LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) – On Monday (June 17), music industry professionals Scooter Brown Officially announced that he will retire from the artist management company to focus on his role as CEO of HYBE America and spend more time with his family. The decision was made public in a detailed statement and has been informally in the works for several years. In 2021, Braun sold its Ithaca holdings to HYBE America for more than $1 billion. He is also the driving force behind the success of major artists like justin bieber and Grande Ariana.
Braun’s rise in the industry
Braun began his management career alongside Bieber in the late 2000s and quickly became one of the most influential figures in the music industry. His company, SB Projects, not only catapulted Bieber and Grande to fame, but also organized the monumental “One Love Manchester” concert in 2017.of, including such Coldplay, Katy Perry, and miley cyrus And was assembled in an impressive just two weeks.
Taylor Swift Controversy
Braun’s career took a controversial turn in 2018 when he was awarded Taylor Swift’s The first six albums were released through the purchase of Big Machine Record Group. Swift publicly denounced the deal, labeling it fraudulent and criticizing the approach of Braun and some of his colleagues, including Kanye West, allegedly mocking her. Despite strong opposition from Swift and her fans, Braun sold the catalog to Clover Holdings for approximately $300 million.
Transitioning to HYBE USA
Following those sales, there were reports of dissatisfaction among some of Braun’s high-profile customers. Last summer, when Bieber, Grande, Demi Lovato and Idina Menzel Ended management relationship with him. Although the claims were initially denied, it became clear that Braun had gradually moved away from a direct management role.
In a recent statement, Braun expressed his gratitude and affection for his clients over the years, mentioning things like Arthur Ross, Carly Rae Jepsen, Psy, Lil Dicky, Tori Kelly, Lovato, J Balvin, and many others. He ensures that his management company is run by competent people Alison Kay and Jen McDaniel Take power.
Looking to the future
Through this transfer, Braun will focus on his responsibilities as CEO of HYBE America, guiding the company’s strategic vision, while also devoting more time to his personal life. The transition marked an important chapter in Braun’s career, closing the door on his hands-on management era but opening up new possibilities in the corporate world.
Read the full statement below:
“23 years. 23 years. That’s how long I’ve been a music manager. My journey began 23 years ago as a 19-year-old kid managing an artist named Cato in Atlanta, Georgia. Along the way Over the years, I have experienced many experiences that I never dreamed of. I have been lucky enough to live a Forrest Gump life while witnessing and participating in the journeys of some of the world’s most extraordinary talents. I kept pinching myself and asking myself, “How did I get here?
“After 23 years, this chapter of being a music manager is over.
“It’s a weird feeling because I think I’ve wanted this for a while, but I was really scared to answer the question, ‘Who would I be without them?'” When I started I really just 19 years old. So my entire adult life, I’ve been in the role of an artist manager on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. I’ve been loving it for 20 years. That’s all I know. But as my kids got older and my personal life took some hits, I started to realize that my kids were three superstars that I didn’t want to lose. The sacrifices I was once willing to make no longer made sense. It’s time to take on a new role.
“In this next chapter, I am honored to join the Hybe Board of Directors and serve as CEO of Hybe America. My most outstanding partner over the past three years, Chairman Bang [Si-Hyuk], had a vision that I truly believed in. A father first, a CEO second, and no longer a manager.
“I have been moving toward this destination for the past two years, but it wasn’t until last summer that this new chapter became a reality. One of my biggest clients and friends told me they wanted to spread their wings and move toward a new direction. We’ve been through a lot together in the past ten years, but instead of feeling hurt, I took it as a sign. You see, life doesn’t give you what you planned; life doesn’t give. You your plan. It’s God’s plan that has been pushing me in this direction for a while and I have nothing but love for the people I’ve worked with over the years as we’ve had different working relationships. Will always be in their shoes, providing counsel and support to them, whether directly or from afar. Every client I have the privilege of working with has changed my life and I know many of them are just starting to see it. They deserve success. I will cheer for each and every one of them.
I watched my friend Andrew Watt win the Grammy Award for Producer of the Year. When Lil Dicky actually became DAVE, I laughed and cried. I watched an angel of humanity, Tori Kelly, win a Grammy and become a movie star. I saw J Balvin realize his dream of breaking boundaries, and Demi showed kindness and grace that few superstars possess. I was moved when the Zac Brown Band raised our flag and sang their hits. When I first heard Martin Garrix’s Animals and learned about a new world with David Guetta and Steve Angello, I was excited. I danced to Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and smiled from ear to ear when PSY brought us Gangnam Style. I watched Quavo grow as an entrepreneur and become Kanye’s “business gateway drug” as we became incredibly successful and I was once able to call him my friend. I marched with YG and flew to Australia with Laroi to watch my hometown kids rock out on stage. I’ve watched Dan + Shay go from local Nashville writers to sold-out headliners and award winners. The artist list has been going on for 23 years. There are so many stories it would take me forever to name them. Going from those first few years with Asher Roth to watching my partner and brother Usher dominate the Super Bowl this year has been really overwhelming.
But just this past Christmas, when Ariana and Justin became the biggest male and female members of the Spotify Billions club in history, I just smiled and thought, “What an amazing ride.” When I started talking to Justin and Ariana They were both teenagers when Leanna worked together. Justin is a 13-year-old street performer in Canada and Ariana is a young Nickelodeon actress. Watching them become the legends they are today will always be one of my greatest honors. As we transform our working relationship now, I will continue to support them with the same passion as I did from each of their humble beginnings. I remember the shenanigans and waterpark shows with Justin, and Ali’s first arena tour and her excitement on stage. I remember them all standing up for others, and I watched them each change the world and make history. Every day I am incredibly proud and honored of what we have accomplished together. The same goes for many people, and I have had the privilege of being called a “manager.”
A lot has been said about what has happened in our company…and in my career. I smile when we are successful and try to always take the high road when we are attacked. But over the past three years, I’ve begun to feel that taking the high road has brought us chaos and ambiguity. I may have left a management role and my business relationships with many of my clients have changed, but that doesn’t mean we as a company are leaving. Allison Kaye and Jennifer McDaniels both have outstanding leadership skills that have led to endless opportunities as we bring together new resources. These two incredibly strong women will now step into a role that I know will grow into the most impressive female-led management business our industry has ever seen. While my name may have been on the door over the years, the truth is, no one is as talented as Allison Kaye, and few are as graceful and poised as Jen McDaniels.
We at Hybe will continue to grow. As Hybe America and Big Machine grow their existing business, we will continue to add great executives and artists to the roster. Our WeVerse platform and growing gaming sector are worthy of the entire industry to celebrate and join. It was an absolute honor to have the opportunity to serve as A&R and executive producer for Jung Kook’s solo career last summer, as well as breaking world records with the other members of BTS. With new acts like NewJeans, TXT, LE SSERFIM, Seventeen, ILLIT, The Scarlet Opera, Ava Max and many other new artists and ventures joining the band, the future is bright. I have been honored to work alongside Chairman Bang and Jiwon Park as we grow HYBE from the multi-billion-dollar public company it is today into the global diversified entertainment platform it is destined to become. As Hybe continues to grow, I also look forward to continuing to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs, serving on the national board of directors of Make A Wish, and helping individuals and communities through our family’s Braun Foundation. Between all of this and tutoring my kids, I’m not worried about being busy 🙂
Yes, it’s been 23 years. Yes, this chapter is over. But the great Berry Gordy once told me “Young man, things will never end the way you want them to, but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.” It turns out that wisdom was true. I had no idea how this chapter was going to end; hell, I never even saw it happening. But it did. I will cherish every moment of it. I made my plans…but it turned out I liked God’s plan better. cheers!
