Sia sells half her catalogue for $180 million in Pophouse avatar deal
Sia has sold half of her music catalogue for $180 million.
The buyer is Pophouse, the Swedish music catalogue investment firm co-founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus. Rolling Stone reported the deal on 1 October 2026.
The price tag is $180 million. It covers a 50 percent stake.
That stake is limited to two types of rights. Publishing covers the songwriting, while master recording rights cover ownership of the actual recordings. The deal does not include name and likeness, which means Pophouse has not bought the rights to Sia's image or branding.
One insider estimated that Sia's songs bring in $18 million a year in writing and performance royalties. That figure was reported as context for the valuation, not confirmed by either party.
The sale comes with a stage plan. Sia will work with Pophouse to launch an immersive digital avatar production built around her music.
The show will draw on her songs both as a performer and as a writer for other artists. It will use her vocals, including on "Diamonds", the song recorded by Rihanna. The debut is at least a couple of years away. It may then tour to select cities.
For fans, this means no immediate concert announcement. The project is in development, with music rights secured first and production to follow.
Pophouse is known for this kind of work. The company says it invests in and develops entertainment brands, specialising in music catalogue investments. It developed ABBA Voyage, the virtual residency show in which digital ABBAtars perform in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. Pophouse was the founding investor when that show launched in 2022.
The company says ABBA Voyage has sold 3,000,000 tickets. Pophouse also lists the ABBA The Museum, the Avicii Experience and Mamma Mia! The Party among its ventures.
Sia joins a roster of catalogue deals. Pophouse lists Avicii, Tina Turner, Iron Maiden, Swedish House Mafia, Cyndi Lauper and KISS among its acquired catalogues.
That activity includes a deal for KISS's catalogue, brand name and intellectual property estimated at over $300 million, and a deal for a majority share of Cyndi Lauper's publishing rights and royalties. Billboard reported the Lauper sale in February 2024.
