The Licensing Letter

Entertainment/Character

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

E-commerce Sales Surge as Specialty Purges Entertainment/Character

By Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. Retail sales of licensed merchandise based on entertainment/character properties grew to reach $31.1 billion worldwide, according to TLL's Licensing Business Survey. In the U.S./Canada, retail sales grew 3.4% to reach $13.2 billion. Across the board, Survey respondents reported that social media is now a dominant means of fan … [Read more...] about E-commerce Sales Surge as Specialty Purges Entertainment/Character

Content Watch: New Series & Activations

Differential Brands Group will acquire the majority of Hong Kong-based Global Brands Group Holding Ltd.’s North American licensing business for $1.38 billion in an all-cash deal expected to close Q3 2018. The acquisition is expected to boost Differential Brands’ annual revenues up to more than $2.3 billion. The assets at stake comprise all of GBG's North American children’s … [Read more...] about Content Watch: New Series & Activations

Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives

FC Barcelona is ending its 17-year partnership with Nike where it ceded its retail and licensing rights to FCBMerchandising. The football club forms a new company to manage its retail, licensing, and merchandising activity. The newly formed Barça Licensing and Merchandising will take over its rights on July 1 and oversee a $77 million merchandising business spanning three of … [Read more...] about Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives

Mobile & More Content Licensing

Universal partners with mobile-game developer Ludia for AR mobile game app, Jurassic World Alive. Players collect, discover, and create a variety of dinosaurs while exploring their own neighborhoods and cities around the world. Starting June 6 through July 31, select Walmart and AMC locations will allow players to collect branded supply drops and resources. Hasbro parters with … [Read more...] about Mobile & More Content Licensing

Experiential Activations

A new cross-media fitness campaign from Disney and Aspics features a series of "super work-out" videos, in-store activations, and a footwear collection all meant to celebrate the release of Incredibles 2. Mixed martial arts organization UFC and AirAsia, its sponsor and presenting sponsor of UFC Fight Night Singapore, launch the first UFC-branded livery on an AirAsia Airbus … [Read more...] about Experiential Activations

What Kids Want (to Wear)

It turns out that when it comes to what types of entertainment/character brands kids want to wear, they turn to a hero, according to E-Score Character. The research service identified the most sought-after characters for clothing by age group. All of the properties identified below have established licensing programs and, to varying degrees, have extensions in apparel, … [Read more...] about What Kids Want (to Wear)