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Castles crumbling: Scooter Braun and his empire of A-listen talent could be falling before our very eyes, with new reports emerging that his biggest acts, including Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, have parted ways with the music executive and manager.
Without any evidence to confirm or deny these reports, it’s hard to gauge if the alleged mass exodus has any merit to it. However, consecutive reports claiming that this talent has split with the 42-year-old could signal his roster may be anything but stable.
Braun, whose real name is Scott, may be facing uncertainty with claims both confirming and denying the swift dissemination of his talent stable coming in quick succession. The news piqued the interest of netizens (especially Taylor Swift fans) after his most-loyal client, Justin Bieber, has reportedly begun looking for new representation.
What Is Happening With Scooter Braun, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato?
According to Variety “Bieber’s allegedly impending departure was strenuously denied by multiple sources.” The publication continued to claim that a source speaking to Puck News (who first reported the ‘break up’ and claim Braun and Bieber haven’t talked in months) reiterated the validity of their claim, insisting that the news is accurate.
We have more concert proof on the departure of Demi Lovato, with Variety also writing that her “amicable” split “has been confirmed of the record by sources from both camps”. Though, claims of Ariana Grande’s reported withdrawal have allegedly been shut down by Braun’s camp, with Variety adding that the statement was “strenuously denied by sources close to Braun”.
It’s not understood why reports of a collective egress has emerged, with both the artists and Braun most likely firing grenades from either side of a trench. Sources dropping tidbits of truth are reportedly “clamming up fast” (as per Variety) with the complete picture of the situation more abstract than crystal clear.
A source speaking to the publication claims Braun is “continuing to step back from day-to-day operations”, instead focusing on his role as CEO of Hybe America. In 2021, he sold Ithaca Holdings, which was the parent company for SB Projects (his management business), to Hybe Corporations, a South Korean multinational entertainment conglomerate responsible for K-Pop groups like BTS, for $1.05 billion in 2021.
His focus on the American division could be the reason for his talent stepping back, however, a source speaking to Variety revealed that the claims are nothing but “rumours”.
“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 claimed. “People are spreading rumours 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.”
Why Is Taylor Swift Involved In Scooter Braun’s Management Drama?
Despite the reports being nothing but claims at this point, it hasn’t stopped the Twitter-verse from celebrating his “demise”.
In 2019, Scooter Braun became embroiled in a public feud with Taylor Swift after he purchased her master recordings through his acquisition of Big Machine Records; Swift’s record label at the time.
Swift claims that Big Machine offered “unfavourable conditions” during the proposition of the sale to her, a deal she rejected. Big Machine went on to sell the masters to Braun, a man Swift described in a viral Tumblr post as an “incessant, manipulative bully”.
With the success of Swift’s re-recorded albums, fans of the musician have conflated her billion-dollar world tour and overall success with the “undoing” of Braun, though nothing can be confirmed on the latter.
And with the single “Vigilante Sh*t” from Swift’s tenth studio album Midnights reportedly about Braun, fans have been digging into the lyrics as a potential hint of Brauns’ “downfall”.
The lyrics include: “She needed cold, hard proof, so I gave her some /She had the envelope, where you think she got it from? / Now she gets the house, gets the kids, gets the pride/ Picture me thick as thieves with your ex-wife/ While he was doin’ lines and crossin’ all of mine /Someone told his white-collar crimes to the FBI.”
Of course, while it may be entertaining to some to speculate which events in Brauns life that could’ve fuelled these lyrics, they should only be viewed as that: creative storytelling. Yes, his “reputation” has assuredly taken a hit, but we can’t say for certain whether Braun’s roster is completely benched.
