Swedish Entertainment Company Buys Tina Turner’s Rights from BMG

A Swedish entertainment company known for creating digital avatars has purchased the rights to Tina Turner's name, image and most of her music catalog from BMG. Pophouse Entertainment, co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, plans to announce new projects featuring the late rock legend within six months.

A Swedish entertainment company specializing in digital avatar technology has purchased the rights to Tina Turner’s name, image, and the majority of her music catalog from BMG, the company revealed Thursday.

Pophouse Entertainment, which was co-founded by ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus, has built a reputation for creating immersive digital experiences and avatar performances.

While Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos declined to reveal the purchase price or specific future plans, she explained to The Associated Press their interest in the legendary performer. “One of the reasons that we were so interested in Tina is 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,” Koravos stated.

“What we want to do is really help to consolidate her legacy,” she continued. “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.”

Though Koravos wouldn’t confirm whether a digital avatar of Turner is in development, she promised the company would reveal their plans within the next six months.

The “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” passed away in 2023 at age 83, leaving behind an extraordinary musical legacy. Turner achieved massive success with iconic songs including “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “The Best” and “Proud Mary.” Throughout her decades-long career, she earned 12 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, received Kennedy Center Honors in 2005, and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – in 1991 and 2021. Her record sales exceeded 150 million copies globally.

According to Koravos, discussions about the acquisition started following Turner’s death. She noted that BMG retains a portion of the catalog, and while Turner’s estate wasn’t directly involved in negotiations, they were “certainly involved and in the sense of informed and participating in the conversations.”

BMG’s Alistair Norbury, who serves as president for U.K., Continental Europe and APAC regions, released a statement emphasizing their commitment to Turner’s artistic vision. “Tina Turner’s voice and spirit shaped modern music and popular culture,” Norbury wrote. “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.”

This acquisition represents part of Pophouse’s recent expansion beyond Sweden. Earlier in 2024, the company completed a deal worth more than $300 million to acquire hard rock band Kiss’s catalog, brand name, and intellectual property. Kiss had previously collaborated with Pophouse to create digital versions of themselves, which were unveiled during their final farewell concert in 2023.

The advanced avatar technology was developed through a partnership between George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic and Pophouse. These same companies created the “ABBA Voyage” concert experience in London, where audiences can watch a complete performance by digital versions of the Swedish supergroup from their prime years.

Pophouse also struck a deal with Cyndi Lauper in 2024, acquiring the majority of her music rights as part of a broader partnership.

Speaking from Pophouse’s Stockholm offices, Lauper praised the company’s creative approach. “Most suits, when you tell them an idea, their eyes glaze over, they just want your greatest hits,” Lauper told the AP. “But these guys are a multimedia company, they’re not looking to just buy my catalog, they want to make something new.”

Koravos explained that their unique approach appeals to artists and estates alike. “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 said. “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.”

Rather than pursuing volume-based acquisitions, Koravos emphasized their selective strategy. “We’re not trying to be a major (label),” she explained. “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.”