Scooter Braun’s Reflections on the Feud with Taylor Swift
Scooter Braun, a prominent figure in the music industry, recently opened up about his relationship with Taylor Swift during an episode of the Second Thought With Suzy Weiss podcast. The 44-year-old music mogul, who is currently dating actress Sydney Sweeney, shared some surprising insights into their well-known feud over the ownership of Swift’s masters.
A year ago, Taylor Swift made headlines when she announced that she had successfully bought back her masters after they were acquired by Braun through the private equity firm Shamrock Capital in 2020. This move marked a significant turning point in the ongoing conflict between the two.
Braun reflected on how his relationship with Swift changed from being “loved and appreciated for over a decade” to being seen as a “villain the next night.” He admitted that he doesn’t know Taylor Swift well, stating, “I think I’ve met her in my life three times. I have never had a substantial conversation with her in my life.”
During a party hosted by Swift in the past, both expressed mutual respect. However, Braun emphasized that he has never had meaningful interactions with her. He noted that their only conversation lasted just a couple of minutes, and there was no contact for several years before the purchase of Big Machine.
Braun also mentioned that he still doesn’t fully understand the situation but wishes Swift the best. He acknowledged that the controversy taught him a lot, explaining that there’s a common misconception that he knew her well and managed her for years. In reality, he clarified that he didn’t have many interactions with her and never truly knew her.
He further explained the complexities of the music industry, noting that labels typically make bets on artists, owning the masters while artists retain publishing rights. Despite the confusion, Braun believes that this situation has highlighted the growing trend of artists wanting to own their masters, which he sees as a positive development.
In May of last year, Taylor Swift spent approximately $360 million to acquire the rest of her music catalog. She reached a settlement with Shamrock Capital, which had purchased the rights from Braun in November 2020. In a handwritten letter on her website, Swift mentioned that the earnings from her Eras tour helped fund the purchase of her old material and “her entire life’s work.”
She expressed her desire to have full autonomy over her music, stating, “All I’ve ever wanted was the opportunity to work hard enough to be able to one day purchase my music outright with no strings attached, no partnership, with full autonomy.”
Swift also thanked Shamrock Capital for their “honest, fair and respectful” approach to the deal, emphasizing that they understood the significance of the music to her. She described the recordings as “my memories and my sweat and my handwriting and my decades of dreams.”
Braun, who previously managed Justin Bieber, controversially acquired the rights to Swift’s material for $300 million after purchasing her old record label, Big Machine Media, in 2019. He later sold it to Shamrock Capital for profit.
Swift criticized Braun for his tactics, claiming she was unaware of his plans. She alleged that when she approached Big Machine label head Scott Borchetta about buying her masters, he would only sell them one at a time, starting with her earliest, least-profitable recordings. In exchange for the option to buy back the masters, she would have had to record a new album for the label, effectively keeping her tied to Big Machine for years.
In an emotional Tumblr post, Swift shared her decision to leave behind her past, describing the music as “music I wrote on my bedroom floor and videos I dreamed up and paid for from the money I earned playing in bars, then clubs, then arenas, then stadiums.”
She also accused Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who were Braun’s clients, of bullying her. Shamrock Capital acquired the master recordings of Swift’s albums including Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation, which Swift has now regained ownership of. She has re-recorded her first six albums, with four completed so far. Reputation (Taylor’s Version) was expected to be her next release, though she remains open to recording another version and sharing unreleased Vault tracks.
Swift confirmed that she has re-recorded the entirety of her debut self-titled album, which will “re-emerge when the time is right.”
Despite rumors suggesting Braun played a role in facilitating the deal, sources close to the negotiations denied any involvement. An insider told the Daily Mail that there was no outside party involved, crediting Shamrock Capital and Swift’s Nashville-based management team for the successful outcome.
Braun expressed his happiness for Swift, acknowledging her achievement in finally gaining full control of her music.
