Tina Turner’s name, image, likeness and most music catalog rights acquired by Pophouse

Pophouse Entertainment has acquired Tina Turner’s name, image, and likeness rights along with the majority share of her music catalog rights from BMG, the company announced Thursday. The Swedish entertainment firm, co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, is known for creating digital avatars and immersive entertainment experiences.

While declining to disclose financial details, Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos told The Associated Press that Turner’s visual presence and stage energy were key factors in their interest. “What we want to do is really help to consolidate her legacy,” Koravos said. “I think that Tina Turner is up there, or is going to be up there, with the Elvises and the Marilyn Monroes of the world.”

The company plans to announce specific projects involving Turner’s legacy within the next six months, though Koravos would not confirm whether a digital avatar similar to their previous projects is in development.

Turner, widely regarded as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” died in 2023 at age 83. Her illustrious career included chart-topping hits like “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “The Best,” and “Proud Mary.” Her achievements include 12 Grammy Awards, two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (1991 and 2021), and Kennedy Center honors in 2005. She sold more than 150 million records worldwide.

Negotiations for the deal began after Turner’s death. Koravos noted that while BMG still retains a percentage of Turner’s catalog, Turner’s estate was informed of and participated in discussions though not directly involved as a counterparty.

Alistair Norbury, president of BMG U.K., Continental Europe and APAC, emphasized their commitment to preserving Turner’s legacy. “Tina Turner’s voice and spirit shaped modern music and popular culture,” he said in a statement. “Our responsibility, alongside Pophouse and the Estate, is to ensure her work continues to resonate with audiences around the world.”

The Turner acquisition represents part of Pophouse’s expanding investment strategy beyond Sweden. Earlier this year, the rock band Kiss sold their catalog, brand name, and intellectual property to Pophouse in a deal reportedly worth over $300 million. Prior to the sale, Kiss had partnered with Pophouse to develop digitized avatars, which debuted at the final show of their 2023 farewell tour.

This advanced technology was created through a collaboration between George Lucas’s special effects company, Industrial Light & Magic, and Pophouse. The same partnership previously developed the groundbreaking “ABBA Voyage” show in London, where fans can experience a concert featuring digital avatars of the Swedish supergroup in their prime.

Also this year, Cyndi Lauper entered into a partnership with Pophouse that included selling the majority share of her music rights. Lauper expressed enthusiasm about Pophouse’s creative approach during an AP interview at the company’s Stockholm headquarters, noting that “most suits, when you tell them an idea, their eyes glaze over, they just want your greatest hits.”

Koravos believes Pophouse’s unique appeal to artists lies in their creative approach. “I think what interests artists, and the estates of artists in some cases, is that there aren’t very many people who are talking to them about what they want to achieve, creatively, around their body of work,” she explained.

The company is selective in its acquisitions, focusing on quality over quantity. “We’re not trying to be a major (label),” Koravos added. “It’s not a volume game for us. We want to acquire 10 or 12 really unique properties that have even more unique projects attached to them.”

As the entertainment industry continues to explore new technologies to preserve and monetize legendary artists’ legacies, Pophouse’s acquisition of Turner’s rights signals growing interest in innovative ways to introduce iconic performers to new generations while creating fresh revenue streams from established catalogs.