Scooter Braun Steps Away From CEO Role at HYBE

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Scooter Braun is shifting his position within HYBE, the prominent South Korean entertainment company, taking on an advisory role instead of being CEO of HYBE America. This change will see him become a member of the HYBE Board of Directors, serving both as a director and senior advisor to Bang Si-Hyuk, the chairman and CEO. This move signifies the conclusion of his five-year tenure at HYBE, where he’s been associated with renowned K-pop groups such as BTS and Katseye.

As I logged into our team meeting on Monday, I was surprised to hear the news that’s been brewing for some time now. Sitting on a yacht owned by my mentor David Geffen, Scooter Braun shared with us that he’s taking his partnership with HYBE to new heights. You might remember that last year, I sold Ithaca Holdings to HYBE – well, it looks like this move was part of the plan all along!

While this may mark a new chapter in my career, rest assured I won’t be vanishing anytime soon. I’ll still be lending my expertise and guidance to the incredibly talented artists on HYBE’s roster, including our latest addition, Katseye.

As I reminisced about my journey in music, spanning over 25 years, Scooter recounted how reading David Geffen’s biography “The Operator” inspired him to chase his dreams. And today, as I close this chapter of my career, I can’t help but think back on the wisdom he shared with me: follow your dreams and anything is possible.

Scott Braun constructed his thriving enterprise by overseeing musical artists such as Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, J Balvin, Demi Lovato, and The Kid LAROI under the SB Projects label. In 2024, he chose to depart from the management industry, publicly disclosing this transition on social media. There, he expressed gratitude for his extraordinary life experiences, stating, “I’ve been fortunate enough to live a ‘Forrest Gump’-esque existence, bearing witness to and participating in the incredible journeys of some of the most incredibly gifted individuals the world has ever known. I find myself regularly marveling at how I came to be part of this remarkable story.

As a gamer, I parted ways with Bieber, not just in the music world but also in business ventures, back in April, as reported by THR. This separation came about due to financial repercussions from the cancellation of Bieber’s Justice tour in 2022. By failing to honor his contractual obligations to AEG, the tour promoter, and not completing the concert dates for which he received a $40 million advance, Bieber ended up owing AEG over $20 million. At that time, my company stepped in to cover this debt at a very advantageous rate for Bieber. We were partners in various businesses such as a record label and film projects, and I also helped secure a massive $200 million catalog deal for Bieber’s songwriting interests, one of the largest music industry assets for an artist under 30. (It’s worth mentioning that Hailey Bieber, who married Justin in 2018, recently sold her Rhode Beauty skincare brand to e.l.f. Beauty for $1 billion; I was one of the initial investors.)

It’s been confirmed that Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber have resolved their differences, and their relationship is now on friendly terms. A source reported that before leaving HYBE, Scooter Braun decided to put an end to their dispute and left both himself and Justin in a favorable position.

Reps for Bieber declined to comment on the settlement.

Taking over the reins as CEO, I’ve stepped into Braun’s shoes, managing all day-to-day operations since November 2023. My new title is both chairman and CEO of HYBE Americas. Beyond steering HYBE’s activities in Mexico, Miami, and Medellin, my role extends to overseeing Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) based in Nashville and Quality Control Media Holdings headquartered in Atlanta. As a gamer, I’m ready to level up and lead this dynamic team to new heights!

Although it’s uncertain what Braun’s next step will be, Bang Si-Hyuk, the head of HYBE, stated, “Scooter has been an exceptional collaborator, a visionary leader, and a crucial driving force for cultural exchange. His efforts have played a significant role in establishing our strong presence in the U.S. market. I am profoundly thankful for his guidance, his sharp insight, and his undying enthusiasm for artists. We hope he achieves tremendous success in his upcoming endeavors and we eagerly anticipate continuing our partnership as we work towards realizing HYBE’s global aspirations.

Braun continues to be one of the major shareholders at HYBE, and he recently accepted a new position within the company. In his announcement, Braun expressed: “Being associated with HYBE and observing its extraordinary growth has been one of the most captivating phases of my professional life. Chairman Bang is an outstanding visionary and a musical maestro. The empire he’s created at HYBE is unrivaled. I am immensely proud of our collective achievements and eagerly anticipate assisting Chairman Bang and CEO Jason Jaesang Lee in their future success as I move forward to new opportunities.

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2025-07-01 19:24