Scooter Braun Officially Retires After 23 Years: ‘Father First, CEO Second, Manager No More’

After nearly a year of speculation, Scooter Braun has officially retired from management and transitioned into his role as CEO of Hybe America. 

August 2023 saw several reports of Braun’s clients seeking new representation, from Demi Lovato to Ariana Grande (the latter is now managed by Brandon Creed, yet still has ties with Braun). Last year, a source close to SB Projects told Rolling Stone that Braun’s role was transitioning. Now, in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday, Braun has officially confirmed it.

“23 years,” he wrote. “That’s how long I have been a music manager. 23 years ago, a 19-year-old kid started managing an artist named Cato in Atlanta, GA, and my journey began. Along the way I have had so many experiences I could never have dreamt of. I have been blessed to have had a Forrest Gump-like life while witnessing and taking part in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen. I’m constantly pinching myself and asking, ‘how did I get here?’ And after 23 years, this chapter as a music manager has come to an end.”

“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?’” Braun added. “I was really just 19 years old when I started. So for my entire adult life I played the role of an artist manager on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And for 20 years I loved it. It’s all I had known. But as my children got older, and my personal Iife took some hits, I came to the realization that my kids were three superstars I wasn’t willing to lose. The sacrifices I was once willing to make I could no longer justify. It was time to step into a new role.”

Braun announced his new role as CEO of Hybe, while adding that Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk “has a vision” he truly believes in. “But even beyond that he has become a true friend who understands where I must be in my life these days. And that is a father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more.”

Elsewhere in the statement, Braun reflected on his achievements while describing the future of the company. “It was this past Christmas Day when Ariana [Grande] and Justin [Bieber] became the biggest male and female in the history of the Spotify Billions club that I just smiled and thought ‘what a ride,’” he wrote. “Justin and Ariana were both young teenagers when I began with them. Justin a 13 year old kid busking in Canada and Ariana a young actress on Nickelodeon. To see them both come up to be the legends they are today will forever be one of my greatest honors … I will continue to root for them with the same passion that I did at each of their humble beginnings.”

He capped his send-off with a quote from iconic Motown executive Berry Gordy, who told Braun, “Young man, it never ends the way you wanted, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.”

“That wisdom has proven to be correct,” Braun said. “I never saw how this chapter would end, hell, I never even saw it happening. But it did. And I will cherish every moment of it. I made my plan… but it turns out I like God’s plan better. Cheers!”

From Rolling Stone US.