Is Elvis the Next Mega-Avatar? Pophouse, Sony Music, and Authentic Brands Group Reportedly Discuss Hologram Project Amid ABBA Voyage Success
Elvis Presley signing autographs in Minneapolis in 1956. Photo Credit: Powell F. Krueger
Bad news for Elvis impersonators: Pophouse Entertainment is reportedly in talks to create shows featuring the King of Rock and Roll’s avatar.
The discussions came to light in an FT report, though at the time of this writing, the involved parties hadn’t commented publicly on the matter. However, chief among those involved parties is Björn Ulvaeus-founded Pophouse (which also owns the catalog of KISS and is developing an avatar band for the act), Sony Music, and Authentic Brands Group.
Authentic Brands, having partnered with Universal Music back in 2021, is said to possess Elvis’ name, image, and likeness rights. And Sony Music, now reportedly pursuing a billion-dollar play for Queen’s catalog, reportedly owns the rights to the singer’s body of work.
Running with the points and the separate Elvis virtual-concert experience that’s already set for a November debut in London, discussions have thus far centered “on a commercial partnership” as opposed to an outright IP sale, per the Financial Times.
In providing this and additional information, the outlet cited anonymous and ostensibly well-informed sources, who indicated that a deal might not come to fruition in the end. But especially with the ultra-lucrative ABBA Voyage seemingly continuing to sell a substantial number of tickets, it’ll be worth keeping an eye out for updates on the potential Elvis avatar concerts as well as different hologram shows yet.
Not entirely unlike the unprecedented rise of AI-generated music, “live” concerts delivered by non-human performers are becoming increasingly popular. Given the existing difficulties associated with compelling fans to attend certain live music events, that could spell trouble for proper artists in the long term.
Closer to the present, Layered Reality is still preparing to launch its own aforementioned Elvis experience in London this November, according to the appropriate website.
Dubbed “Elvis Evolution,” the multifaceted occurrence, complete with an afterparty and more, “will use state-of-the-art multi-sensory technology, including VR, AI, and holographic projection to bring the musical icon to life,” per the business.
Meanwhile, Pophouse’s previously noted KISS avatar band isn’t scheduled to arrive on the scene until 2027 – a noteworthy timetable when it comes to the company’s potential Elvis hologram show, which doesn’t have a concrete pact in place.
Bigger picture, Sony Music, now in possession of a sizable interest in Michael Jackson’s catalog, hardly lacks options for different avatar shows that would likely prove successful in terms of immediate ticket sales as well as merch revenue and streaming interest.
