Former talent manager Scooter Braun expressed lingering confusion regarding his high-profile music catalog dispute with pop superstar Taylor Swift during a podcast interview broadcast on Thursday.
The long-standing conflict began in 2019 when Braun acquired Big Machine Label Group for an estimated $330 million, a purchase that included the master recordings of Swift's first six studio albums.
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Following the acquisition, Swift embarked on a project to re-record her early catalog to reclaim her music rights.
In May 2025, she announced that she had successfully regained full ownership of her master recordings.
Reflecting on the public fallout during an appearance on the Second Thought with Suzy Weiss podcast, Braun stated that he never anticipated being cast as the antagonist in the scenario.
"I will say something that will really sum it up that I don't know if I've ever really said: I don't know Taylor Swift.
I think I've met her in my life three times," Braun said on the podcast.
"I have never had a substantial conversation with her in my life. I one time got invited to a private party by her.
She told me she had the utmost respect for me. I told her I had the most respect for her."
"You don't spend $300 million buying a label that she's on unless you're excited at the opportunity to work with her.
I will never truly understand that situation. To this day, I wish her nothing but the best."
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The 44-year-old entertainment executive recalled that his interactions with Swift were brief and occurred years before the corporate acquisition took place.
"And beyond that, nothing ever. And then, the three years prior to us buying Big Machine, she and I had no contact.
I think it was two years," Braun remembered.
"The party was like two years earlier or three years earlier, and then never had any contact through the whole thing.
So, I'm just as confused that this is part of my life as you are. But I choose to learn and grow from it."
Industry Impact
Braun emphasized that the public controversy provided significant insights into the shifting dynamics of the music publishing industry and artist advocacy.
"The majority, to this day, of masters are still owned by labels.
As confusing as (the situation was) to me, I think what it did bring to light is that artists are going to start wanting to own their masters, and I think you're seeing artists more and more do that, and I think that's great," Braun added.
Representatives for Swift have not yet issued a response to Braun's latest remarks.
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Last October, the 36-year-old singer released her twelfth studio album, titled The Life of a Showgirl.
