Zara Larsson announces own record label + back catalogue acquisition 08 Jun 2022
Multi-platinum global pop star Zara Larsson has today detailed plans for her own brand new record label, Sommer House. Sommer House will be licensed through Epic USA and distributed by Sony Sweden for all forthcoming Zara Larsson releases, with Larsson just dropping a brand new version of Abba's 'Lay All Your Love On Me'.
In a unique agreement made with TEN Music Group CEO Ola Håkansson – who originally signed Zara – Larsson has also today taken control of her entire recording catalogue (which has been streamed over 9 billion times). Having been signed to the Swedish independent since 2011, Zara's relationship with TEN has resulted in one of her country's most successful international exports – a story that continues in this new venture...
Commenting on the deal today, Zara states: "I really want to say thank you to Ola and everyone at TEN for giving me the opportunity to break out as an artist and helping me start my career. You are now also making something happen that is so, so rare for a woman in the music industry - the capability to own my own catalogue. With that it makes perfect sense that I would start my own record company. I very much look forward to my future and to a continued collaboration with Sony as well.'
"This is a natural and exciting development in Zara's continuing music career," Ola Håkansson comments. "We have worked together for more than 10 fantastic, eventful years and Zara is, despite her young age, an established and respected international artist with extensive experience of the international music scene today. It is going to be really exciting to follow Zara's ongoing music career. I wish her the best of luck, and I am convinced the she is going to achieve all her musical dreams and get to show her amazing artistry on the worlds biggest stages."
Epic CEO Slvia Rhone, meanwhile, closes: "Zara is a cornerstone artist for Epic Records. As she continues to deliver incredible music, we're privileged and excited to be part of the next chapter of her dynamic career."
Currently featuring on Alesso's latest single 'Words', Zara Larsson has just dropped her Spotify Singles cover of 'Lay All Your Love On Me' in a pulsing rework produced by Mark Ralph (Years & Years, Georgia). Zara was also invited to attend the premiere of ABBA's 'Voyage' residency at London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, ahead of Larsson's European tour this summer and brand new music expected this autumn.
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THE HEADLINES
Record labels are running on empty (see Opinion)
AI music is going viral, but it’s not what fans want (see Comment)
The Velvet Sundown may be the first breakout AI band from Suno (see Digital)
Amid cuts, WMG to "continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development" (see Business)
WIN CEO writes to European Commission Vice-President over Universal's acquisition of Downtown (see Comment)
If Spotify truly champions discovery, it should champion fair compensation from the first stream (see Comment)
Selected Glastonbury coverage (see News, Features, Showbiz, Reviews)
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)
Retiring Arista CEO David Massey shares his top 10 career highlights (see Features)
Budweiser’s royalty loophole ad: How AI and social have changed the value of creators (see Comment)
When did making music get so lonely? (see Comment)
How will Taylor Swift’s masters ownership saga be remembered? (see Audio&Visual)
The copyright war between the AI industry and creatives (see Comment)
Interview: Lyor Cohen, the head of YouTube Music (see Features)
The ‘pure’ songwriter is disappearing – and it’s everyone’s problem (see Comment)