Scooter Braun is saying goodbye to his career in music management.
The 42-year-old announced on Instagram Monday that after 23 years he’s retiring from music management but is keeping his position as CEO of HYBE America, the South Korean entertainment corporation behind K-pop megastars BTS.
This comes after Braun parted ways with some of his biggest clients including Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato last year.
“After 23 years this chapter as a music manager has come to an end,” Braun wrote. “It’s a strange feeling because I think I have wanted this for a while, but I was truly afraid to answer the question ‘Who would I be without them?’ I was really just 19 years old when I started. And for 20 years I loved it.”
Braun explained that his focus has changed now that he has a family.
“As my children got older, and my personal Iife took some hits, I came to the realization that my kids were 3 superstars I wasn’t willing to lose,” said Braun, who split from his ex-wife and the mother of his three children, Yael Cohen, in 2021.
“The sacrifices I was once willing to make I could no longer justify,” he added.
Braun told his followers that his decision to leave music management has been in the works for the last two years.
“But it wasn’t until last summer that this new chapter became a reality,” he said. “One of my biggest clients and friends told me that they wanted to spread their wings and go in a new direction. We had been through so much together over the last decade, but instead of being hurt I saw it as a sign.”
He continued: “I have nothing but love for those I have worked with over the years, and as we develop a different working relationship, I will always be in their corner to consult and support them whether it be directly or from afar. Every client I have had the privilege of working with has changed my life.”
Braun specifically mentioned Grande, Bieber, Lovato, Tori Kelly, Carly Rae Jepsen, Dan + Shay, and more of his clients who have achieved great success under his leadership.
“There has been a lot said about what is happening in our company… and in my career,” he continued. “When we had success I smiled, and when we were attacked I tried to always take the high road. But for the last 3 years I have begun to feel that taking the high road has created confusion and ambiguity as to who we are.”
At the end of his post, Braun said that he “will cherish every moment” of his career in music management.
Braun rose to fame by being Bieber’s first and only manager, starting 16 years ago.
Last year, fans speculated that Braun’s career was in jeopardy following reports that his biggest clients were moving onto different management.
It was reported that Grande and Lovato dropped Braun as their manager after Puck News published a story on an alleged rift between Braun and Bieber. However, reps for Braun and Bieber denied those claims.
At the time, Braun tweeted, “Breaking news… I’m no longer managing myself.”
A music industry source with knowledge of the situation later told The Post, “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.”
Braun is also well known for his public spat with Taylor Swift that started after Braun purchased the master recordings of Swift’s first six albums in a $300 million-plus deal.
The “Anti-Hero” singer allegedly wasn’t aware of Braun’s business deal at the time, prompting her to publicly slam Braun and begin rerecording her original music.
Braun shared his side of the story in an interview with Variety in June 2021.
“I regret and it makes me sad that Taylor had that reaction to the deal,” the music mogul said. “All of what happened has been very confusing and not based on anything factual. I asked for her to sit down with me several times, but she refused.”
