Scooter Braun says he is no longer music manager and will focus on Hybe and his children’s tasks

NEW YORK — NEW YORK (AP) — Braun scooterone of the most recognized names in the world of music, known for representing artists such as Justin bieber and Ariana Grande, will no longer work as a music manager.

On Monday, the executive and businessman announced the news on his Instagram page. Instead, he will focus his attention on his current roles: as board member of Hybe and CEO of Hybe Americathe South Korean entertainment company.

The announcement comes nearly a year after Braun’s direct management of his superstar cast was the subject of intense speculation.

“After 23 years, this chapter as a music manager has come to an end,” he wrote in a long statement. “I was only 19 when I started. So for my entire adult life, I’ve played the role of 24/7 on-call artist manager. And for 20 years I loved it. It’s all I knew. But as my children grew up and my personal life took some hits.

“Every client I’ve had the privilege of working with has changed my life, and I know many of them are just beginning to see the success they deserve,” he continued. “I’m going to root for each one of them.”

In his statement, Braun mentioned several of his clients over the years: Grande, Bieber, Andrew Watt, Lil Dicky, Tori Kelly, J Balvin, Demi Lovato, Zac Brown Band, Martin Garrix, David Guetta, Steve Angello, Carly Rae Jepsen , PSY and Quavo among them.

Last week, representatives for Hybe said that Braun was no longer Grande’s manager, but that she still worked with him. “ Ariana Grande and Hybe, led by CEO Scooter Braun, look forward to continuing their long-standing business partnership and pursuing creative opportunities across Weverse and REM Beauty,” a statement read.

In August, rumors circulated online that Bieber was leaving Braun, his longtime manager — and the man was credited with discovering him. In the days that followed, media outlets began reporting that some of Braun’s other high-profile clients, such as Grande and Lovato they were also separating from him.

A person familiar with SB Projects’ business dealings, who was not authorized to speak publicly, told the Associated Press at the moment the artists on the company’s roster have day-to-day managers who aren’t Braun, and he consults with them. The person noted that no one person would be able to manage their roster of some of the biggest names in music alone.

Representatives for Carly Rae Jepsen, BabyJake and Asher Roth confirmed to the AP last summer that these artists no longer work with Braun and have not done so for some time. And a person close to Idina Menzel told the AP that the singer is no longer managed by Braun, but is not authorized to speak publicly.

At the time, there was it was speculation that Braun’s artists were leaving SB Projects management because he was placing his focus on HYBE America rather than acting as artistic manager, but there was no official confirmation, as of Monday.

Braun said in his statement that his silence was his attempt to take “the right path.”

“But over the last three years I’ve started to feel like taking the high road has created confusion and ambiguity about who we are,” Braun said, citing members of his team who are now handling arts management responsibilities.

The AP’s request for additional comment was directed to Braun’s Instagram statement.