Scooter Braun has admitted he is still “confused” by the Taylor Swift masters dispute.
In 2019, the former talent manager and the superstar entered into a long-running feud after he purchased her six-album catalogue for a reported $330 million (£245 million) as part of his acquisition of the Big Machine Label Group.
After re-recording four albums, Swift announced in May 2025 that she had reclaimed her masters and full ownership of her music catalogue.
Reflecting on the battle in an interview for the Second Thought with Suzy Weiss podcast on Thursday, Braun insisted that he never thought for a second that he would be painted as the “villain”.
“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,” he said. “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.”
Braun went on to recall how he spoke with Swift once very briefly and described how they had a “nice” conversation.
“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,” the 44-year-old 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.”
In addition, Braun emphasised that he has learned a “tremendous” amount from the controversy and is interested in the future of music publishing.
“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,” he added.
Representatives for Swift have not yet responded to the comments.
The 36-year-old released her twelfth studio album, The Life of a Showgirl, last October.
