Kiss sells catalog, name, IP to Pophouse Entertainment Group
Kiss FILE PHOTO: Gene Simmons of Kiss performs during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) (Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
(Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
ByNatalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
You’d never think you would have metal gods Kiss in the same sentence as ABBA, but a deal has been struck between Kiss and the company co-founded by the Swedish band’s Björn Ulvaeus.
Pophouse Entertainment Group, which Ulvaeus co-founded, is now the owner of Kiss’ catalog, brand name and intellectual property (IP) after both sides signed a deal estimated to be more than $300 million, The Associated Press reported.
Pophouse and Kiss had partnered in the past when the rock band created digitized avatars of themselves which debuted during Kiss’ final night of their farewell tour. The virtual band was created by George Lucas’ Industrial Light & Magic in a partnership with Pophouse using technology that also brought ABBA back to the stage together.
The avatar version of Kiss is expected to begin in some form in 2027 in North America, Sundin said.
“ABBA Voyage” started in London in July 2022, grossing more than $1 million a week, Variety reported. There are plans to take “Voyage” on a world tour.
Pophouse CEO Per Sundin said there also is a biopic, documentary and Kiss experience in the works.
Kiss frontman Gene Simmons said it was not an acquisition adding that the band will be working closely with Pophouse to collaborate.
“We’ll stay committed to this. It’s our baby,” he said.
“Kiss has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has throughout their 50-year career continued to push the boundaries in popular culture. The band’s enigmatic personas, unparalleled band attributes, and iconic imagery have made them a cultural force and a legendary act with multigenerational appeal,” Sundin said, according to Variety.
“We will safeguard and enrich this legacy through future global endeavors, by breathing new life into their characters and personas while also leveraging and elevating the visual world of KISS.”
Kiss started in 1973 when Simmons and Paul Stanley had performed together in a band called Wicked Lester and signed with Casablanca Records. They brought on Ace Frehley and Peter Criss and while the group has changed several times over the years, Simmons and Stanley were the bedrock of the group, Variety reported.
Pophouse also owns a majority share of Cyndi Lauper’s music and is working on an “immersive theater piece” that takes fans back in time to the New York of the “True Colors” singer, the AP reported.
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Through the years FEBRUARY 18: (L-R) Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock and roll band Kiss pose for a portrait for the cover of their self-entitled first album "Kiss" which was released on February 18, 1974. (Photo by Ginny Winn/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Ginny Winn/Getty Images)
Through the years "The Demon" Gene Simmons of KISS shows his softer side as he greets a young fan backstage at Alex Cooley's Electric Ballroom in Atlanta, Georgia. Circa September 1974. ((Photo by Herb Kossover/Getty Images) (amy kossover/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES - JANUARY 1975: Ace Frehley, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, and Gene Simmons of the rock and roll band Kiss pose for a portrait session in January 1975 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Through the years CIRCA 1975: Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley of the rock and roll band 'Kiss' pose for a portrait in circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives)
Through the years Bassist Gene Simmons of American heavy metal group Kiss adds fire-eating to the group's performance at the Calderone Theater, New York, 24th August 1975. (Photo by Redferns/Getty Images) (Fin Costello/Redferns)
Through the years CADILLAC, MICHIGAN - 9th OCTOBER: Amercan rock band Kiss pose with Cadillac High School football team members during the 'Day in the Life of a Town' in Cadillac, Michigan on 9th October 1975. Left to right: Paul Stanley, Peter Criss, Ace Frehley and Gene Simmons. (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns) (Fin Costello/Redferns)
Through the years NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Gene Simmons of the band KISS attends the ringing of the opening bell at the NYSE on November 19, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images) (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK - JANUARY 25: Musicians Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, Tommy Thayer, and Paul Stanley of KISS ring the NYSE closing bell at New York Stock Exchange on January 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 12: Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of Kiss perform at Wembley Arena on May 12, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Jo Hale/Getty Images) (Jo Hale/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 27: Bassist Gene Simmons of the band "Kiss" (R) and his son Nick Simmons arrive at the launch of Activision's 'Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock with Soundgarden' at Paramount Studios on September 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Angela Weiss/Getty Images) (Angela Weiss/Getty Images)
Through the years LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 15: (L-R) Kiss singer/guitarist Paul Stanley, guitarist Tommy Thayer, singer/bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Eric Singer arrive at the grand opening of the KISS by Monster Mini Golf amusement attraction on March 15, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Eric Singer and Tommy Thayer of Kiss attend the book launch of 'Kiss Monster' at Dover St Arts Club on July 3, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images) (Ben A. Pruchnie/Getty Images)
Through the years LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 04: Gene Simmons of US rock group Kiss performs live on stage, for a one-off Independence Day show as a fundraiser for the Help for Heroes charity, at The Kentish Town Forum on July 4, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images) (Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
Through the years PERTH, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Gene Simmons, Tommy Thayer and Paul Stanley of KISS, perform during their opening show for the Australian leg of their 40th anniversary world tour at Perth Arena on October 3, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 11: (L-R) Tommy Thayer, Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Eric Singer of KISS attend the 2021 Tribeca Festival screening of "Biography: KISStory" at The Battery on June 11, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images) (Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 01: (L-R) Gene Simmons, Eric Singer, Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer of KISS visit SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show' at SiriusXM Studios on March 01, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM) (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
Through the years MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Gene Simmons of Kiss performs during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images) (Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 30: (L-R) Eric Singer, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley and Tommy Thayer of KISS pose as they light the Empire State Building in celebration of the band's final show at The Empire State Building on November 30, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust) (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Re)
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