Pophouse Entertainment acquires master recordings and publishing catalogues of electronic music pioneers Swedish House Mafia

29 March 2022 - Press release

Company announces major expansion of investment in music propelled by further ventures to develop and amplify artists and brands worldwide

Building on involvement with ABBA and Avicii brands, the Stockholm-based entertainment powerhouse sets sights on US- and UK-based brands and rights-holders. Former Capitol Music Group and Columbia Records head Steve Barnett will lead outreach.

Pophouse Entertainment (Pophouse), the Stockholm-based entertainment company renowned for its development of brand-building enterprises in music, such as the forthcoming ABBA Voyage show in London, virtual experiences and gaming, has concluded a landmark acquisition and agreement with electronic music trailblazers Swedish House Mafia. Pophouse has fully acquired the master recordings and publishing (including their writer’s shares) of the trio’s back catalogue, and will form a joint venture with its members to develop and amplify the Swedish House Mafia brand worldwide. The agreement also includes Pophouse’s full acquisition of the masters and publishing of Axwell^Ingrosso.

According to Pophouse CEO Per Sundin, ”Swedish House Mafia is a groundbreaking trio that brought club music to stadiums around the world, and they continue to pave the way in contemporary electronic and dance music. We are so excited to be partnering with them to tell that story for generations to come. While our landmark agreement with them involves the acquisition of the recordings and publishing of their back catalog, it is our first-of-its-kind joint venture with the band’s members that exemplifies the types of partnerships we are pursuing in our targeted expansion.”

Upon signing their agreement with Pophouse, the members of Swedish House Mafia said, “It feels great for us to partner up with a company like Pophouse that will do much more than simply acquire our creative work. Pophouse will invest funds, know-how and resources to bring our music into areas of entertainment where it hasn’t been before and for new audiences to discover our legacy.”

Pophouse head of investments, Johan Lagerlöf, who recently left his role as global head of catalog at Spotify, said, ”For Pophouse an acquisition is just a starting point in the relationship. We are here to invest further in brand-building activities that amplify artist legacies to new audiences and develop new revenue streams as we’ve done so successfully in our other endeavors. Pophouse is not replacing any existing stakeholder, but is joining forces with artists’ existing teams and partners to grow the business for all.” 

As the company expands its sights beyond Sweden, Pophouse has appointed former Capitol Music Group and Columbia Records head Steve Barnett to the company’s Investment Advisory Committee and charged him with leading the company’s targeted outreach with US- and UK-based rights-holders to invest in and jointly build upon the legacies of iconic entertainment brands.
Barnett said, ”I’ve known Per and Johan for many years, and have worked closely with them on so many endeavors on behalf of artists. I also had the pleasure of helping to relaunch the illustrious ABBA catalog in America at Capitol, and [ABBA member and Pophouse founder] Björn Ulvaeus is simply one of the most creative and forward-thinking artists and executives in the history of our business. I’m thrilled to be joining them and the entire Pophouse team as we forge new partnerships on behalf of artists in the U.S., U.K. and beyond.”

 

Pophouse was formed in 2014 by ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus and EQT Founder and Chair of the EQT Board Conni Jonsson as a venture when the company created the world-renowned ABBA Museum in Stockholm.  The company has expanded into numerous other endeavors in Sweden’s capital city, including: Space, the largest gaming center in the world; Pippi at the Circus, a musical based on the legendary Astrid Lindgren character Pippi Longstocking, housed in the company’s Cirkus arena; and Perfect Day Media, the leading podcast house in the Nordics. In May, the much-anticipated ABBA Voyage in London, where Pophouse is the lead-investor, will feature the legendary music group’s avatars accompanied by a 10-piece live band in a one-of-a-kind concert experience. This technological and musical breakthrough will take place throughout the year in a custom-built arena at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

Swedish House Mafia garners nearly 19 million listeners a month on Spotify, and have built a singular career through the trio’s groundbreaking live performances, multiple singles, EPs, compilation and live albums, and groundbreaking music videos that have accumulated billions of streams and views. Swedish House Mafia will release its debut studio album, Paradise Again, on April 15 through Republic Records, and have already begun their upcoming album campaign by gracing the covers of Billboard and SPIN, performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and had a hit with “Sacrifice” on The Weeknd’s new album. The trio will embark on its Paradise Again World Tour in July, headlining major festivals and arena venues through November. Swedish House Mafia is also about to be seen live for the first time in years with a massive, unprecedented Coachella slot.