On this episode of pplpod, we explore the trajectory of Scott "Scooter" Braun, one of the music industry's most influential executives. We trace his origins from a college party planner in Atlanta to the talent manager who discovered a 13-year-old Justin Bieber on YouTube and managed global superstars like Ariana Grande, Kanye West, and J Balvin,,.

We break down the massive business deals that defined his career, including the $1.05 billion sale of his company Ithaca Holdings to South Korean giant Hybe and his 2024 retirement from artist management to focus on his role as CEO of Hybe America,. The episode also dissects the highly public controversy surrounding his acquisition of Big Machine Records and the dispute with Taylor Swift over her master recordings—a deal that reportedly netted Braun nearly $400 million,. Finally, we cover his wor ...