Iron Maiden have sold a 50 per cent stake in the band’s publishing and master music rights, as well as name, image, and likeness rights.
The heavy metal icons have sealed a deal for the assets with Pophouse Entertainment, an investment firm co-founded by ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus, and the company are now hoping to “turbo charge” the group’s future plans after striking up a partnership.
Jessica Koravos, CEO of Pophouse – which also owns music rights of Tina Turner, KISS, and Cyndi Lauper – told Billboard: “We are 50-50 partners with the band, and the plan is that we’re going to work together turbo charging Maiden’s plans for the future.”
The acquisition includes a stake in the rights to the Fear of the Dark hitmakers’ iconic ghoul mascot, Eddie.
Jessica added: “With Pophouse, we’re always thinking around the visual identity and … there’s lots of world building that’s possible both in [Maiden’s] artwork, but also in the storytelling within the songs.
“The heavy metal genre, especially with the addition of Eddie, lends itself to a treatment potentially in the world of horror.”
One of the future projects involving Maiden – who are made up of Bruce Dickinson, Steve Harris, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Nicko McBrain, and Janick Gers – and Pophouse is a film based on the band’s Run For Your Lives World Tour, as well as a digital universe based on Eddie.
Iron Maiden’s manager, Rod Smallwood, said in a statement: “I am very excited about our relationship with Pophouse and the ability we now have to pursue, facilitate, and finance our many plans and dreams quicker than we ever hoped.
“The interest in the band has never been bigger and [with] this strategic partnership … the fans can be assured there is a great deal more to come for Maiden, and Eddie will rule, OK!!”
Jessica knows all about the Number of the Beast hitmakers, because her husband Stuart Galbraith – CEO of KMJ Entertainment Group – promoted their recent Eddfest shows in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, south east England.
She added: “One of the attractions of this catalogue is the incredible fandom that surrounds them, and they’ve done the most incredible job over the years of giving those fans amazing shows every single time.
“I have a deep understanding of the Maiden fan, and I think the band would say they’ve brought us on board to turbo charge them, [not] to help them hang up their boots.”