Answer First
No, Scooter Braun does not own Justin Bieber’s musical performance or song copyrights outright; he and his company, Ithaca Holdings, own or control the sound recordings (masters) and the publishing rights to the songs, largely through acquisitions and management structures. The artist retains personal rights and has partial ownership via his production ventures. Below, we clarify the distinction between masters and publishing, outline the key deals, and explain what this arrangement means for Bieber and Braun’s catalog holdings.
How Music Ownership Works
In the music industry, “ownership” can refer to several distinct rights. Understanding these is essential to the Scooter Braun and Justin Bieber relationship. No single article headline should imply simple ownership without this context.
Sound Recordings (Masters)
Masters are the original recorded takes of a performance. Whoever controls the masters can license streaming, downloads, and physical sales. In most label deals, the label initially holds these, but they are often sold or securitized later.
Musical Composition (Publishing)
Publishing covers the underlying musical work (melody, lyrics) and songwriting income. This is distinct from the master. Publishing can be owned by songwriters, publishers, or acquired by investment funds.
Artist’s Personal Rights
An artist may retain rights to their name, likeness, and sometimes partial ownership of recordings via production entities or renegotiation. These do not automatically transfer with master sales.
The Key Transactions Involving Justin Bieber
Braun’s involvement with Bieber’s catalog centers on two major moves: the acquisition of Ithaca Holdings and the earlier SB Projects publishing portfolio. Neither transaction made Braun Bieber’s personal manager or owner of all rights.
Ithaca Holdings and the Masters Portfolio
In 2021, Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings acquired a portfolio of song catalogs that included a portion of Justin Bieber’s songwriter shares. Ithaca did not acquire Bieber’s performance masters directly from Universal Music Group; those remained with the label. In 2022, Ithaca acquired Music Reports, which included YouTube monetization rights for certain recordings. The combined effect is that Ithaca controls licensing and revenue for many Bieber tracks in streaming and video contexts.
SB Projects Publishing Purchase
In 2016, SB Projects acquired a catalog that included a share of Bieber publishing. This positioned Braun’s firm to collect songwriter royalties while Universal retained or controlled the master recordings under its distribution agreement. The two transactions together mean Braun’s entities influence both master and publishing income streams for many songs.
Factual Timeline at a Glance
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | SB Projects acquires Bieber publishing portfolio | Put Braun’s firm in position to collect songwriter royalties |
| 2021 | Ithaca Holdings purchases catalog including Bieber songwriter shares | Shifted publishing control toward Braun’s company |
| 2022 | Ithaca acquires Music Reports | Expanded YouTube and digital licensing control over certain Bieber recordings |
| Ongoing | Universal Music Group licenses and distributes masters | Masters typically remain with the label unless specifically sold |
Quick Comparison: Master vs Publishing
- Masters = the actual recording; control affects streaming revenue and usage
- Publishing = the composition; controls songwriting royalties and sync licensing
- Label typically holds masters unless explicitly sold
- Braun’s entities control portions of publishing and certain master-use rights via licensing and catalog acquisitions
What Does This Mean for Bieber?
Bieber retains performance rights, his brand, and involvement in creative decisions. His company, Bieber Time LLC, may hold partial master ownership or profit-sharing arrangements. Braun’s acquisitions shift the business-side revenue streams but do not equate to full ownership of the artist’s output or persona. Co-publishing and licensing deals enable Braun to monetize streams and videos while Universal maintains broad distribution and marketing responsibilities.
Artist Rights and Industry Context
Catalog acquisitions like Ithaca’s purchases reflect broader industry shifts in which back catalogs are treated as investible assets. For artists, this underscores the importance of negotiating ownership terms early and retaining creative control. In Bieber’s case, his long-term label partnership with Universal remains central, and Braun’s role is primarily as a rights holder and manager rather than a direct owner of the recordings.
In Summary
Does Scooter Braun own Justin Bieber’s music? Not in the all-encompassing sense. Braun’s Ithaca Holdings and SB Projects manage key publishing shares and influence master-use licensing for many tracks. However, Universal Music Group largely controls the sound recordings, and Bieber retains personal rights and collaboration-driven ownership structures. The relationship is better understood as Braun holding significant financial levers rather than outright ownership of the artist’s work.