Scooter Braun & Taylor Swift: Recording Dispute Explained
- Scooter Braun says he was taken aback by Taylor Swift's response to his 2019 acquisition of Big Machine, the label that owned the rights to her first six...
- Swift, however, publicly condemned the deal in a Tumblr post, accusing Braun of "incessant, manipulative bullying." the dispute centered on the ownership of her master recordings, a key...
- Braun, who now is retired from talent management, said he had met Swift several times before acquiring Big Machine.
Scooter Braun,surprised by Taylor Swift’s reaction to the Big Machine acquisition in 2019,has shared his outlook on the high-profile recording dispute.Braun, speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, labeled swift’s response as “deeply unfair,” highlighting the clash over master recordings. Swift accused Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying” after the deal. swift has since taken control of her early catalog and is re-recording older albums. This critical dispute brought the importance of artist rights to the forefront. News Directory 3 covers the key points. Delve into the details of Braun’s perspective and Swift’s master plan to understand the complex dynamics of this ongoing music industry battle. discover what’s next for Taylor Swift’s re-recordings.
Scooter Braun “Shocked” by Taylor Swift’s Reaction to Masters Deal
Updated June 09, 2025

Scooter Braun says he was taken aback by Taylor Swift’s response to his 2019 acquisition of Big Machine, the label that owned the rights to her first six albums. Braun addressed the situation on the Diary of a CEO podcast, calling Swift’s reaction “deeply unfair.” The music mogul thought the purchase would lead to a productive working relationship with Swift and the other artists on the label.
Swift, however, publicly condemned the deal in a Tumblr post, accusing Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying.” the dispute centered on the ownership of her master recordings, a key asset in the music industry. The Taylor Swift masters controversy highlighted the importance of artist rights and ownership in the music industry.

Braun, who now is retired from talent management, said he had met Swift several times before acquiring Big Machine. He acknowledged potential friction due to his management of Kanye West and Justin Bieber, with whom Swift had previous disagreements. Despite these concerns, Braun hoped to engage in constructive dialog with Swift after the acquisition.
The Tumblr post, braun said, blindsided him. He said the experience taught him a valuable lesson about empathy and the impact of public criticism. Braun ultimately sold the rights to Swift’s masters. Swift has since regained control of her early catalog in a new deal.

Swift has been re-recording her first six albums, now known as “Taylor’s Versions,” to regain ownership and control over her music. She has released four re-recorded albums to date, featuring bonus tracks and additional content.
“When I bought Big Machine, I thought I was going to work with all the artists on Big Machine. I thought it was going to be an exciting thing.”
What’s next
With Taylor Swift now owning her masters, she is expected to continue releasing “Taylor’s Versions” of her early albums, further solidifying her ownership and creative control.
