Sia has turned one of pop music’s most recognizable catalogs into a major nine-figure partnership.
Pophouse Entertainment has acquired a 50% stake in the Australian singer-songwriter’s publishing and master recording rights, with the transaction reportedly valued at $180 million. At that price, the deal effectively places a roughly $360 million valuation on the complete catalog.
The agreement brings Pophouse into a body of work that stretches across Sia’s career as both a performer and a songwriter. Her own collection of hits includes “Chandelier,” “Cheap Thrills,” “Elastic Heart” and “Unstoppable,” while her songwriting credits extend to major recordings by other artists, including Rihanna’s “Diamonds.”
Importantly, the transaction does not include Sia’s name or likeness. Instead, the partnership centers on her music rights while creating an opportunity for the songs to be developed through new projects.
One of those ideas could take Sia’s famously visual approach to performance into decidedly futuristic territory.
Plans are being developed for an immersive digital avatar production built around her music. The project is still in its early stages, but it could draw from both songs Sia recorded herself and compositions she wrote for other performers.
Pophouse arrives with plenty of experience in that department. The Swedish entertainment and investment company was a founding investor in ABBA Voyage, the London production that uses digital versions of the members of ABBA. The company has also assembled music investments involving a growing roster of prominent artists.
The financial details surrounding Sia’s agreement have another layer because of her divorce from Dan Bernad. According to reports citing legal documents, $165 million of the transaction is tied to songs created before their marriage. Another $15 million associated with music written during the marriage is being held in escrow while its distribution is resolved.
Beyond the enormous dollar figure, the partnership illustrates how valuable successful songwriting catalogs have become and how companies are looking beyond conventional licensing and streaming income when putting those songs to work.
For Sia, that means selling half of the rights while remaining connected to what happens next.
And if the planned digital production eventually reaches audiences, some of pop’s most familiar songs could find themselves with an entirely new stage.
