The Licensing Letter

Experiential Licensing

Place-based Strategy Getting DreamWorks Where it Wants to Go

By Marcy Magiera DreamWorks Animation (DWA) must be as happy as, well, an ogre in a swamp with its strategy to exploit Shrek, Hiccup, Oh, Alex and other characters in location-based licensing. As its DreamWorks DreamPlace holiday attractions roll out in malls across the U.S. and London, the movie studio reported that its consumer product revenues more than doubled in the third … [Read more...] about Place-based Strategy Getting DreamWorks Where it Wants to Go

The State of Estates

By Karina Masolova They may be dead, but they're not gone. Estate licensing, for deceased celebrities who would fall under the celebrities category in life, made up 2.3% of all licensing revenue in 2014. After gaining 1.3% in 2013, estate-based sales fell 1.0% in 2014 to $2.25 billion. Retail success in was largely limited to a couple of dominant properties, notably Marilyn … [Read more...] about The State of Estates

WestJet Plane Takes “Frozen” to New Heights

Last week, WestJet rolled out a very special airplane, a Boeing 737 featuring images from "Frozen" on the fuselage, overhead bins, headrests and even bathroom mirrors. The Canadian airline actually launched its first Disney-themed plane two years ago. But the licensing of super brand "Frozen" takes the WestJet/Disney collaboration to another level. While it might be the most … [Read more...] about WestJet Plane Takes “Frozen” to New Heights

Who Lives in a Pineapple on Broadway?

The SpongeBob Musical will open at Broadway in Chicago’s Oriental Theatre on June 7, 2016, where it will play for a month in preparation for its run on Broadway (in New York) in the 2016-2017 season. The SpongeBob Musical will be produced by Nickelodeon with songs from John Legend, Cyndi Lauper, The Flaming Lips, T.I., Lady Antebellum, and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of … [Read more...] about Who Lives in a Pineapple on Broadway?

Hello Kitty Hits the Road

Hello Kitty, one of the properties widely believed to have been squeezed by Frozen’s wild popularity in 2014, is taking to the road to defend her turf. The Sanrio property, an almost $4 billion globally licensed brand in 2013, is at the center of Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival, the property’s first-ever North America touring show. The live entertainment show will … [Read more...] about Hello Kitty Hits the Road

Licensed Properties Steer Touring Shows

Experiential licensing is not limited to theme parks. Touring exhibitions and other location-based attractions can provide both revenue and ongoing exposure to build or maintain relationships with fans. For example, Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice, reportedly expects to sell more than three million tickets for the full run of its Frozen version of the ice show, … [Read more...] about Licensed Properties Steer Touring Shows

Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure

One of the editors of The Licensing Letter was recently at a party on the Universal Studios backlot when some fellow guests began, by their own admission, to "geek out" over the distant spires of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is under construction for a planned opening next year. The attraction, based on the J.K. Rowling books and Warner Bros. movies, is expected … [Read more...] about Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure

Pop Goes 24 Hour Fitness

Speaking of girl power, fitness maven Cassey Ho is the latest digital celebrity to heighten her profile through licensing. 24 Hour Fitness is working with the fitness instructor and YouTube personality to roll out her POP Pilates regimen in its fitness clubs nationally. Ho’s Blogilates claims to be the No. 1 female fitness channel on YouTube, with 2.1 million subscribers and … [Read more...] about Pop Goes 24 Hour Fitness