Business Behind The Beat - unpacking the empires behind every anthem
Little Monsters, Big Moves: Why Lady Gaga Fans May Have MUSQ on Their Radar
If you’re a Lady Gaga fan, you already know she’s more than a pop star — she’s a full-on global brand. From fashion to film to fire-breathing pianos, everything she touches turns into a cultural moment and a potential business opportunity. But here’s the real kicker: what if you could invest in the companies that may benefit every time Gaga drops an album, sells out a tour, or lights up Spotify?
Enter the MUSQ Global Music Industry Index ETF (MUSQ), a music industry ETF that lets you own a slice of the music economy — the one Gaga helps drive.
Here’s how Gaga shows up in the MUSQ lineup:
Spotify (SPOT) & Apple (AAPL):
Gaga’s music is streamed globally — millions of plays every week. Platforms like Spotify and Apple Music depend on A-list artists like her to keep subscribers engaged and premium memberships growing. They earn revenue from both ads and monthly subscriptions — and when Gaga’s new album, Mayhem, dropped, there was a surge in listens and shares. [1]
Live Nation Entertainment (LYV):
She doesn’t just tour — she sells out stadiums. [2] Live Nation promoted her Chromatica Ball tour and previous residencies. The company makes money on ticket sales, VIP packages, merchandise, concessions, and brand partnerships. When Gaga goes on tour, Live Nation potentially thrives — and it’s one of MUSQ’s top holdings by weight.
Universal Music Group (UMG):
Gaga is signed to Interscope, a UMG label. UMG profits from every stream, vinyl, CD, licensing deal, or sync placement — whether it’s a Gaga ballad in a Super Bowl ad or her latest single blowing up TikTok. With her 2025 album Mayhem out, UMG is looking for a potential revenue boost.
Yamaha (7951 JP) & Roland (7944 JP):
Gaga’s grand piano performances — especially live — are a showcase for brands like Yamaha and Roland. MUSQ includes Yamaha and Roland, one of the biggest names in music gear. When fans are inspired to start playing or producers want pro-level equipment, these companies may benefit.
Warner Music Group (WMG) & other content players:
While Warner isn’t Gaga’s label, it may benefit from the same trends: streaming growth, music in film/TV, and the global appetite for pop culture. Plus, Gaga’s roles in A Star is Born and Joker 2 (coming soon!) blur the line between music and media — another potential win for entertainment companies in the MUSQ universe.
The Bottom Line:
Lady Gaga is an artist, but she’s also an economy. Her 2025 album, Mayhem, could light up charts, sell out arenas, inspire young musicians, and may drive revenue across music, media, and tech. If you’re a fan who believes in the power of her brand — MUSQ aims for exposure to the entire ecosystem.
*For a complete list of MUSQ holdings, please click here. Holdings are subject to change.
Little Monsters, consider your newest portfolio play. Why invest in MUSQ >>
[1] Caulfield, Keith, Lady Gaga’s “MAYHEM” debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart, Billboard, 3/16/25
[2] Frankenberg, Eric, Lady Gaga Finishes The Chromatica Ball With $112 Million In Stadiums, Billboard, 10/26/22
MUSQ Global Music Industry Index ETF is offered by prospectus. Carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses. This and other important information can be found in the MUSQ ETF prospectus, which should be read carefully before investing and can be obtained by visiting https://musqetf.com or by calling 1-855- MUSQ-ETF(687-7383).
Risk Disclosures
There is no guarantee the Fund will achieve its stated objectives.
In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, international investments may involve the risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, differences in generally accepted accounting principles or social, economic or political instability in other nations.
Emerging markets involve heightened risks related to the same factors as well as increased volatility and lower trading volume.
In addition to the normal risks associated with investing, investments in small- or mid-capitalization companies typically exhibit higher volatility.
The Fund’s concentration in an industry or sector can increase the impact of, and potential losses associated with, the risks from investing in those industries/sectors.
The Fund is non-diversified.
The Fund is new and has a limited operating history for investors to evaluate. A new and smaller fund may not attract sufficient assets to achieve investment and trading efficiencies.
The Fund may invest in securities denominated in foreign currencies. Because the Fund's NAV is determined in U.S. dollars, the Fund's NAV could decline if currencies of the underlying securities depreciate against the U.S. dollar or if there are delays or limits on repatriation of such currencies. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably.
All investing involves risk, and asset allocation and diversification do not guarantee a profit or protection against a loss. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor’s shares, when redeemed, might be worth more or less than their original cost. ETFs are subject to risks similar to those of stocks, as well as other risks specific to the particular ETF.
ETF shares are traded on exchanges, and are traded and priced throughout the trading day. ETFs permit an investor to purchase a selling interest in a portfolio of stocks throughout the trading day. Because ETFs trade on an exchange, ETF shares are bought and sold at market price (not NAV). The prices of ETFs may sometimes vary significantly from the NAVs of a ETFs’ underlying securities. Brokerage commissions will reduce returns.
Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC serves as the investment advisor. The Funds are distributed by SEI Investments Distribution Co., which is not affiliated with Exchange Traded Concepts, LLC or any of its affiliates.