Los Angeles (CelebrityAccess) – Verzuz, the popular online music battle platform Swizz Betz and Timbalandhas signed an exclusive distribution agreement with X, a social media giant owned by Musk. This strategic partnership marks a major milestone for Verzuz, bringing the platform’s vibrant music battle to X’s user base.
Verzuz is making waves during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering live-streamed battles between famous rappers and DJs. It quickly became popular due to memorable matches such as Babyface vs. Teddy Riley, Nelly vs. Ludacris, T-Pain vs. Lil Jon, DMX vs. Snoop Doggand Alicia Keys vs John Legend. Verzuz originally partnered with Apple Music in mid-2020 and was acquired by Triller in early 2021.
With full ownership and creative control, Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have now joined forces with Verzuz and X. 100 million active users with views. These events will continue to be free to watch and accessible to a wide audience.
Swizz Beatz expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration, saying: “We are extremely pleased to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz join X, we are excited to help X build the largest entertainment company in the world.” Timbaland echoed this sentiment, adding, “Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world, and now we can do it even bigger than ever.”
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Xpraised the partnership with Verzuz, highlighting the innovative spirit of both platforms. “X is proud to partner with groundbreaking creators, artists and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz and Timbaland. Our platform is at the forefront of innovation and Verzuz defines the essence of innovative content experiences.
The partnership is in line with X’s broader strategy to enhance its content offerings and provide a premium experience to its user base. As Yacarino pointed out, “Together we will redefine how consumers engage with their favorite entertainment, one Verzuz at a time.”
While the deal is exciting, X also faces significant legal challenges. A group of music publishers, including industry giants Sony Music Publishing (SMP), Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) and Warner Chappell Music (WCM), have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against X, alleging that Infringed the copyright of approximately 1,700 works. The lawsuit, led by the National Music Publishers Association (NIMA), seeks more than $250 million in damages against “hundreds of thousands” of alleged infringements.
In March, a Tennessee court allowed parts of the lawsuit to proceed, casting a pall on X’s otherwise forward-looking partnership with Verzuz. How X will navigate these legal waters while advancing its content strategy remains to be seen.
