In a significant move within the entertainment industry, Pophouse Entertainment Group has secured the rights to Tina Turner's name, image, and likeness, alongside the majority share of her music catalog rights, from music company BMG. The announcement was made on Thursday, marking a strategic acquisition by the Swedish firm co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, known for its expertise in digital avatars and immersive experiences.
Preserving a Rock 'n' Roll Icon
Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos declined to reveal the financial specifics of the deal or outline detailed plans for the Turner acquisition. However, she emphasized to The Associated Press that Turner's "incredible visual presence and stage energy" were key motivators. "We're very much looking at projects that can portray that and try to recreate that to some degree," Koravos stated, adding, "What we want to do is really help to consolidate her legacy. 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."
Future Projects and Digital Possibilities
While Koravos would not confirm whether a digital avatar of Turner is in development, she indicated that Pophouse will announce its plans within the next six months. The acquisition follows Turner's passing in 2023 at the age of 83. Renowned as the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" for hits like "What's Love Got to Do With It," "The Best," and "Proud Mary," Turner's career spanned decades, earning her 12 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1991 and 2021, a Kennedy Center honor in 2005, and over 150 million records sold globally.
Deal Details and Estate Involvement
Discussions for the Pophouse deal commenced after Turner's death. Koravos clarified that BMG retains a percentage of her catalog, and while Turner's estate was not a direct counterparty in the transaction, it was "informed and participating in the conversations." Alistair Norbury, president of BMG U.K., Continental Europe, and APAC, commented in a statement: "Tina Turner's voice and spirit shaped modern music and popular culture. Our responsibility, alongside Pophouse and the Estate, is to ensure her work continues to resonate with audiences around the world, while remaining true to the strength, independence and originality that defined her career."
Pophouse's Expanding Portfolio
This acquisition is part of Pophouse's broader strategy of investing in musical properties beyond Sweden. In 2024, the hard rock band Kiss sold their catalog, brand name, and intellectual property to Pophouse in a deal estimated at over $300 million. Previously, Kiss collaborated with Pophouse to create digitized avatars, unveiled during their 2023 farewell tour, using cutting-edge technology developed with George Lucas's special-effects company, Industrial Light & Magic. The same partnership produced the "ABBA Voyage" show in London, featuring digital avatars of the Swedish band performing in their prime.
Also in 2024, Cyndi Lauper entered a partnership with Pophouse, which included selling the majority share of her music. Lauper praised the company's innovative approach, telling the AP, "Most suits, when you tell them an idea, their eyes glaze over, they just want your greatest hits. But these guys are a multimedia company, they're not looking to just buy my catalog, they want to make something new."
A Creative Vision for Legacy Artists
Koravos highlighted Pophouse's unique focus on creative collaboration. "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. "So I think that is interesting to people, it's interesting to artists, who have got creative projects in their heads that they would like some support realizing. And those are the people we're interested in talking to."
She further emphasized that Pophouse is not aiming to operate as a major label. "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," Koravos added, underscoring the company's commitment to quality over quantity in preserving and innovating around iconic musical legacies.
