“Verzuz” is set to premiere on X (formerly known as Twitter). Swizz Beatz and Timbaland have finalized a deal to distribute their popular music battle series on Elon Musk’s platform. This announcement was made during an event in Cannes, France, as reported by Billboard. Under this new agreement, Beatz and Timbaland will retain complete ownership and creative control over Verzuz. They launched Verzuz in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a press release, Beatz expressed his excitement about the partnership: “We are beyond thrilled to have found the best partner for Verzuz. Not only are we excited to have Verzuz on X, we’re excited to help X build the biggest entertainment company in the world. I would like to thank Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino, Brett Weitz, Mitchell Smith and the entire X team for believing in the Verzuz vision. We can’t wait to get to work.” 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, CEO of X, praised the collaboration: “X is so proud to partner with trailblazing creators, artists and entrepreneurs Swizz Beatz and 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.”
Earlier this year, Swizz and Timbaland reacquired Verzuz from their former partner Triller, thus regaining 100% ownership. Despite this reacquisition, they retained their equity in Triller, alongside the artists who participated in Verzuz. The new deal allows Swizz and Timbaland to maintain full ownership and creative control, while X obtains exclusive distribution rights. With this agreement, Verzuz will now be broadcast to X’s 550 million active users, greatly expanding its international reach. Viewers can watch for free exclusively on X.
Verzuz was initially launched in 2020 to connect music fans by hosting rap and DJ battles online. Starting with Swizz and Timbaland, the platform quickly rose in popularity with notable matchups. They had Babyface vs. Teddy Riley, Nelly vs. Ludacris, and DMX vs. Snoop Dogg, among others. It has produced over 40 episodes, generating more than 100 million live views and over 70 billion impressions. Originally sold to Triller in 2021, the platform faced legal issues, leading to its reacquisition by Swizz and Timbaland.