Iron Maiden have sold a significant portion of their catalog, name exploitation and image rights, including their mascot Eddie.
To secure 50% is Pophouse Entertainment, the Swedish company founded by Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA which has already signed a similar agreement with Kiss for around 300 million dollars. However, the amount of the agreement stipulated with Maiden is not known. BMG remains the publisher of the group's songs.
The sale of the shares to Pophouse, we read in a press release, “will allow Iron Maiden to launch into new creative initiatives that involve existing fans and, at the same time, to introduce their repertoire to a new audience”.
CEO Jessica Koravos explains in broad terms which direction Pophouse and the band will move in: «There is considerable potential for the creation of a universe both in relation to the visual part and in the stories told in the songs. Heavy metal, even more so with the addition of Eddie, lends itself to an approach that could fall within the world of horror.”
Pophouse is already collaborating with the band on a film about the tour that recently passed through San Siro, as well as interactive experiences dedicated to fans and a “digital universe” centered on Eddie.
