Big news for those in the toy and toy licensing industry, as brand management company WHP Global announced Monday it has acquired the controlling interest in Tru Kids, the parent company of Toys R Us, Babies R Us and the Geoffrey the Giraffe brand. Toys R Us has struggled to survive in a world beset by a rapid shift to e-commerce, and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2017. … [Read more...] about Toys R Us Is Back in Business … Again
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Bob Marley Family Inks Deal With Psychedelic Mushroom Company
The family of reggae legend Bob Marley has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Silo Wellness, a company operating in the newly developing psychedelic and functional medical mushroom industry. The deal offers Silo the exclusive worldwide rights to brand, market, and sell a product line of functional and psychedelic mushrooms with the name and likeness of the reggae … [Read more...] about Bob Marley Family Inks Deal With Psychedelic Mushroom Company
Hasbro’s Finn Arnesen Joins Games Workshop
The Games Workshop Group is diving even deeper into the entertainment business, announcing the appointment of former Hasbro Studios SVP Finn Arnesen as the company's first Head of Entertainment Development. Games Workshop is best known for its Warhammer gaming franchise, and the company also has its own library of novels and short stories based on the game. Arnesen's first … [Read more...] about Hasbro’s Finn Arnesen Joins Games Workshop
Roblox Going Live on Deal With Genius Brands’ Kartoon Channel
The wildly popular Roblox game is going on air via the Kartoon Channel's OTT platform, as part of an agreement between Genius Brands and gaming video company Tankee. The new show, with the working title 'Radical Roblox', will focus on a group of popular Roblox influencers playing the game on air. The show will debut exclusively on Genius Brands' Kartoon Channel in June with … [Read more...] about Roblox Going Live on Deal With Genius Brands’ Kartoon Channel
LEGO Caps Breakout Year With 13% Growth
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The LEGO Group has been on a tear throughout fiscal 2020, launching new and innovative products, signing key licensing deals, and continuing its run as one of the world's top kids' entertainment companies. That success has also translated into growing revenue, as the European tosco reported a 13% increase in revenue to $7 billion, at a time … [Read more...] about LEGO Caps Breakout Year With 13% Growth
Bradford Promoted to New Role at Poetic Brands
Licensing veteran Anne Bradford has been promoted to the position of Commercial Director at Poetic Brands, after building out the company's children's and baby wear division. Bradford joined the company in September of 2019 with a brief to build out the new division, and saw notable success over the ensuing 18 months, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic. By the … [Read more...] about Bradford Promoted to New Role at Poetic Brands
Funko Ends Strong in Tough Year
The pop culture product company Funko released its fourth quarter results this week, showing a strong finish after a brutal year in which global sales were strongly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. While Funko's profitability suffered mightily through most of the year, the company says its recovery in Q4 leads management to predict a dramatic turnaround in 2021, with an … [Read more...] about Funko Ends Strong in Tough Year
EA Funds New Games From Silver Rain
A new gaming studio headed by BAFTA-nominated actor/producer Abubakar Salim has signed a dream deal with sector giant Electronic Arts Inc. Silver Rain Games is a new gaming company with no titles published to date, but Salim has signed a major deal with a division of EA dedicated to supporting indy studios, called EA Originals Label. Under the agreement, EA Originals will … [Read more...] about EA Funds New Games From Silver Rain
Jazwares Extends Fortnite Licensing Deal
Jazwares, a global leader in toys and licensing, today announced its partnership with Epic Games for Fortnite toys and collectibles has been extended through 2025, in a deal brokered by IMG. Starting in January 2022, Jazwares will be the exclusive toy partner for Fortnite action figures four-inches-high and under and their compatible vehicles, play sets, accessories and … [Read more...] about Jazwares Extends Fortnite Licensing Deal
K-Pop Back on Spotify After Deal With Kakao
Music streaming leader Spotify says it has reached an agreement with Kakao Entertainment (previously known as KakaoM), making their content available on the platform across the globe, including for the first time in South Korea. As reported in The Licensing Letter, Kakao and Spotify were in a bitter dispute over music rights that saw hundreds of popular K-pop songs removed from … [Read more...] about K-Pop Back on Spotify After Deal With Kakao