A significant leadership change is underway at HYBE america, the U.S. division of the South Korean entertainment giant HYBE. Renowned music executive and entrepreneur Scooter braun is stepping down from his role as CEO, effective July 1, 2025. The company announced Tuesday that Braun will transition into an executive advisory position. This move marks a pivotal moment for HYBE’s strategic expansion in the Western market and for braun’s own future endeavors.
In his new capacity, Braun will remain closely connected to HYBE. He will continue to serve as a director on HYBE’s board of directors. Additionally, he will take on responsibilities as a senior advisor to HYBE’s Chairman, Bang Si-Hyuk, and CEO, Lee Jae Sang. This transition allows Braun to maintain significant influence and provide strategic guidance while stepping away from the day-to-day operational leadership of the American subsidiary. Notably, Braun remains one of the largest individual shareholders in the parent company, HYBE.
Isaac Lee Takes the Helm at HYBE Americas
Succeeding Braun as the head of HYBE’s Western operations is Isaac Lee. Lee is a seasoned entertainment executive with previous experience as Chairman of HYBE Latin America since November 2023. In his expanded role, Lee will assume the titles of Chairman and CEO of HYBE Americas.
This broadened leadership scope means Lee will oversee HYBE’s key assets in the Western hemisphere. These include the Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group (BMLG) and the Atlanta hip-hop powerhouse QC Media Holdings (Quality Control). Lee will also continue to lead HYBE’s Latin American operations, based across Mexico, Miami, and Medellin. His appointment signals a potential integration or closer alignment between HYBE’s North American and Latin American strategies under unified leadership.
Pursuing New Ventures and Maintaining Partnership
Sources close to the situation indicate that Braun’s decision to step down as CEO stems from a desire to focus on new, currently undisclosed ventures. While the specific nature of these future pursuits remains private, the transition into an advisory role allows him the flexibility to explore these opportunities while still contributing to HYBE’s global vision.
Both Braun and HYBE leadership offered statements reflecting on the transition. Braun described his time at HYBE as “one of the most inspiring chapters” of his career. He praised Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk as a “true visionary and a musical genius,” acknowledging the “unparalleled” nature of what Bang has built with HYBE. Braun expressed pride in the collective achievements during his tenure and stated he looks forward to supporting Bang and the new CEO, Jason Jaesang Lee, from his advisory position.
Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk reciprocated the positive sentiments. He called Braun an “extraordinary partner, a visionary executive, and a true catalyst for cultural exchange.” Bang emphasized Braun’s “vital” contributions in establishing HYBE’s ambitious presence in the U.S. market, expressing gratitude for his leadership, instincts, and passion for artists. Bang wished Braun success in his next chapter and confirmed their anticipation of continuing their partnership through Braun’s advisory role as they execute HYBE’s global strategy.
Significant Moves During Braun’s Tenure
During his time as CEO of HYBE America, Scooter Braun played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s footprint in the U.S. market. Under his leadership, HYBE America executed several key acquisitions and strategic partnerships aimed at diversifying its portfolio beyond K-pop and solidifying its presence across various music genres.
Key achievements during Braun’s tenure included:
The acquisition of Atlanta-based hip-hop label Quality Control (QC Media Holdings) in February 2023. This deal, reported to be worth between $300 million and $320 million, brought artists like Lil Baby, Lil Yachty, City Girls, and Migos (early releases) into the HYBE ecosystem.
A distribution deal with Jermaine Dupri’s iconic So So Def Recordings, further expanding HYBE America’s reach in the hip-hop and R&B space. This move reportedly reunited Braun with Dupri, who supported his early career.
Collaboration in leading promotional and marketing efforts in North America under a new distribution deal between HYBE and Universal Music Group.
Involvement in a recent collaboration with Ryan Tedder to form a new boy band.
The acquisition of Confirmed360, an events concierge company, and the reported acquisition of US public relations agency The Agency Group PR LCC.
The sale of the rock division of the Big Machine label earlier this year for an undisclosed sum.
These strategic maneuvers were crucial in building a multi-label structure and establishing an IP-driven strategy for HYBE within the Western market, demonstrating Braun’s focus on integrating diverse talent and executives into the HYBE framework.
Context: The Ithaca Merger and Braun’s Evolving Role
Scooter Braun’s journey with HYBE began in April 2021. This was when HYBE strategically acquired his holding company, Ithaca Holdings LLC, in a landmark deal valued at $1.05 billion. At the time, Ithaca encompassed Braun’s extensive interests, including his management company SB Projects (representing global superstars like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, and J Balvin), a publishing company, and the Big Machine Label Group. It’s worth noting that the Big Machine acquisition by Ithaca, which famously included Taylor Swift’s early master recordings, occurred before the HYBE merger.
Following the Ithaca acquisition, Braun joined HYBE’s board of directors. He initially served as co-CEO of HYBE America alongside Lenzo Yoon Seok-jun. By early 2023, Braun was named the sole CEO of the American subsidiary, a role that became his primary professional focus. This leadership role at HYBE America coincided with Braun’s gradual step back from day-to-day artist management, a transition he publicly acknowledged in mid-2024 after 23 years in the field.
Braun’s Profile and Recent Industry Headlines
Beyond his executive roles, Scooter Braun has long been one of the most prominent, and at times controversial, figures in the music industry. His career as a powerful artist manager saw him guide the trajectories of some of the biggest names in global music.
However, his public profile became particularly polarized following his 2018 acquisition of Big Machine Label Group. This purchase notably included the master recordings of Taylor Swift’s first six albums. Swift publicly criticized the acquisition, claiming she was not given a fair opportunity to buy her masters and expressing bitterness over Braun’s ownership. Braun later sold the catalog for a reported profit, while Swift subsequently embarked on re-recording her early albums to regain control of her music. This episode significantly impacted perceptions of Braun within the industry and among fans.
More recently, reports surfaced regarding a purported parting of ways with long-time client Justin Bieber, alongside reports of a financial dispute where auditors allegedly determined the singer owes Braun a significant sum (reported as at least $1 million). While Braun stated his intentional withdrawal from artist management, these headlines contributed to ongoing discussions about his position in the evolving music landscape.
Navigating Recent Challenges at HYBE
Scooter Braun’s departure as CEO comes during a period where HYBE, despite its continued success as a K-pop powerhouse with groups like BTS, Seventeen, NewJeans, and Tomorrow X Together, has faced some internal and external challenges. While these issues are not directly linked to Braun’s specific decision to step down from the CEO role according to current reports, they provide a broader context for the company’s operational environment.
Recent challenges include:
A May 2025 investigation by Seoul prosecutors into allegations of insider trading involving a former HYBE executive. The individual is accused of illegally profiting up to $176,500 by trading shares using non-public information related to HYBE’s planned investment in YG Plus (an affiliate of YG Entertainment).
Separate reports in December regarding Chairman Bang Si-Hyuk being monitored by Korea’s Financial Services Supervisors. These reports stem from claims that Bang purposefully misled investors ahead of HYBE’s initial public offering (IPO) in 2020.
- A highly publicized leadership dispute within ADOR, a HYBE subsidiary and the agency behind the successful K-pop group NewJeans, involving ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin.
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- variety.com
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- www.musicbusinessworldwide.com
- www.soompi.com
Despite these internal turbulences, HYBE has consistently emphasized its strategy for robust international expansion over the past five years. This includes developing “budding sectors” in global markets such as Latin America and the United States. The restructuring of leadership at HYBE America, with Isaac Lee taking the helm and Braun moving to an advisory role, appears aligned with this continued focus on global growth and strategic presence in key Western markets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Scooter Braun step down as CEO of HYBE America?
According to company announcements and sources, Scooter Braun is stepping down from the chief executive position at HYBE America to focus on pursuing new ventures outside of his day-to-day duties at the subsidiary. He is not leaving HYBE entirely and will transition into an executive advisory role, maintaining his seat on the company’s board of directors and serving as a senior advisor to the Chairman and CEO.
Who is the new CEO of HYBE America?
The new Chairman and CEO of HYBE Americas is Isaac Lee. Lee previously served as Chairman of HYBE Latin America since November 2023. In his expanded role, he will now oversee HYBE’s operations across both North and Latin America, including key assets like Big Machine Label Group and Quality Control.
What was Scooter Braun’s impact on HYBE America during his tenure?
During his leadership as CEO, Scooter Braun oversaw significant strategic moves that expanded HYBE’s presence in the U.S. market. Key accomplishments included the multi-million dollar acquisition of hip-hop label Quality Control, securing a distribution deal with So So Def Recordings, playing a role in promotional efforts under the Universal Music Group distribution deal, and orchestrating other acquisitions and collaborations. These actions were instrumental in establishing a multi-label structure for HYBE in the West.
A New Chapter for Both Braun and HYBE
The transition of Scooter Braun from CEO to an executive advisory role marks a significant shift for both the executive and HYBE America. For Braun, it signals a move towards new, albeit undisclosed, professional horizons after decades shaping the music industry as a manager and executive. For HYBE, it represents a restructuring of its U.S. leadership under Isaac Lee, aiming to continue its aggressive expansion and integration strategy in key Western markets. While the context includes Braun’s complex industry profile and recent challenges faced by the parent company, both parties frame the change as a positive step, allowing for continued collaboration in new forms as HYBE pursues its global ambitions. The focus now shifts to how Lee will lead HYBE Americas and what Braun’s next ventures will entail.
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