KISS has reportedly sold its catalogue, brand name and IP to Swedish company Pophouse for $300 million.
Known for their indiscriminate approach to licensing their name, likeness, brand, etc (KISS coffin, anyone?), the legendary make-up caked rockers are cashing in on their six-decade career with the sale to Pophouse, the private entertainment company that invests in music rights, co-founded by ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus.
The acquisition makes sense, as KISS seem to be winding down their activities. The band played their final shows at the end of 2023, however, plan to continue performing live with the help of AI technology. Not long after their last show at Madison Square Garden in NYC, the band revealed their avatars, which were created by George Lucas’ visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic.
In an interview with the Associated Press, KISS founder/bassist Gene Simmons wants it known that he and bandmate Paul Stanley plan to be involved in the future of KISS.
“I don't like the word acquisition. Collaboration is exactly what it’s about," Simmons says. "It would be remiss in our inferred fiduciary duty — see what I just did there? — to the thing that we created to abandon it. People might misunderstand and think, ‘OK, now Pophouse is doing that stuff and we’re just in Beverly Hills twiddling our thumbs.’ No, that’s not true. We’re in the trenches with them. We talk all the time. We share ideas. It’s a collaboration. Paul and I especially, with the band, we’ll stay committed to this. It’s our baby."
And while it sounds like KISS fans have something to look forward to, seeing Simmons and Stanley on stage again isn't in the card.
“We’re not going to tour again as Kiss, period,” Simmons says. “We’re not going to go put the makeup on and go out there.”
On their socials today (April 4), KISS teased some kind of announcement is coming, writing, "KISS Army - Are you ready? 'The future could not be more exciting,' says Gene🤘The Legend continues to grow... Stay Tuned!!"
KISS is the second artist that Pophouse has acquired the rights to. In February, the company "entered a partnership" with Cyndi Lauper that includes acquring the majority share of her music and a new immersive performance project she has in the works.