Sia’s $180 million music deal came with a very expensive loose end. The singer sold half her catalog to Pophouse, but $15 million remained in escrow amid her divorce from Dan Bernad.
The deal covered some of Sia’s biggest songs, including “Chandelier,” “Titanium” and “Cheap Thrills.” It also opened the door to an ambitious digital avatar project built around her music.
Sia’s music catalog sale has put $15 million in escrow as she and Dan Bernad work out how it will be divided
According to documents obtained by TMZ, Sia sold a 50% stake in her catalog for $180 million. The deal gave her $165 million for songs written before her marriage, while Bernad agreed to waive his claim for $1 million. That left $15 million tied to songs created during their marriage. The money was placed in escrow while the former couple worked out how to divide it. Sia and Bernad married for less than three years before attorney Laura Wasser filed for divorce in March 2025.
Sia had already agreed to pay Bernad $42,500 monthly in child support. Meanwhile, the catalog deal involved much more than a straightforward payday.
Rolling Stone confirmed that Swedish entertainment investment company Pophouse bought the stake. Its rights covered Sia’s publishing and master recordings, but excluded her name and likeness. The publication reported that her songs generated an estimated $18 million annually in royalties.
The deal also came with plans for an immersive digital avatar production. The planned show would feature Sia’s songs as both a performer and songwriter, including her vocals on Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” The project remained several years away and could eventually tour select cities.
Her streaming numbers made the catalog particularly valuable. “Titanium” had reached 2.4 billion Spotify streams, while “Unstoppable,” “Chandelier,” “Dusk Till Dawn” and “Cheap Thrills” each passed two billion.
Pophouse had already developed ABBA’s Voyage avatar show. The company also held deals involving Kiss, Tina Turner and Iron Maiden, with more immersive projects planned. For Sia, the $180 million sale marked a major business move. Yet the $15 million escrow pot ensured her divorce remained tangled with her biggest hits.
