Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s Verzuz has been acquired by Triller Network, the parent company of the TikTok competitor Triller.
via Pitchfork:
While the exact nature of the deal was undisclosed, it was announced that the two VERZUZ founders are now “larger shareholders” in the Triller Network, and that they have allocated “a portion of their equity in the Triller VERZUZ combined company to all 43 creatives who have performed on VERZUZ to date.”
The list of artists who now own equity in Triller includes: John Legend, DMX, Alicia Keys, 2 Chainz, Rick Ross, Too $hort, Patti LaBelle, Gucci Mane, Jeezy, E-40, Bounty Killer, Ludacris, RZA, The-Dream, Babyface, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Fred Hammond, Jadakiss, Fabolous, Brandy, Monica, Gladys Knight, Boi-1da, Hit-Boy, Ne-Yo, Johnta Austin, Scott Storch, T-Pain, Lil Jon, DJ Premier, Mannie Fresh, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Beenie Man, Bounty Killer, 112, Kirk Franklin, Sean Garrett, and D’Angelo.
VERZUZ has exploded in popularity in the past year, beginning as an Instagram Live series that went on to establish integrations with Apple Music and Twitter. The most recent livestreaming event, featuring D’Angelo, broke from the established one-on-one “battle” format of the program and broadcasted from the Apollo Theater.
In February, Triller made headlines after Universal Music Group announced that it would be pulling its catalog from the shortform video app. UMG claimed at the time that Triller “shamefully withheld payments owed to our artists.”
Well…’Verzuz’ was fun while it lasted.
