Have Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber severed ties with music mogul manager?

Controversial music mogul Scooter Braun’s relationship with megastar clients Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber remains complicated. See why.

The status of Scooter Braun’s relationship with megastar clients Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber remains complicated.

A war of opposing off-the-record Hollywood “sources” has erupted, with one camp insisting Grande and Bieber remain contracted to the controversial music mogul’s SB Projects while others allege the artists will join Demi Lovato, J. Balvin and Idina Menzel in severing ties with Braun.

Justin Bieber was Braun’s first superstar client. Picture: WireImage

Braun delivered a light-hearted response to the management drama, yesterday posting on X: “Breaking news … I’m no longer managing myself.”

Swifties are revelling in the karma drama swirling around their pop idol’s nemesis.

Braun’s Ithaca Holdings bought Big Machine Records, the label which owned the master recordings to Taylor Swift’s first six albums, thereby inspiring her to re-record them as “Taylor’s Versions” which have all generated billions of streams and vinyl sales.

He sold Ithaca Holdings for more than $1.6 billion to HYBE in 2021 and issued shares to executives and artists on his roster, with Bieber and Grande each receiving a slice worth $17 million.

MYSTERY SURROUNDS POP STARS SPLIT WITH CONTROVERSIAL MANAGER

Global pop stars Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato have broken up with controversial talent manager and Taylor Swift nemesis Scooter Braun.

Mystery surrounds the mass exodus, with Braun’s first and biggest client Justin Bieber also reportedly scouting for a new manager despite both parties attempting to squash the rumours a few days ago.

Lovato was confirmed to have jumped ship from Braun’s management division SB Projects last month and is seeking new management as they prepare to release the Revamped record next month, a rock reinvention of their hits.

They signed on with Braun in 2019, revealing the partnership via a gushing Instagram post: “Dreams came true today for me … Couldn’t be happier, inspired and excited to begin this next chapter with you Scooter!!! Thank you for believing in me and for being apart of this new journey.” Lovato has subsequently deleted all pre-2022 posts.

Demi Lovato is scouting for new management after splitting with Scooter Braun. Picture: Getty

Industry bible Billboard revealed just hours after news of the Lovato split that Grande had also broken ties with Braun.

Grande has recently been embroiled in a relationship scandal with Wicked co-star Ethan Slater, with both parties leaving their respective marriages.

Her bust-up with Braun, who she signed with in 2013, comes as she prepares to release the 10th anniversary edition of her debut album Yours Truly.

Ariana Grande won’t be celebrating her 10th anniversary with Braun after splitting with the manager. Picture: Getty

Puck News writer Matthew Belloni spilt the tea on Bieber and Braun allegedly parting ways via X on the weekend.

The 29-year-old Bieber, who Braun discovered via his YouTube covers when the Baby singer was just 12, is believed to be clearing house and building a new team after the health scare which forced him off the road this year.

While both parties denied the rumours, with Bieber sources telling Entertainment Tonight they were still working on projects together, Belloni insists the pair haven’t spoken in months.

When Braun’s Ithaca Holdings brought Big Machine, the label which owned the master recordings of Taylor Swift’s first six records, she emabarked on a successful re-recording of those early albums. Picture: Michael Tran/AFP

Braun became globally infamous when his Ithaca Holdings bought Big Machine, the label which owned the master recordings of Taylor Swift’s first six records.

That corporate move prompted Swift to embark on the wildly successful campaign of re-recording her early albums, recently announcing 1989 (Taylor’s Version) would be the next instalment to drop on October 27.

Hollywood sources speculate Braun’s current roster has become frustrated with his empire building rather than focusing on their respective careers, with Latin pop star J Balvin jumping ship to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation in May.

Braun sold his parent company Ithaca Holdings in 2021 to South Korean entertainment conglomerate HYBE, the hitmaking factory behind BTS.

He is HYBE America’s CEO and his SB Projects operates under the entertainment conglomerate.

Despite severing their management relationship with Braun, profiles for Balvin, Grande and Lovato remain live on the SB Projects website and it is believed Australian global star The Kid Laroi is still on his books.

Originally published as Have Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber severed ties with music mogul manager?