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
Government efforts on streaming reform fall short of a reset – next steps? (see Comment)
Government secures label-led measures to boost earnings for UK artists (see News)
Tributes paid to Ozzy Osbourne (see Features, Showbiz&News)
Darcus Beese talks ADHD, signing Sabrina Carpenter and the ‘headf*ck’ of running a major label (see Features)
Spotify publishes AI-generated songs from dead artists without permission (see Digital)
Why 2025’s charts are so stale (see Comment)
Has pop music become stagnant? Kind of yes but also no (see Analysis)
Why are we still using Spotify? (see Opinion)
TikTok launches TikTok Songwriter Features (see Digital)
EU Commission reportedly prepares ‘full-scale, four-month investigation’ into UMG’s proposed Downtown purchase (see Business)
Lisa Nandy MP addressed the UK Music Summer Party (see News)
Building fandom is about the journey, not the destination (see Opinion)
Industry calls for streaming sites to tag music created by AI-generated acts (see News)
“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry? (see Comment)
Where’s the next wave of working-class rock stars? (see Features)
Populists vs. tech titans: The battle over AI and the future of music (see Comment)