift’s former label – through his company Ithaca Holdings for around $330 million. The 33-year-old singer’s first six albums were produced during her time there, but she had no ownership rights to the recordings.
By purchasing the label, Braun owns the rights to the albums Taylor Swift (2006), Fearless (2008), Speak Now (2010), Red (2012), 1989 (2014) and Reputation (2017).
Taylor Swift performs onstage during “The Eras Tour” at SoFi Stadium on August 9, 2023. Braun indirectly acquired the rights to Swift’s first six albums after buying her former record label in 2019. Kevin Winter/TAS23/Getty Images Entertainment
In a lengthy Tumblr post, Swift called the acquisition a “treason” and described Braun’s behavior as “manipulative bullying.”
“My musical legacy will soon be in the hands of someone who has tried to dismantle it,” she wrote. “That’s my worst case scenario.”
The purchase caused outrage among the singer’s loyal fanbase, with many speculating that her track “Vigilante S***” is about Braun. Swift has since announced that she will use her author rights to re-record her first six albums, entitled Taylor’s Version.
Why are stars leaving Scooter Braun?
Colombian singer J Balvin became the first client in 2023 to leave Braun’s roster and join Jay-Z’s entertainment agency Roc Nation Management in May.
On Monday, Demi Lovato announced that she is cutting ties with Braun and is looking for a new replacement, according to Billboard. The 31-year-old singer signed with Braun in 2019. Sources told Billboard that the move was “amicable” and “time for Lovato to take a new direction.”
Ariana Grande is also reportedly leaving SB Management, though her reasons have yet to be confirmed. The 30-year-old hitmaker signed with Braun in 2013 and has released six albums during their time together.
Scooter Braun and Ariana Grande in February 2017. She is reportedly the latest star to split from manager.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images Entertainment
So far, Bieber has denied that he is looking for new management. Still, there’s a lot of speculation on social media as to why so many customers have severed their connection with Braun in such a short amount of time.
“I think a reveal is brewing,” wrote X user @moviesforsoul.
“There must be bad press about him soon, and everyone will be abandoning ship to avoid going down with him,” agreed Kel Bel.
“Tag me when the message gets out,” iDoctor said.
“Oh my god the tea is HOT but hell is HOTTER,” Church wrote. “I can barely wait for it.”
Swift fans seemed pleased with the development, with Richard Lewis calling it a “delicious spectacle” and “guilt-free glee.”
“Oh seriously Steven, karma never forgets,” the Viiibe commented.
“‘Maybe I got mine, but y’all get yours,'” wrote @sourforevermore, citing Swift’s hit song “Look What You Made Me Do.” While @dissectmarkets said, “It’s like Taylor Swift writing a breakup song and watching , as everyone joins in the chorus.”
Newsweek has reached out to Scooter Braun for comment.
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