Why Ariana Grande is Leaving Scooter Braun
Ariana Grande is the next major pop star confirmed to be leaving longtime manager Scooter Braun. Per People, a source says that Grande, 30, made the decision to leave Braun, 42, and his company. “They are friendly, but she’s outgrown him and is excited to go in a different direction,” says the source. “Yes, there are negotiations happening because of contracts. But this is her choice. It’s time for something new.”
A music industry source tells the publication, “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.” Variety adds that Braun is continuing to step back from day-to-day management to focus on his role as the sole CEO of HYBE America. His company, Ithaca Holdings, merged with HYBE for $1.05 billion in April 2021. HYBE is the U.S. division of the South Korean music conglomerate that bought his management company, SB Projects, two years ago.
RELATED: Scooter Braun Addresses Taylor Swift’s Masters Drama
Grande first signed with Braun ahead of the release of her 2013 debut album Yours Truly. The singer announced she would release a deluxe version of the album this Friday, August 25, in celebration of the ten-year anniversary. Braun also managed her as she released her subsequent albums: 2014’s My Everything, 2016’s Dangerous Woman, 2018’s Sweetener, 2019’s Thank U, Next and 2020’s Positions.
This marks the second time that Grande parted ways with Braun. Ahead of the release of Dangerous Woman, Grande rehired him. Two years later, in 2018, Braun opened up to Variety about the brief hiatus. “They were like, ‘Never take her back!’ But I just said, ‘Let’s stay quiet and let our truth be our actions,'” Braun told the outlet about his team’s reaction. “She starts to see the light on some stuff, and one day, I got a phone call.”
Justin Bieber and Demi Lovato are among the other pop artists who have been reported to have parted ways with Braun. Bieber has worked with him for 16 years, while Lovato was managed by him for four years. Braun appeared to poke fun at the rumors of the situation, joking on X that he was “no longer managing myself.”
Breaking news… I’m no longer managing myself
— Scott “Scooter” Braun (@scooterbraun) August 22, 2023