Pophouse Entertainment Group, the Swedish entertainment company behind ABBA Voyage and the forthcoming KISS avatar show, has made a significant music rights acquisition.
The company has acquired the majority share of American singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper’s master recording revenue and publishing. Pophouse notes that the acquisition does not include Lauper’s Broadway music.
Today’s (February 29) announcement marks Pophouse’s first acquisition from a US artist, as the company continues to expand beyond its native Nordics into North America.
In December Pophouse announced a partnership with US rock and roll band KISS for a new avatar show, which will be the second immersive, avatar-powered music concert project that Pophouse Entertainment is involved in following the ABBA Voyage show in London, UK, where Pophouse is the lead investor.
Pophouse first ventured into the music rights M&A space in 2022 by acquiring the catalogs of two Sweden-born superstars, Avicii and Swedish House Mafia.
The company was founded in 2014 by EQT founder Conni Jonsson and founding ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus. Pophouse is led by former Universal Music Sweden Managing Director Per Sundin.
As part of the Avicii and Swedish House Mafia acquisitions, Pophouse formed joint ventures with the Avicii Estate and Swedish House Mafia band members respectively, “to further develop and safeguard their legacy through future global endeavors”.
According to Thursday’s (February 29) announcement, Lauper and Pophouse will also work closely together through a joint venture.
Pophouse says they will develop creative activations inspired by Lauper’s “timeless pop music repertoire” spanning her career.
This includes hits such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time, and True Colors.
Working in close collaboration with Cyndi Lauper, Pophouse says it will follow its “unique, value-added approach of drawing upon its world-class, in-house creative and storytelling expertise” to introduce her music to new audiences.
Pophouse also says it will create new content and experiences to “enrich” Cyndi Lauper’s catalog.
“Their creativity and vision, combined with my continued involvement via our unique joint venture is what is most exciting to me.”
Cyndi Lauper
Cyndi Lauper said: “Since we first met, Pophouse has impressed me with their commitment to maintaining and developing my professional life’s work and ensuring its legacy.
“Their creativity and vision, combined with my continued involvement via our unique joint venture is what is most exciting to me.
“I can’t wait to participate in this new stage in my musical evolution and I could not be more pleased to know my music will now be in Pophouse’s safe hands as they build upon my legacy in the years to come.”
“Cyndi Lauper is an icon, with a career that has inspired generation after generation of music lovers. That she has entrusted us to protect and continue to grow her legacy is a privilege we are proud to accept.”
Pophouse CEO Per Sundin added: “Cyndi Lauper is an icon, with a career that has inspired generation after generation of music lovers. That she has entrusted us to protect and continue to grow her legacy is a privilege we are proud to accept.
“We set ourselves apart through our emphasis on artist and brand development, so that we can nurture the value of our investment, and we are pleased Cyndi endorses our vision for her remarkable catalog of work.”
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