Swizz Beatz and Timbaland are reviving the “Verzuz” series, which will allow fans to see musicians compete against one another in songs.
This time, they are doing it with a new distribution agreement with Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter). The legendary producers announced Wednesday that Verzuz had cemented an exclusive partnership for distribution with the social media site.
“Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, we’re excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world,” he said in statement where he also thanked several X executives including owner Elon Musk for believing in their vision. “We can’t wait to get back to work.”
Both companies agreed on a “mutually beneficial alliance” where Swizz and Timbaland will maintain full ownership and creative control, while X receives exclusive distribution rights. The company estimates it will now broadcast to an audience of over 550 million active users worldwide. Viewers of Verzuz will now be able to watch for free exclusively on X.
Beginning with Swizz and Timbaland, the platform quickly gained popularity during the pandemic by having battles such as Babyface vs. Teddy Riley, Nelly vs. Ludacris, Boi-1da vs. Hit-Boy, T-Pain vs. Lil Jon, RZA vs. DJ Premier, Erykah Badu vs. Jill Scott, Alicia Keys vs. John Legend, DMX vs. Snoop Dogg, and even Patti Labelle vs. Gladys Knight.
Timbaland added, “We are thrilled to partner with X, the most innovative platform globally. Our goal has always been to bring Verzuz to the world which we can now do bigger than ever.”
Linda Yaccarino stated, “X is so proud to partner with trailblazing creators, artists, and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz & Timbaland. Our platform stands at the forefront of innovation, and Verzuz defines the essence of an innovative content experience. As we continue to work with the most exciting voices to bring premium content to X, there is no better fit than this series. Together we will redefine how consumers engage with their favorite entertainment, one Verzuz at a time.”