“I Thought Taylor Swift Would Work With Me”: Scooter Braun’s Big Machine Miscalculation and the Fallout That Shook the Music Industry

It was the deal that changed the face of modern music—and ignited a war between two of the industry’s most powerful figures. When Scooter Braun, the music mogul behind some of the world’s biggest pop stars, acquired Big Machine Records in 2019, he believed he was on the brink of something extraordinary. But behind the billion-dollar headlines and boardroom bravado, Braun’s expectations collided with a reality more dramatic than even he could have imagined.

Now, in a stunning revelation, Braun admits: “I thought Taylor Swift would work with me.” What followed instead was a public feud that sent shockwaves through the entertainment world, divided fans, and left a permanent scar on the music business.

The Day the Music Changed

When news broke that Scooter Braun had purchased Big Machine Label Group—the label that owned Taylor Swift’s first six albums—fans and industry insiders alike were stunned. The $300 million deal was hailed as a power move, positioning Braun at the helm of a catalog worth hundreds of millions. But for Taylor Swift, it was nothing short of a nightmare.

Braun, who had only met Swift “three or four times,” recalls their interactions as cordial, even positive. “One of those times, years ago, was a really great meeting; she invited me to a private party, she was respectful of me…” he shares. But beneath the surface, tensions were brewing. Braun’s management of Kanye West and Justin Bieber—both embroiled in public feuds with Swift—cast a long shadow over any hope for collaboration.

“In between that meeting, I started managing Kanye West, then Justin Bieber. I knew she didn’t get along with them. That’s when I got a little overconfident,” Braun admits. “I had a feeling she didn’t like me for managing them, but I thought that when the deal was announced, she would talk to me, she would understand who I was, and we would work together.”

He was wrong.

The Fallout: Taylor’s Fury and a Fanbase Mobilized

Within hours of the announcement, Taylor Swift took to social media to voice her outrage. In a now-legendary Tumblr post, she accused Braun of “incessant, manipulative bullying” and lamented losing control of her life’s work. “This is my worst case scenario,” she wrote, her words ricocheting across the internet and sparking a cultural firestorm.

Swift’s army of loyal fans—Swifties—rallied behind her, launching hashtags, petitions, and campaigns to support her fight for artistic ownership. Celebrities from Halsey to Selena Gomez weighed in, while Braun’s camp scrambled to contain the fallout. What began as a business transaction swiftly morphed into a bitter, public feud, with both sides trading barbed statements and legal threats.

Braun, blindsided by the backlash, watched as his reputation took a beating. “I thought we’d sit down, talk it out, and find a way to work together,” he now reflects. “But that door slammed shut before I even had a chance to knock.”

The Power of Narrative: Taylor’s Version

For Taylor Swift, the battle was about more than business. It was about autonomy, creative control, and the right to own her story. In a move that stunned the industry, Swift announced she would re-record her old albums, reclaiming her masters one song at a time. The “Taylor’s Version” project became a cultural phenomenon, topping charts and breaking streaming records, while sending a clear message to artists everywhere: fight for your work.

Industry insiders marveled at Swift’s ability to turn pain into power. “She rewrote the rules,” says one executive. “No one has ever done what Taylor did—she made her old music new again, and fans followed her every step of the way.”

Braun, meanwhile, became a symbol of an industry out of touch with its artists. “He underestimated her, plain and simple,” says another source close to the deal. “He thought she’d play ball. He didn’t realize she was about to change the game.”

The Human Cost: Regret, Reflection, and Reputation

Now, years later, Braun’s admission is both candid and haunting. “I got a little overconfident,” he says, reflecting on the moment he believed Swift would join forces with him. The fallout has been immense—not just for Braun and Swift, but for the entire music industry.

Braun’s reputation, once bulletproof, has been battered by the controversy. Friends and colleagues describe a man both frustrated and bewildered by the intensity of the backlash. “He never saw it coming,” says one associate. “He thought he was making a smart business move. He didn’t realize he was stepping into a hornet’s nest.”

For Swift, the ordeal has cemented her status as a generational icon—an artist unafraid to stand up for herself, even when the odds are stacked against her. Her willingness to speak out, to fight for her rights, has inspired countless others to do the same.

The Industry Reacts: Lessons Learned

The Braun-Swift saga has forced the music industry to confront uncomfortable truths about power, ownership, and the treatment of artists. Record labels, managers, and executives are rethinking their approach, wary of repeating the mistakes that led to such a public debacle.

“Artists want transparency, respect, and control over their work,” says a leading A&R executive. “If you can’t offer that, you risk losing them—and the public will hold you accountable.”

Braun, for his part, insists he meant no harm. “I thought we were going to do great things together,” he says. “I never wanted a fight. I just wanted to build something incredible.”

But as the dust settles, one thing is clear: the era of silent artists and unchecked executives is over. The music world is watching, and the rules have changed—for good.

The Unfinished Story

In the end, Scooter Braun’s biggest miscalculation wasn’t the price tag on Big Machine or the value of Taylor Swift’s catalog. It was underestimating the power of an artist determined to write her own story. The fallout from that mistake continues to reverberate, reshaping the industry and inspiring a new generation to demand more.

As for Braun and Swift, their paths may never cross again. But the lessons of their feud—about respect, ownership, and the price of underestimating a superstar—will echo for years to come.

And somewhere in the background, the music plays on—louder, prouder, and more defiant than ever before.