Taylor Swift Blasts Scooter Braun for Buying Her Masters, Brings Up Bullying Accusations + Kim & Kanye in an Open Letter + Todrick Hall Accused of Stealing from Fans | lovebscott.com

Taylor Swift Blasts Scooter Braun for Buying Her Masters, Brings Up Bullying Accusations + Kim & Kanye in an Open Letter + Todrick Hall Accused of Stealing from Fans

You may have seen some rumblings involving Taylor Swift and Scooter Braun — and we’re here to break down exactly what’s happening.

Earlier today, it was announced that Scooter Braun — artist manager who manages the likes of Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Kanye West, Usher, and dozens more — has acquired Big Machine Label Group for $300 million.

Big Machine Label Group owed the masters to Taylor Swift’s first six albums. Scooter also used to manage Taylor…but more on that in a bit.

After the news went public, Taylor Swift took to Tumblr to express her displeasure in Scooter owning her masters (and not herself) and accused her former manager of bullying.

In her post, she also brought up her feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West (even though Scooter wasn’t working with Kanye at the time). She also mentioned an Instagram post Justin Bieber shared of himself on FaceTime with Kanye & Scooter.

“Some fun facts about today’s news: I learned about Scooter Braun’s purchase of my masters as it was announced to the world. All I could think about was the incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at his hands for years. 

Like when Kim Kardashian orchestrated an illegally recorded snippet of a phone call to be leaked and then Scooter got his two clients together to bully me online about it. (See photo) Or when his client, Kanye West, organized a revenge porn music video which strips my body naked. Now Scooter has stripped me of my life’s work, that I wasn’t given an opportunity to buy. Essentially, my musical legacy is about to lie in the hands of someone who tried to dismantle it.

This is my worst case scenario. This is what happens when you sign a deal at fifteen to someone for whom the term ‘loyalty’ is clearly just a contractual concept. And when that man says ‘Music has value’, he means its value is beholden to men who had no part in creating it. 

When I left my masters in Scott’s hands, I made peace with the fact that eventually he would sell them. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine the buyer would be Scooter. Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words ‘Scooter Braun’ escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to. He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn’t want to be associated with them. In perpetuity. That means forever. “

Not long after her post went public, Justin Bieber took to Instagram to defend himself and Scooter and questioned Taylor’s motives for making a blog post instead of reaching out directly.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Hey Taylor. First of all i would like to apologize for posting that hurtful instagram post, at the time i thought it was funny but looking back it was distasteful and insensitive.. I have to be honest though it was my caption and post that I screenshoted of scooter and Kanye that said “taylor swift what up” he didnt have anything to do with it and it wasnt even a part of the conversation in all actuality he was the person who told me not to joke like that.. Scooter has had your back since the days you graciously let me open up for you.! As the years have passed we haven’t crossed paths and gotten to communicate our differences, hurts or frustrations. So for you to take it to social media and get people to hate on scooter isn’t fair. What were you trying to accomplish by posting that blog? seems to me like it was to get sympathy u also knew that in posting that your fans would go and bully scooter. Anyway, One thing i know is both scooter and i love you. I feel like the only way to resolve conflict is through communication. So banter back and fourth online i dont believe solves anything. I’m sure Scooter and i would love to talk to you and resolve any conflict, pain or or any feelings that need to be addressed. Neither scooter or i have anything negative to say about you we truly want the best for you. I usually don’t rebuttal things like this but when you try and deface someone i loves character thats crossing a line..

A post shared by Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) on

Taylor’s bestie Todrick Hall took to Twitter to blast Scooter and his wife, calling Scooter ‘homophobic’ and called out for justice.

https://twitter.com/todrick/status/1145479493521420288

https://twitter.com/todrick/status/1145480083093766144

https://twitter.com/todrick/status/1145484987866783744

https://twitter.com/todrick/status/1145485724990496773

In response, Allison Scarinzi — general manager for Scooter’s management company — clapped back and accused Todrick of STEALING from his fans during Christmas.

In his tweets, Todrick called out Scooter’s wife Yael — and she took to Instagram to share her thoughts on Taylor’s post as well. She blasted Taylor for lying and being the ‘real’ bully in this situation. She also directly discredited Taylor’s by sharing that Taylor’s dad knew of the impending purchase ahead of time because he’s on the board.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@taylorswift, I’m here to talk privately anytime.

A post shared by Yael Cohen Braun (@yael) on

Taylor’s rep denies her father knowing, telling People,

“Scott Swift is not on the board of directors and has never been. On June 25, there was a shareholder phone call that Scott Swift did not participate in due to a very strict NDA that bound all shareholders and prohibited any discussion at all without risk of severe penalty.”

The rep continued on to say that Taylor’s dad didn’t want to withhold info from his daughter, so he didn’t join the call.

“Taylor found out from the news articles when she woke up before seeing any text from Scott Borchetta and he did not call her in advance.”

Erik Logan, a member of the Big Machine board of directors, went public with the following blasting Taylor for ‘attempting to re-write history’:

In regard to a post earlier today from Taylor, it’s time to set some things straight.

Taylor’s dad, Scott Swift, was a shareholder in Big Machine Records, LLC.  We first alerted all of the shareholders on Thursday, June 20th for an official shareholder’s call scheduled for Tuesday, June 25th.  On the 6/25 call the shareholders were made aware of the pending deal with Ithaca Holdings and had 3 days to go over all of the details of the proposed transaction.  We then had a final call on Friday, June 28th in which the transaction passed with a majority vote and 3 of the 5 shareholders voting ‘yes’ with 92% of the shareholder’s vote. 

Out of courtesy, I personally texted Taylor at 9:06pm, Saturday, June 29th to inform her prior to the story breaking on the morning of Sunday, June 30th so she could hear it directly from me.

I guess it might somehow be possible that her dad Scott, 13 Management lawyer Jay Schaudies (who represented Scott Swift on the shareholder calls) or 13 Management executive and Big Machine LLC shareholder Frank Bell (who was on the shareholder calls) didn’t say anything to Taylor over the prior 5 days.  I guess it’s possible that she might not have seen my text.  But, I truly doubt that she “woke up to the news when everyone else did”.

I am attaching a few very important deal points in what was part of our official last offer to Taylor Swift to remain at Big Machine Records.  Her 13 Management team and attorney Don Passman went over this document in great detail and reported the terms to her in great detail. 

Taylor and I then talked through the deal together. 

As you will read, 100% of all Taylor Swift assets were to be transferred to her immediately upon signing the new agreement.  We were working together on a new type of deal for our new streaming world that was not necessarily tied to ‘albums’ but more of a length of time.

We are an independent record company.  We do not have tens of thousands of artists and recordings.  My offer to Taylor, for the size of our company, was extraordinary.  But it was also all I could offer as I am responsible for dozens of artists’ careers and over 120 executives and their families. 

Taylor and I remained on very good terms when she told me she wanted to speak with other record companies and see what was out there for her.  I never got in her way and wished her well.

The morning that the new Taylor/UMG announcement was going to be made, she texted me shortly before letting me know that the announcement was coming in a few minutes. 

As we both posted on our socials, we saluted each other and cheered each other on.

Taylor had every chance in the world to own not just her master recordings, but every video, photograph, everything associated to her career.  She chose to leave. 

As to her comments about ‘being in tears or close to it’ anytime my new partner Scooter Braun’s name was brought up, I certainly never experienced that.  Was I aware of some prior issues between Taylor and Justin Bieber?  Yes.  But there were also times where Taylor knew that I was close to Scooter and that Scooter was a very good source of information for upcoming album releases, tours, etc, and I’d reach out to him for information on our behalf.  Scooter was never anything but positive about Taylor.  He called me directly about Manchester to see if Taylor would participate (she declined).

He called me directly to see if Taylor wanted to participate in the Parkland March (she declined).  Scooter has always been and will continue to be a supporter and honest custodian for Taylor and her music. 

This is the text Taylor sent to me on Monday, November 19th at 8:57am:

Scott,

 I hope this finds you well. Since communication ran dry on our negotiations, I’ve done what I told you I would do and gone out exploring other options. Owning my masters was very important to me, but I’ve since realized that there are things that mean even more to me in the bigger picture. I had a choice whether to bet on my past or to bet on the future and I think knowing me, you can guess which one I chose. I also saw a rare opportunity to effect positive change for a lot of other artists with the leverage I have right now. I know you believe in the same things I do and I’d like to think you would be proud of what I’ve negotiated for in my deal. I wanted to tell you first that I’ll be signing with Lucian. I honestly truly cherish everything you and I have built together and I plan on saying so in my announcement of the new deal. What we accomplished together will be a lasting legacy and a case study on excellent partnerships, and may it continue. I still view you as a partner and friend and I hope you feel the same. Sending you a hug and my most sincere gratitude.

And SO much love,

Taylor

Here is the text I sent on the evening of June 29 at 9:05pm:

Dear Taylor,

Hope all is well and congratulations on the success of your first two singles from “Lover”! 

I can’t wait to hear the entire album…

I wanted to pass along to you the same courtesy that you passed along to me in regard to my future.

Tomorrow morning (Sunday, June 30th) at 10a central, the Wall Street Journal will announce that I am entering into a merger/acquisition with Scooter Braun and Ithaca Holdings.  This move will give us more pop culture super-power than ever before and I’m so excited about the future. 

I want you to know that I will continue to be the proud custodian of your previous works and will continue to keep you and your team abreast of all future plans for releases of you work.

Nothing but the best,

Scott

If you care to see the screenshot of the deal points, click here.

This is a LOT to take in — and we have a feeling it’s far from over. We don’t know who’s telling the truth, but this has become one huge M E S S.

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