Scooter Braun, who unofficially stepped away from managing big-name artists like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande at least two years ago, finally made it official Monday: He’s giving up his role as manager to focus on his role. as CEO of HYBE America, the company to which he sold his own company Ithaca Holdings in 2021, and to focus on his family. He made the announcement via a nearly 1,400-word statement that follows in full below.
Starting with Justin Bieber in the late 2000s and continuing with Ariana Grande and several others, Braun quickly became one of the music industry’s most successful and demanding executives. By the age of 40, he and his company SB Projects had realized many of his David Geffen-sized ambitions, leading several artists to superstardom and, remarkably, organizing “One Love Manchester” – a major concert of charity event featuring Grande, Bieber, Coldplay, Katy Perry, Mac Miller, Miley Cyrus and more following a 2017 terrorist attack outside a Grande concert in which 22 people died – in just two weeks .
But her reputation took a mortal blow with her controversial 2018 acquisition of the rights to Taylor Swift’s first six albums via her purchase of Big Machine Record Group, which she said was underhanded, to say the least, and which followed months of taunts from Braun and others. of his clients and friends at the time, including Bieber and Kanye West. Despite his scathing statements against him – and merciless attacks from his fans on social media – he managed to sell that catalog to Shamrock Holdings for around $300 million, making a tidy profit, and then sold Ithaca Holdings to HYBE for the whopping sum of $1.05 billion.
Soon after, rumors began to emerge that some of Braun’s clients were unhappy and came to light last summer when reports claimed that Bieber and Grande had split from him; despite SB’s initial denials, this news was confirmed later in the year, along with unofficial comments that Braun had long retired from management.
In his lengthy and rather flowery statement, Braun speaks fondly of his clients over the years – including his first client, Asher Roth, as well as Bieber, Grande, Carly Rae Jepsen, Psy, Lil Dicky, Tori Kelly, Demi Lovato, J Balvin, Quavo, Zac Brown, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Steve Angello, producer Andrew Watt, YG, Kid Laroi, Dan + Shay and his longtime business partner Usher – and says he left the management company in good hands with Alison Kaye and Jenn McDaniel.
Read the full statement below:
23 years. 23 years. That’s how long I’ve been a music director. 23 years ago, a 19 year old started managing an artist named Cato in Atlanta, Georgia and my journey began. Along the way, I have had so many experiences that I could never have dreamed of. I have been fortunate to have had a “Forrest Gump”-like life while witnessing and participating in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen. I constantly pinch myself and ask myself “how did I get here?”
And after 23 years, this chapter as music director is over.
It’s a strange feeling because I think I’ve wanted this for a while, but I was really afraid to answer the question “who would I be without them?” I was actually only 19 when I started. So, for my entire adult life, I played the role of an on-call arts manager 24/7. And for 20 years, I loved it. It was all I had known. But as my children grew up and my personal life took a hit, I realized that my children were three superstars that I wasn’t ready to lose. The sacrifices I was once willing to make, I could no longer justify. It was time to take on a new role.
In this next chapter, I was honored to join the Hybe Board of Directors and serve as CEO of Hybe America. My brilliant partner for the past 3 years, President Bang (Si-Hyuk), has a vision that I truly believe in. But even beyond that, he has become a true friend who understands where I need to be in my life these days. And he’s a father first, a CEO second and a manager either.
For 2 years I have been heading towards this destination, but it was only last summer that this new chapter became reality. One of my biggest clients and friends told me he wanted to spread his wings and go in a new direction. We’ve been through so much together over the last decade, but instead of being hurt, I saw this as a sign. You see, life doesn’t hand you YOUR plan, it hands you GOD’s plan. And God has been pushing me in this direction for some time. I have nothing but love for those I have worked with over the years, and as we develop a different working relationship, I will always be at their side to consult and support them whether directly or remotely. Every client I have had the privilege of working with has changed my life and I know many of them are just beginning to experience the success they deserve. I will encourage each and every one of them.
I got to see my friend Andrew Watt win the Grammy for Producer of the Year. I laughed and cried when Lil Dicky truly became DAVE. I saw a human angel, Tori Kelly, win Grammys and star in movies. I saw J Balvin live out his dreams of breaking boundaries, and Demi demonstrate kindness and grace that few megastars possess. I was moved when Zac Brown Band raised our flag and delivered the hits. I was excited the first time I heard Animals with Martin Garrix and discovered a new world with David Guetta and Steve Angello. I danced to Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen and smiled from ear to ear as PSY introduced us to Gangnam Style. I watched Quavo become an entrepreneur and served as Kanye’s “gateway drug to business” as we had years of incredible success when I was able to call him my friend. I walked with YG and flew to Australia with Laroi to see the hometown kid rock an arena. I’ve watched Dan + Shay go from local Nashville writers to sold-out headliners and award winners. The list of artists goes on and on over 23 years. So many stories it would take me forever to name them. From those early years with Asher Roth to seeing my partner and brother Usher dominate the Super Bowl this year, it’s truly overwhelming.
But it was last Christmas Day, when Ariana and Justin became the biggest men and women in Spotify Billions club history that I just smiled and thought “what an adventure.” Justin and Ariana were both young teenagers when I started with them. Justin, a 13-year-old street kid in Canada and Ariana, a young actress on Nickelodeon. Watching them both become the legends they are today will forever be one of my greatest honors. As we change our working relationships now, I will continue to support them with the same passion as I did in each of their humble beginnings. I remember the water park pranks and shows with Justin, and the first time Ari opened a tour of the arena and his enthusiasm on stage. I remember how they both stood up for others and I got to see them each change the world and make history. There will never be a day when I will not be very proud and honored by what we have accomplished together. The same can be said of so many people I had the pleasure of once being called “manager”.
We talked a lot about what’s happening in our company…and in my career. When we were successful, I smiled and when we were attacked, I always tried to take the high road. But over the last three years, I’ve started to think that taking the high road creates confusion and ambiguity about who we are. I may have left my management role and my business relationships with many clients will change, but that doesn’t mean we as a company are leaving. Both Allison Kaye and Jennifer McDaniels are more than capable of leading, and as we combine new resources, the opportunities through their leadership are endless. These two incredibly powerful women will now take on a role that I know will become the most impressive women-led management company our industry has ever seen. Although my name has been plastered all these years, the truth is that there is no one as brilliant as Allison Kaye, and few can carry themselves with the grace and poise of Jen McDaniels.
At Hybe, we will continue to grow. With the addition of QC to Hybe America and our existing business at Big Machine, we will continue to add incredible leaders and artists to the roster. Our WeVerse platform and growing gaming unit is something the entire industry can celebrate and join. Having the opportunity to A&R and produce Jung Kook’s solo career last summer and work with the other members of BTS as we broke world records was an absolute honor. With new bands like NewJeans, TXT, LE SSERAFIM, Seventeen, ILLIT, The Scarlet Opera, Ava Max and many more new artists and projects, the future looks bright. I am honored to join Chairman Bang and Jiwon Park as we grow HYBE from the multi-billion dollar publicly traded company it is today to the multi-faceted global entertainment platform it is destined to be. With Hybe thriving, I also look forward to continuing to invest in a new generation of entrepreneurs, serving on the Make A Wish National Board of Directors, and helping individuals and communities through the Foundation Braun from our family. Between all of this and coaching my kids, I don’t mind being busy 🙂
So yes, it’s been 23 years. And yes, this chapter is over. But the great Berry Gordy once said to me, “Young man, it never ends the way you want it to, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” » This wisdom has been proven correct. I never saw how this chapter would end, hell I never even saw that happening. But it is. And I will cherish every moment. I made my plan…but it turns out I prefer God’s plan. Cheers!