Scooter Braun Looks for Harmony Beyond the Pop Charts
The entertainment executive Scott “Scooter” Braun is famous for discovering Justin Bieber, repping such stars as Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato, and for Taylor Swift’s vocal displeasure over his company’s ownership of some of her early recordings. To many, however, he is better known as a person who consistently jumps up at the chance to help others and as someone who inspires the people around him to do the same.
Braun, 38, started his career as a party promoter while attending Emory University in Atlanta. Even then he incorporated philanthropy into his business model. “It was my mother’s idea,” he says. “She said, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing, but at least make sure you find a way to help others.’”
He donated the proceeds from every fourth event to charity. (It runs in the family: Braun’s brother Adam founded the education nonprofit Pencils of Promise.)
In 2017, Braun was the driving force behind two major philanthropic events, the globally televised “One Love Manchester” concert, which raised $23 million for those affected by the terrorist attacks after Ariana Grande’s Manchester concert and the “Hand in Hand: A Benefit For Hurricane Relief” telethon, which aired and streamed on major television networks, radio stations, and digital platforms and raised more than $64 million for those affected by 2017 Hurricanes.
Today, Braun’s SB Projects facilitates his clients’ passions. For three years Bieber gave $1 from every concert ticket to Pencils of Promise, and he has granted more Make-a-Wish Foundation wishes than any other artist. When Grande wanted to support voter registration, Braun got HeadCount to register fans during her 2019 tour. And when coronavirus closed schools and businesses this year, Braun joined his artists’ initiatives, including Lovato’s Mental Health Fund.
A post shared by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on May 1, 2020 at 10:00am PDT
In May, Braun announced a series of releases to benefit charities. The first, “Stuck with U,” a collaboration between Bieber and Grande, supports the First Responders Children’s Foundation. The stars first put an instrumental version on social media and asked fans to send videos of themselves dancing to the song dressed in prom outfits. Then they compiled the clips for the song’s video. “It’s pretty humbling to see how these talented artists connect with their fans,” Braun says. “Together they make amazing things happen.”
This story appears in the Summer 2020 issue of Town & Country. SUBSCRIBE NOW
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