Poaching (stealing music acts from other parties) has always been common practice in the music biz. UMG just poached an artist from Columbia, and this isn’t a just any fish, it’s a whale.

BTS is ending its distribution deal with Sony Music’s Columbia and is headed to Universal Music Group.

UMG Sir Lucian Grainge and IGA boss John Janick have inked a deal with K-pop boyband BTS. The arrangement was struck via Bang Si-Hyuk-led Korean firm HYBE (fka Big Hit).

Scooter Braun, who sold his company Ithaca Holdings to HYBE in April, reportedly helped seal the deal using his relationship with Grainge and HYBE Global CEO Lenzo Yoon.

Ironically, Columbia’s Kid LAROI just split with Scooter’s management company just after 3 months. Did The Kid getta call from the boss?