Have Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande parted ways with Scooter Braun? What we know amid reports
Scooter Braun is making headlines as his company's big-name clients have reportedly left his company in search of new management.
Amid conflicting reports about the departures of some of his A-list clients, such as Justin Bieber, Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande, the music executive and talent manager chimed in with a joke. "Breaking news... I'm no longer managing myself," he posted to X, formerly Twitter, on Tuesday.
Paste BN has reached out to Scooter Braun Projects as well as a representative for Braun for more information.
Here's what we know (and don't know) about the reported Scooter Braun Project exodus and which stars his company still manages.
Are Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber still working with Scooter Braun?
Last week, media company Puck News reported Bieber and Braun, who have worked together since the singer's career launched over a decade ago, "haven't talked in months."
This week, media such as Billboard and People reported Grande was no longer managed by SB Projects. The two have worked together for a decade, save for a short period in 2016 after she fired him before re-hiring him.
A music industry source with knowledge of the situation refuted the claims in a statement to Paste BN:
“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. 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.”
Is Demi Lovato still working with Scooter Braun?
A source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told Paste BN on Tuesday that Lovato is seeking new management after parting ways with SB Projects last month.
Lovato signed with Braun and his SB Projects in 2019. Paste BN's source said the split was mutual and amicable.
Paste BN has reached out to representatives for Grande, Lovato and Bieber to confirm.
Which artists have left SB Projects?
Several SB Projects clients have sought out new management this year.
Colombian reggaeton star J Balvín used to work with Braun's company. However, Jay-Z's Roc Nation started managing him this year, Billboard reported in May.
A source familiar with the situation but not authorized to speak publicly told Paste BN that Idina Menzel amicably parted ways with SB Projects in January.
Representatives for Carly Rae Jepsen, BabyJake, and Asher Roth confirmed to The Associated Press that those artists no longer work with Braun and haven't for quite some time.
Scooter Braun's role at HYBE America
Changes in SB Projects' client roster come amid Braun taking on a larger role as the CEO of HYBE America, the U.S. division of the South Korean entertainment company that manages popular musical groups such as BTS, NewJeans and Seventeen. In January, Braun became the sole CEO of HYBE America.
Braun’s Ithaca Holdings merged with HYBE in April 2021 in a billion-dollar deal that resulted in big paydays for Braun’s employees and clients.
A commitment of $50 million of Braun’s personal stock was disbursed to those who had been with Braun since he launched SB Projects in 2007, according to Variety. Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande reported got roughly $10 million each.
What happened between Scooter Braun and Taylor Swift?
In 2019, Braun bought Big Machine Records, the label that originally signed Taylor Swift and released her first six records.
Its CEO, Scott Borchetta, stayed in place. With the purchase, Braun purchased ownership to Swift's master recordings, which he sold to an investment fund the following year.
As a result, Swift announced that she would re-record her albums to own her new masters. So far, she has released "Fearless (Taylor's Version)," "Red (Taylor's Version)" and "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)." "1989 (Taylor's Version)" comes out in October.
Bad blood: Taylor Swift vs. Big Machine: A timeline
Who else does Scooter Braun Projects manage?
According to its website, "Our past and present work includes Ariana Grande, Black Eyed Peas, CL, Dan + Shay, Demi Lovato, Idina Menzel, J Balvin, Justin Bieber, The Knocks, Lil Dicky, Tori Kelly, and more."
The list includes clients that SB Projects no longer works with.
A representative for pop star Ava Max confirmed to AP that she is still represented by Braun.
Contributing: Ralphie Aversa, Paste BN; Maria Sherman, Associated Press