Scooter Braun – live: Confusion as more artists reportedly join Ariana Grande in leaving music mogul
Music manager posted a tongue-in-cheek response to reports that some of his clients are splitting from SB Projects
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Your support makes all the difference.Scooter Braun, one of the world’s biggest music managers, appeared unbothered at reports this week that two of his star clients have parted ways with him.
This week, it was claimed that pop star Demi Lovato and singer, actor and West End star Idina Menzel had exited Braun’s SB projects. Sources close to both artists confirmed this to The Independent.
The Independent has contacted Braun’s representatives for comment.
Rumours have been circulating that pop singer Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber, both of whom have been with Braun since they launched their debut albums, are also set to split from the 42-year-old’s management services.
However, Bieber and Braun’s representatives denied the pair were severing professional ties.
On Twitter/X on Tuesday (22 August), Braun broke his silence by poking fun at the speculation, writing: “Breaking news… I’m no longer managing myself.”
In April 2021, BTS’s record label HYBE merged with Ithaca Holdings, Scooter Braun’s company that managed former clients, including Ariana Grande.
As reported by Variety, HYBE (formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment) bought a 100 per cent stake in Ithaca Holdings through its subsidiary HYBE America.
The sale included SB Projects and its clients such as Bieber, Grande and Demi Lovato, as well as Taylor Swift’s former record label Big Machine Label Group (BMLG).
Read more:
BTS record label HYBE merges with Scooter Braun’s company in ‘revolutionary’ deal
Deal will bring together K-pop acts with artists such as Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande
Scooter Braun posts photographs with his mates amid Idina Menzel and Demi Lovato departures
Despite recent confirmation that Braun has split from several of his famous A-list clients, including Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel, the music manager mogul has been going about his business as usual.
In several Instagram posts shared over the course of the last few days, Braun has uploaded photos and videos of him enjoying with his mates.
Demi Lovato splits from manager Scooter Braun
Demi Lovato is parting ways with mega-manager Scooter Braun, The Independent understands.
On Monday (21 August), Billboard was the first to report that Lovato was seeking new management after splitting with Braun’s SB Projects last month.
Read more:
Demi Lovato splits from manager Scooter Braun
‘Heart Attack’ singer signed with Justin Bieber’s manager in 2019
In 2020, Scooter Braun spoke about his “regrets” over the way his acquisition of Taylor Swift’s longtime label in 2019 led to a feud between the two.
Read more:
Scooter Braun says conflict with Taylor Swift was a ‘learning lesson’
Swift previously called Braun ‘the definition of toxic male privilege in our industry’
Scooter Braun has famously been embroiled in a feud with Taylor Swift since 2019, when he purchased her longtime label, Big Machine Records and become the owner of the master recordings of her first six studio albums.
In November 2020, Braun sold the masters to an investment fund in a deal believed to be more than $300m (£234m).
At the time of the sale, Swift – who had wished to buy the masters herself – condemned Braun and called him a “bully” and the “definition of a toxic male privilege in our industry”.
The singer, 33, was inspired to re-record her earlier music, resulting in her ongoing Taylor’s Version series.
So far she has recorded: Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Red (Taylor’s Version) and Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
The latest instalment 1989 (Taylor’s Version) is scheduled to arrive on 27 October.
In 2013, Scooter Braun was named one of Time Magazine’s “100 most influential people in the world.”
Fellow entertainment mogul and DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg called him a “very savvy businessman and a creative visionary”.
Another source told Us Weekly on Tuesday (22 August) that “all of Scooter Braun’s clients are under contract and negotiations have been going on for several months as Scooter steps into his larger role as Hybe America CEO.”
The source added: “People are spreading rumors based on what they know, but they are off. Scooter’s team at SB Projects are still handling both Justin and Ariana as they work through what this new structure looks like.”
Justin Bieber is no longer working with Scooter Braun, sources claim
A new report by US Weekly claims that Justin Bieber is no longer working with Scooter Braun.
According to a source, “Justin has officially let Scooter go as his manager,” adding that the singer’s wife, Hailey Bieber, “led the charge that led Justin to leave him for another manager.”
The source also claimed that Bieber “has been taking meetings with other managers for three years.”
This update comes after Puck reported on Friday (18 August) that Bieber and Braun haven’t “spoken for months,” and their reps said that wasn’t “true.”
List of major artists still managed by Scooter Braun
A number of clients have reportedly parted ways with Scooter Braun’s management company, SB Projects.
Below is a list of the manager’s clients, including when they signed with him.
Justin Bieber
Quavo
The Kid LAROI
Lil Dicky
Dan + Shay
Black Eyed Peas
Ava Max
Ozuna
Tori Kelly
YG
Zack Brown Band
Andrew Watt
Kaliii
What is Scooter Braun’s net worth?
The now 42-year-old Braun, who successfully forged a reputation for himself as a well-connected party promoter, has gained widespread notoriety for not only launching Justin Bieber to stardom but also for managing other A-listers like Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande.
In building his self-made empire over the years, Braun has made himself a cushy net worth of $500m (£392.6m), according to celebritynetworth.com.
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