Canadian rock star and songwriter Neil Young is out of the blue, and heavily into the black, after selling a 50 per cent interest in his music catalog for an estimated $150 million US. As noted in this week's Special Report from The Licensing Letter, the past four years and 2020 in particular have seen a massive increase in the value and scale of music catalog deals. Sales … [Read more...] about Neil Young to Cash In on Music Catalogs
Property Types
Peppa Pig Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary With New Content and Merch
Hasbro is going 'hog wild' on Peppa Pig in 2021, marking the show's 10th anniversary on Nick Jr. with a year-long pipeline of new content, a new Hasbro toy line coming in Fall, and a full roster of marketing activations, brand collaborations and promotions for fans across the US. The Peppa Pig franchise was part of a $4 billion investment for Hasbro, when the international toy … [Read more...] about Peppa Pig Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary With New Content and Merch
Licensing Legal Dispute Ended By Settlement
Two toy companies have peacefully resolved their licensing dispute after the parties recently obtained a ruling in court. The two companies have released a joint statement saying in part, "GennComm LLC (“GennComm”) and Beverly Hills Teddy Bear Company (“BHTB”) are pleased to announce that they have reached a mutually satisfactory resolution of long-pending intellectual … [Read more...] about Licensing Legal Dispute Ended By Settlement
SONIC Drive-In Signs Beefy Partnership with Slim Jim
SONIC Drive-In has partnered with Slim Jim, a product line from Conagra Brands, to bring Sonic’s chili cheese coney flavor to the meat snacks category at thousands of retail outlets. The licensing partnership was brokered by Sonic’s exclusive licensing agency, Brand Central. Sonic is an iconic part of the country's fast food scene. Founded in 1953, SONIC Drive-In is the … [Read more...] about SONIC Drive-In Signs Beefy Partnership with Slim Jim
“Makeup junkie” Halsey Launches Own Beauty Line
Most people, including her fans, aren't aware that hit singer/songwriter Halsey is a self-taught makeup artist, so it makes sense she's launching her own beauty line on Jan. 25 under the brand name about-face. "Makeup is an art and art is about happy accidents, not any one ideal of perfection," said Halsey, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of about-face. "I always feel the … [Read more...] about “Makeup junkie” Halsey Launches Own Beauty Line
Music Licensing Collective Goes Live
By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief New Year's Day marked a major change in the music licensing industry, as the Mechanical Licensing Collective went live as part of the Music Modernization Act. The bill was passed in 2018 with the goal of bringing in more fair rules for the compensation of musicians and songwriters, and called for the establishment of a body to oversee … [Read more...] about Music Licensing Collective Goes Live
Playmobil Launches Classic Volkswagens
German toymaker Playmobil has partnered with equally storied car manufacturer Volkswagen to bring out their own tiny car line for kids. First announced in September, the partnership has resulted in the release of a classic VW Beetle and the original VW Camper Bus, known in Germany as the 'Bulli', and unofficially by a generation of young American travelers as 'the hippie bus'. … [Read more...] about Playmobil Launches Classic Volkswagens
Fashion Licensing Pioneer Ruth McCarthy Manton Dies at 95
Ruth McCarthy Manton, a pioneer in the business of fashion licensing, passed away at her home on Christmas Eve. Manton was also among the first female fashion journalists in the industry, but it was her innovative work after founding Aries Design Management that made her a force to be reckoned with in the licensing business. Manton's idea was to link up top designers directly … [Read more...] about Fashion Licensing Pioneer Ruth McCarthy Manton Dies at 95
Fanatics & Lids Reach Long-Term Deal With BNED
The sports merchandise company Fanatics has added to its long list of critical deals in 2020 with a long-term merchandising partnership with Barnes & Noble Education Inc. (BNED), the campus store division of the Barnes & Noble parent company. Fanatics will offer BNED campus stores an expanded product selection and a direct-to-consumer platform. Fanatics' partly-owned … [Read more...] about Fanatics & Lids Reach Long-Term Deal With BNED
Erve Europe Lands Deal With Blizzard Entertainment
Licensing company Erve Europe has signed a deal with Blizzard Entertainment adding the wildly popular Overwatch and World of Warcraft games to its product portfolio. Erve Europe is a leader in character licenses and brands for the continent, producing branded fashion and apparel featuring TV, film, cartoon and video game heroes. As part of Erve Group, the company has six … [Read more...] about Erve Europe Lands Deal With Blizzard Entertainment