Pophouse Entertainment has acquired Tina Turner's name, image and likeness rights as well as the majority share of her music catalogue rights from music company BMG, in a move that signals a growing trend in how entertainment companies preserve and monetise the legacies of music's greatest performers.
The Swedish company, co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, is known for their digital avatars and immersive experiences. If the name sounds familiar, it should. The same companies teamed up for the "ABBA Voyage" show in London, where fans could attend a full concert by the Swedish band in their heyday, as performed by their own digital avatars. It's the kind of technology that initially sounds gimmicky but has proven strangely moving in practice, letting audiences witness artistic visions at their creative peak.
The financial details remain secret, but this deal sits within a larger strategy. In 2024, hard rock quartet Kiss sold their catalog, brand name and intellectual property to Pophouse in a deal estimated to be over $300 million. Also in 2024, Cyndi Lauper entered a partnership with Pophouse, which included the sale of the majority share of her music. What's emerging is a specialist company focused on building experiences around legendary artists, not just warehousing their back catalogues.
Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos explained that the company was interested in Tina because "she has such an incredible visual presence and such an incredible stage energy. And so, we're very much looking at projects that can portray that and try to recreate that to some degree." She added that Pophouse wants to "really help to consolidate her legacy."
What's particularly interesting about Pophouse's approach is their stated focus on Turner's later work. Koravos told Billboard, "We came to the table with the sense that not enough had been said or made of the latter part of Tina's career: her time in Europe and her huge hits as a solo artist later in life, just exactly how groundbreaking she was." This is a departure from the usual "greatest hits" approach that dominates music catalogue acquisitions. Rather than dusting off the obvious classics, Pophouse wants to explore the second act of a legendary career that often gets overlooked.
Conversations for the Pophouse deal began after her death. Turner's estate was not involved "as a counterparty but certainly involved and in the sense of informed and participating in the conversations." This careful stewardship matters; it suggests decisions are being made with some thought toward how Turner herself might have wanted her work treated.
The company hasn't confirmed whether a digital avatar is in the works, but Pophouse will announce plans in the next six months. Whatever comes, the investment signals something worth noting: the greatest artists from the 20th century remain not just commercially valuable but creatively vital. Their work deserves more than nostalgia. It deserves reimagining.