Pophouse Entertainment, the Sweden-based music investment firm co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, says it has acquired a majority stake in the music interests of Tina Turner, in a deal with BMG that also covers the late superstar’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) rights.
That’s according to a press release issued on Thursday (March 19), which confirmed that Pophouse and BMG have completed a “strategic transaction” that sees Pophouse “becoming an owner alongside BMG” in the music interests of Turner’s catalog as well as in her NIL rights.
BMG originally acquired an extensive portfolio of rights related to Turner’s music and image back in October 2021. BMG didn’t put a price on the deal, but it was thought to be worth around $50 million. It was confirmed at the time as the biggest single-artist rights acquisition the Bertelsmann-owned company had made since it was formed in 2008.
That deal saw BMG acquire the artist’s share of Turner’s recordings, plus her music publishing writer’s share, neighboring rights, and NIL rights. Warner Music remained the record company for Turner’s catalog.
Most recently, according to the press release announcing the latest transaction, “BMG has played an important role, together with the Tina Turner Estate, in protecting and developing Tina Turner’s legacy since the initial acquisition and will remain closely involved in this work going forward.”
Pophouse, alongside BMG and the Estate, said it will “focus on long-term stewardship and contribute creative ideas that respect and laud Tina Turner’s artistry, to continue to elevate her work and legacy among existing fans as well as new ones.”
The transaction is the first significant music rights acquisition to be announced under Jessica Koravos, who took over as Pophouse CEO in January, succeeding Per Sundin.
Commenting on the deal, Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos said, “I am thrilled to welcome Tina Turner’s iconic catalog to the Pophouse family. We will now set in motion a series of creative projects to celebrate Tina Turner’s remarkable music and persona and secure her legacy as the Queen of Rock n’ Roll.”
“I am thrilled to welcome Tina Turner’s iconic catalog to the Pophouse family. We will now set in motion a series of creative projects to celebrate Tina Turner’s remarkable music and persona and secure her legacy as the Queen of Rock n’ Roll.”
Jessica Koravos, Pophouse
Pophouse Managing Partner & Head of Investments Johan Lagerlöf said: “We are incredibly proud to be entrusted with helping celebrate and develop Tina Turner’s extraordinary legacy.”
“We are incredibly proud to be entrusted with helping celebrate and develop Tina Turner’s extraordinary legacy.”
Johan Lagerlöf, Pophouse
Added Lagerlöf: “Tina Turner is not only one of the greatest artists of all time, but a force of nature whose impact extends far beyond music.
“We look forward to developing new and exciting projects that respectfully carry her legacy forward for generations to come.”
“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.”
BMG President, UK, Continental Europe & APAC, Alistair Norbury, said: “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.”
The acquisition marks the latest in a series of high-profile catalog deals by Pophouse, which was founded in 2014 by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and EQT founder Conni Jonsson.
Pophouse closed its debut fund, Pophouse Fund I, in March 2025, raising over EUR €1.2 billion (USD $1.3 billion) to invest in music catalogs and IP.
The KISS deal, reported to be worth over $300 million, saw Pophouse acquire the band’s song catalog, name, image and likeness rights – including their iconic face paint designs – and their artist share of master recordings and publishing rights.
Pophouse’s approach centers on what it describes as an “artist-centric” investment strategy targeting three essential rights: publishing, recordings, and NIL. Beyond passive catalog ownership, the company says it focuses on creating value through immersive experiences and creative activations built around acquired IP.
Tina Turner, who passed away on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83, was twice inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and won 12 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. She is one of the top-selling female artists of all time, with her solo works – comprising ten studio albums, two live albums, two soundtracks and five compilations – having sold over 100 million records.
Her catalog includes era-defining hits such as What’s Love Got to Do with It, The Best, Private Dancer and We Don’t Need Another Hero.
The press release noted that as a touring artist for over 50 years, Tina Turner “broke down barriers at every turn”.
The release added that “amid a range of honours and firsts, in 1967 she became the first Black artist and first woman to feature on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine” and that “Two decades later, on her 1988 Break Every Rule World Tour, she performed for a record-breaking crowd at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium – the largest concert ever by a single artist for a paying audience at the time”.
