Sia just turned her catalog into a $360 million asset.
The singer-songwriter sold a 50% stake in her music catalog to Pophouse Entertainment for $180 million, covering both her publishing and master recording rights. That $180 million price tag implies that the entire catalog is worth roughly $360 million.
And this isn't just about owning old songs. Sia and Pophouse are planning to collaborate on new creative ventures, reportedly including a future digital-avatar show built around her music.
The catalog includes some seriously valuable copyrights: Chandelier, Cheap Thrills, Titanium, and her songwriting work on Rihanna's Diamonds, among others.
What's particularly interesting for the music business is that Sia didn't sell everything. By selling half, she gets a huge cash payout while maintaining an economic stake in the future success of her music.
It's another major example of why successful catalogs are increasingly being viewed as investment assets rather than simply collections of songs.
Why it matters: A songwriter's greatest hits can become a financial portfolio worth hundreds of millions; and investors are increasingly willing to pay enormous sums for a piece of that future royalty stream.
