Pophouse Entertainment acquired 50% of Sia's publishing and master recording rights for $180 million, according to Music Business Worldwide. The deal, announced October 1, 2026, implies a $360 million valuation for the Australian singer-songwriter's full catalog, which includes "Chandelier," "Elastic Heart," "Unstoppable," and "Cheap Thrills," plus her co-writing credits on Rihanna's "Diamonds" and David Guetta's "Titanium."
The payout splits unevenly because of a pending legal dispute. TMZ reports $165 million of the sale covers songs Sia wrote before her December 2022 marriage, while the remaining $15 million for post-marriage compositions is held in escrow pending resolution of a claim from her ex-husband, Daniel Bernad. Sia paid Bernad $1 million to waive any claim on her pre-marriage catalog, leaving her with $164 million from that portion of the deal.
Sia called the arrangement a fit for how Pophouse treats an artist's work. "These songs mean so much to me, and I love that they really understand that and want to take care of them," she said, according to Billboard. Pophouse CEO Jessica Koravos said Sia is "an artist whose extraordinary catalog and unique creative identity offer exceptional opportunities."
Pophouse, founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and EQT's Conni Jonsson, built its business on the ABBA Voyage avatar concert residency in London, where the band performs without any member present. The firm has run the same model on KISS, Cyndi Lauper, Avicii, and, as of July 2026, Iron Maiden, and is reportedly working with Sia on a similar immersive digital avatar production built around her catalog, per Billboard.
The deal is part of a broader rebound in catalog buying activity in 2026, following moves like Sony Music Publishing's acquisition of Recognition Music Group's 45,000-song catalog. Unlike those songs-only transactions, Pophouse's Sia deal follows the avatar-rights playbook the firm has applied across its roster rather than buying royalty streams alone.
Source: Music Business Worldwide
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