By Gary Symons
TLL Editor in Chief
UK-based Blond Sheep Licensing has secured the global representation rights to MetaGallery.Ltd’s portfolio of art related properties.
The agency says the immediate focus will be in developing a licensing program for The Advisory Bored TM, a dynamic collective of Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFTs. The agreement will give Blonde Sheep access to the Bored Apes, Mutant Apes and Kennel Club NFTs.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with Natasha over the years,” said MetaGallery founder Russell Singler. “Her reputation and experience with AAA brands in the industry provides us with the strongest foundation for growth and success. I know Natasha shares our excitement for this new frontier.”
This deal marks the second we’ve heard of in which the holders of Bored Ape NFTs have signed on an agency to acquire licensing deals for the images.
In May 2022 a group of Bored Ape NFT owners hired US-based Brand Central to represent their licensing interests. In these cases, the agencies are not representing the Bored Ape Yacht Club which issues the original NFTs, but rather the specific NFTs and their images that are purchased by investors. Licensees can then use the images in a variety of digital or physical products.
Formed by MetaGallery.Ltd TM, The Advisory Bored TM is a fellowship of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT owners and thought leaders, representing a wide spectrum of the Web3 community. This allows MetaGallery to not only license the imagery, but to build metaverse activations for the licensees.
Owners include American Ape, MetaZig.eth GM, CANNACITYÆ, LimeNetw0rk and BelowBored, to name a few.
While Blonde Sheep will focus on developing the licensing program, MetaGallery.Ltd TM will offer its services, identifying and creating the optimum Web3 strategies that complement and enhance the retailer or brand’s Web2 business, including Metaverse Environments, Digital Tokens, and bespoke activations.
“These community building tools give brands and retailers direct access to their existing and potential customers and develop a much closer relationship thereby understanding their buying behaviour,” the company says.
Created by Yuga Labs, there are 10,000 Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs that sell anywhere from $100,000 upwards to $3.4million. Owners of the BAYC NFTs are granted rights to license the images, and derivatives of the images, making it possible to “pimp” the apes.
“BAYC NFTs are one of the most well-known, desirable and highest value collections of NFTs in the world, and we’re thrilled that MetaGallery.Ltd TM has chosen to work with us to develop the global licensing program,” said Blonde Sheep CEO Natasha Dyson. “We’re delighted to offer brands and retailers not just the desirable ape images, but various services to add appeal to the products, brand identity, and provide valuable data feedback.
“There are already many BAYC products in the market showing the existing, and growing, appetite for these bored looking apes,” added Dyson. “Brands and retailers need to react quickly to this growing trend.”
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