OPINION: “Scooter Braun’s recent downfall was long-awaited and well-deserved"

By: Skylar McClendon

MILLBROOK, Ala. – Scooter Braun has recently had a catastrophic downfall losing tons of clients and, essentially, his whole career. Which started with Taylor Swift’s split from his label BIG MACHINE RECORDS.

Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato were both reported to have ended their business relationship with Braun. 

Scooter Braun used to be one of the biggest producers in the industry. Working with names like Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, and Idina Menzel. His recent downfall is one for the books!

There has been article after article about a few of his A-listers dropping him as a producer and you may be wondering, why is this happening? What did Scooter Braun do?

Braun had a very long and ongoing feud with Taylor Swift, stemming from her departure from his label. Since Braun held the rights to her first six albums, he sold them to an investment fund for over $300 million in 2020. Which is … pretty cold-blooded.

Braun claims Swift had no interest in getting the masters to her albums and that he offered them to her to no avail.

Swift, however, says this claim was false and that she did, in fact, want the masters to her first six albums. I mean, who wouldn’t.

In a very lengthy Tumblr post Swift says Scooter “Stripped [her] of [her] life’s work” and adds that “[her] musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it” which is absolutely heart wrenching, in my opinion. 

Swift claims BIG MACHINE RECORDS said she could only have the masters to her albums if she stayed with the label. Swift, obviously, said no, which is where the “Taylor’s Version" of her re-released albums comes from. At least she is still able to make money from the songs that began her stardom.

Braun’s cutthroat nature was iconic for his brand. It was basically the only thing he was known for, but I think this “brand” of his is bringing about his ultimate downfall.

During the pandemic, stay with me here, people became more privy to mistreatment and morality. Weekly surveys from the Harris Poll show that public opinion has shifted when it comes to morals and ethical business practices.

In a society greatly affected by loss and division, people have begun to think more about morality and ethics when it comes to business and careers. 

I’m glad that we, as a society, have shifted into more ethical and equality-oriented values. People are more inclined to be on the side of just practices and a fair work environment.

But, this is terribly unfortunate for Braun. In the current day, you just can’t get away with treating an artist, or anyone for that matter,  unfairly.

Considering Braun has built his whole career on spear-heading his business and being as cutthroat as possible, this has got to be a hard pill to swallow, for him.

Braun says he does have genuine regrets on how the situation with him and the other artists in his label played out. I understand that, but I think he had it coming.

I think Braun simply regrets how much money he ended up losing because greed got the best of him. I mean if I had to watch my entire empire, which I spent my whole career building, basically crash and burn right in front of me, I would have a few regrets. 

All in all, this downfall was going to come for Braun sooner or later. It was, truly, only a matter of time. 

I believe Taylor Swift said, “Karma’s a relaxing thought – Aren’t you envious that for you it’s not,” And, oh man, I do believe our man, Scooter, is feeling that Karma right now.