Sia Sells 50 Percent of Her Catalog for $180 Million

Sia has sold a 50 percent stake in her music catalog for $180 million, Rolling Stone has confirmed. The buyer is Pophouse, the Swedish music catalog investment firm co-founded by Abba's Björn Ulvaeus. An official announcement is expected imminently.

News of the sale was first reported by TMZ. The deal pairs Sia with the company behind Abba Voyage, one of the most prominent experiments in virtual performance, and positions her catalog — among the strongest streaming catalogs in the industry — as the foundation for a new kind of production.

What does the deal cover?

Pophouse's stake is limited to publishing and master recording rights. It does not include Sia's name and likeness. An insider estimates Sia's songs generate $18 million annually in writing and performance royalties.

Beyond her own recordings, the deal draws on her work as a writer for other artists. Her vocals appear on Rihanna's "Diamonds," which she wrote and which has passed 2 billion streams on Spotify.

How big is Sia's streaming footprint?

The numbers explain the price tag:

• "Titanium," with DJ David Guetta: 2.4 billion streams
• "Unstoppable," "Chandelier," "Dusk Till Dawn" with Zayn, and "Cheap Thrills": each over 2 billion streams
• The "Cheap Thrills" version with Sean Paul, "Wild Ones" with Flo Rida, "Elastic Heart," and "Snowman": each more than 1 billion streams

What is the avatar project?

According to a source familiar with the deal, Sia will collaborate with Pophouse on an immersive digital avatar production built around her music. The show will incorporate her songs both as an artist and as a writer, delivering her top hits using her vocals and new versions of her songs.

The debut is at least a couple of years out, the source adds. The production may tour to select cities, though planning remains in the early stages.

Who is Pophouse?

Pophouse developed Abba Voyage, the virtual residency that uses "ABBAtars" of the Swedish band as they appeared in 1979, performing in a custom-built arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London. The firm was the founding investor of Abba Voyage when it launched in 2022.

The Sia deal continues an aggressive acquisition streak:

• In 2024, Pophouse acquired the music catalogue, brand name, likeness, and trademarks of Kiss, with plans to launch the Kiss Forever immersive avatar show in Las Vegas in 2028
• In March, alongside BMG, it became majority owner of the "music interests" of Tina Turner's catalog, plus rights to her name, image, and likeness
• In July, it acquired a stake in Iron Maiden's publishing and master music rights, along with name, image, and likeness rights, with plans for a digital universe centered on the band's mascot Eddie

On the Turner deal, Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos signaled the company's broader strategy: "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."

With Sia's catalog now in its portfolio and an avatar production on the horizon, Pophouse is betting that the Abba Voyage model can travel beyond London — and that a songwriter as prolific as Sia can anchor the next generation of virtual residencies.