Watch this 2008 video of a 13-year-old singing on YouTube…
If you saw this video in 2008, would YOU sign this kid?
Write YES or NO in your notebook and explain your reasoning.
In 2008, Scooter Braun was a 26-year-old music marketing executive. He accidentally clicked on a YouTube video of 13-year-old Justin Bieber singing covers in his bedroom. He tracked down Bieber’s family in Stratford, Ontario, Canada — and flew there to meet them in person.
What did Scooter see that others missed?
If Bieber earns $100 million…
Scooter earns $20 million (at 20% commission)
KEY INSIGHT: The manager only succeeds when the artist succeeds!
2019: Scooter Braun’s company bought Taylor Swift’s former label, giving him ownership of her first 6 albums’ master recordings
Taylor’s response: She publicly called it her “worst case scenario” — she had no say in the sale
Her solution: She re-recorded all her albums as “Taylor’s Version” to regain control
Discussion: What does this teach us about trust, ownership, and power in the music business?
Part 1: The Discovery — How did Scooter find Justin? What risks did he take?
Manager Responsibilities: Categorize activities as BUSINESS or CAREER
Commission Calculation: If Bieber earns $100 million, how much does Scooter earn at 20%?
Reflection: Why does the commission structure align the manager’s interests with the artist’s?
What does an artist manager do? Name THREE specific responsibilities.
How do managers get paid? Why does the commission structure align their interests with the artist’s?