Having recently quit "while the quitting's good," performing their "final show ever" late last year, KISS have become the latest legacy act to sell off their music and publishing catalogue — and, in this case, branding — for $300 million USD.
The company that has acquired the rights to everything KISS is Swedish entertainment group Pophouse, the force behind the ABBA Voyage virtual concert residency. Pophouse will launch the KISS hologram show in 2027, after the band gave fans a sneak peek at their new digital avatars after wrapping up their last tour.
"We have a lot of plans for KISS," Pophouse CEO Per Sundin told Billboard of the acquisition, which includes master recordings and publishing rights, the band's name and characters, as well as their unique makeup designs and other visuals. "We want to keep to the legacy. We want to extend it and amplify it for new generations."
According to Sundin, while Pophouse bought out the rights owned by bandmates Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the two musicians will continue working with the company to develop the show, which will maybe be a futuristic KISS concert or rock opera or something.
"Our journey with Pophouse is fuelled by the desire to eternally resonate across diverse facets of global culture," Stanley added in a press release. "As we embark on this venture, we aim to weave our legacy into the tapestry of different worlds, ensuring that the KISS experience continues to captivate both our devoted fans and those yet to discover the thrill. This partnership is not just a chapter; it's an eternal symphony of rock 'n' roll immortality."
Beyond KISS and ABBA, Pophouse has also acquired the rights to the music catalogues of Cyndi Lauper, Avicii and Swedish House Mafia.
