Scooter Braun

Scooter Braun
Name	Scooter Braun
Birth date	January 18, 1981
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Talent manager, entrepreneur, record executive, investor, film and television producer
Years active	2007–present
Spouse	Yael Cohen (m. 2014)

Scooter Braun is an American talent manager, entrepreneur, and investor known for founding SB Projects and for managing high-profile recording artists, entertainers, and media properties. He rose from grassroots promotion and digital marketing to helm a multi-faceted entertainment firm that spans music management, record labels, film and television production, and venture investing. Braun's career has involved major commercial successes, high-profile acquisitions, and several public disputes that received widespread media coverage.

Early life and education

Braun was born in New York City and raised in a Jewish family with roots in Austro-Hungarian Empire-era Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. His family lived in Suffern, New York and later moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where he attended local schools before enrolling at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. At Emory he briefly studied Economics and Business Administration while launching concert promotion and grassroots marketing ventures on campus, which connected him to local clubs, promoters, and regional radio stations. Braun left college early to pursue full-time work in music promotion and artist development in Los Angeles, California.

Career

Braun began his career promoting hip hop and pop concerts for college audiences and door-to-door marketing for independent labels. He worked with local promoters in Miami, Florida and connected with emerging artists through talent showcases and radio. In the late 2000s he co-founded SB Projects, a Los Angeles-based entertainment and media company that expanded into music management, a record label, film and television production, and brand partnerships. Braun leveraged digital platforms like YouTube, social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music to amplify artists' profiles and commercial reach. Over time he assumed executive roles on projects involving major studios like Universal Pictures and networks such as Netflix and HBO Max.

Artists and management

Braun is best known for managing breakthrough and established artists across pop, R&B, and country music. He discovered and helped launch the career of a pop singer who became a global star after viral videos on YouTube and collaborations with producers affiliated with Island Records and Republic Records. His roster at various times included leading figures associated with Def Jam Recordings, Interscope Records, and independent labels. Braun's management approach combined tour promotion with strategic partnerships involving brands like Target, PepsiCo, and Verizon Communications, and media placements on platforms such as MTV and late-night programs on NBC. He also worked with songwriters and producers linked to Grammy-winning projects recognized by the Recording Academy.

Business ventures and investments

Beyond artist management, Braun expanded into varied business ventures and venture capital investing. SB Projects launched a record label imprint, a production division that developed content for Paramount Pictures and Amazon Studios, and a talent incubator program that partnered with conglomerates like Live Nation Entertainment. Braun participated in investment rounds for technology startups in areas including music tech, social media analytics, and creator tools, often alongside investors from Sequoia Capital, GV (formerly Google Ventures), and Accel Partners. His acquisitions included catalog purchases and stakes in music publishing companies that engaged with entities such as Warner Music Group and rights administrators registered with ASCAP and BMI.

Controversies and public disputes

Braun's career has included several high-profile disputes that attracted scrutiny from artists, industry observers, and political commentators. A widely publicized catalog acquisition involving a prominent pop star prompted debates involving record labels like Big Machine Records and executives associated with the transaction. The dispute led to public statements from artists, legal filings in United States District Court, and commentaries in major outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. Braun also faced criticism related to management decisions and alleged interpersonal conflicts with former clients and collaborators, with coverage spanning entertainment publications like Billboard and Rolling Stone.

Philanthropy and advocacy

Braun has engaged in philanthropic initiatives and advocacy through foundations and partnerships. He and his family established charitable efforts focusing on pediatric cancer research and support, collaborating with institutions such as Children's Hospital Los Angeles and research programs affiliated with Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. He has promoted voter registration and civic participation through collaborations with organizations like When We All Vote and engaged in fundraising events tied to Clinton Foundation-adjacent causes and community outreach programs. Braun’s foundation activity also included donations to causes supporting arts education and music therapy programs at non-profits such as Little Kids Rock and national arts councils.

Category:American music industry executives Category:Living people Category:1981 births