The Licensing Letter

Entertainment/Character

Comic-based, Original Films Lead Films With Licensing Potential

By: Karina Masolova, with additional research by Susan Adams and Michelle Odinyayeva. Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. TLL identified 213 upcoming films through 2025 as potential source material for licensed consumer products. Comic book-based properties lead the count, with 39% of films on the list, followed closely by original works (37%). Rounding off the … [Read more...] about Comic-based, Original Films Lead Films With Licensing Potential

37 Entertainment/Character Brands Earned Over $100 MM in the U.S./Canada

Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com This year, a total of 37 properties made TLL’s annual list of entertainment/character brands that generated over $100 million in licensed retail sales in the U.S./Canada for 2017. Last year, TLL tracked 46 brands that qualified for the list based on 2016 sales. And the year before that, 44 brands made the list based on estimated … [Read more...] about 37 Entertainment/Character Brands Earned Over $100 MM in the U.S./Canada

TV Talk: Series With Licensing Potential

Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com The average consumer has 4.5 different sources (up from 3.7 in 2014) to choose from when they’re ready to watch a TV show, including linear TV, DVR, VOD, Netflix, and Hulu, according to Hub Entertainment Research. Among younger viewers aged 18-34, the number of platforms is even higher at 5.1 average platforms. Only 39% of viewers … [Read more...] about TV Talk: Series With Licensing Potential

Read Before Using: $100 MM List Definitions & Methology

Before diving into the top $100 million entertainment/character brands list and its connected analysis, take a moment to consider TLL's methodology. The list reflects the top properties by licensed retail sales in the U.S./Canada only and excludes top-performing global properties that may have $100 million or higher in sales internationally. Note, as well, the difference … [Read more...] about Read Before Using: $100 MM List Definitions & Methology

Fragrance: Hit Me One More Time

Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of licensed fragrance grew 1% in 2017 to reach $3.98 billion in the U.S./Canada, according to TLL's Licensing Business Survey. Britney Spears and Revlon have teamed up to launch Britney Spears Prerogative, a new fragrance inspired by the singer’s career and her 24th in all. The gender-neutral scent features an … [Read more...] about Fragrance: Hit Me One More Time

Supercharge Me! Hero-based Merch Sales Down 7%

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on the top superhero properties from Marvel and DC Comics dipped 7% to reach $4.4 million in 2017, according to TLL's latest edition of the $100 Million Entertainment/Character list. From the 2017 list, Marvel's top two properties are Spider-Man ($1.4 billion in licensed retail sales) … [Read more...] about Supercharge Me! Hero-based Merch Sales Down 7%

Fashion Track: Sneakers, Apparel & Fitness

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. The Jordan Brand makes its first-ever women's collaboration with editorial approval from Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintor. The Air Jordan 1 High Zip “AWOK,” is named after Wintour's signature on approved editorial or creative pages of the magazine, and will be followed by the Air Jordan 3 “AWOK,” to be released the next … [Read more...] about Fashion Track: Sneakers, Apparel & Fitness

Property Guys: Disney, Nintendo & Other Empires

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. The Walt Disney Co. signs a 99-year lease for $650 million at 4 Hudson Sq., New York. The media conglomerate is expected to build a new headquarters at the downtown Manhattan location taking up over 1.2 million sq. ft. The high-tech, energy-efficient project will consolidate production and studio spaces from the Upper West … [Read more...] about Property Guys: Disney, Nintendo & Other Empires

Licensed Entertainment/Character Sales Hit $31.1 Billion Worldwide; Soft Goods Lead Growth

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Entertainment/character-based licensed goods continue to grow at a faster rate than any of the other five major property types TLL tracks globally—as well as the 13 major properties we track within the U.S./Canada territory. In the U.S./Canada, entertainment/character-based licensing grew by $435 million in 2017 to reach $13.2 … [Read more...] about Licensed Entertainment/Character Sales Hit $31.1 Billion Worldwide; Soft Goods Lead Growth