Billboard expands into China with a number of branded media platforms in partnership with Vision Music, making it the latest in a stream of media companies to vault over the great wall…
ENTERTAINMENT/CHARACTER
Rogue Film’s Miniature Launch
September 5, 2016
In a move reminiscent of last year’s Force Friday unboxing events, Disney revealed the new toy line for upcoming film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story via its YouTube channel. Unlike with last year’s merchandising campaign however…
WORLD OF LICENSING
6 Trends in Global Entertainment/Character Licensing
August 26, 2016
After years of decline, entertainment/character has grown faster than any property type over the past two years—outdoing 2014’s 4.8% increase with even more impressive growth of 6.3%, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. Here’s a look at some of the notable trends affecting 2015 and beyond…
ENTERTAINMENT/CHARACTER
Disney Dresses Up with Fashion
August 26, 2016
Deals with retailers Forever 21 and Cath illustrate Disney’s renewed emphasis on fashion products for its classic and contemporary brands. Disney’s 2016 deals run the gamut from low to high fashion and from apparel to cosmetics…
Consumer Electronics
Licensed Consumer Electronics Up 3.5% in the U.S./Canada
August 26, 2016
Licensed consumer electronics merchandise grew 3.5% to reach $5.41 billion in the U.S./Canada.
Featuring: Foxconn, Sharp, Nokia, HMD Global, Atari, Skullcandy and more…
Publishing
Cursed Child Blesses Retail
August 12, 2016
The numbers are in for the latest addition to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World franchise, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 & 2, and the book is strongly positioned to break records. The franchise will further grow with the upcoming film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Although the Harry Potter licensing program has typically been small…
TOY SALES
Star Wars Blasts Toy Industry Growth to Century High
August 5, 2016
U.S. toy sales grew a stellar 7.5% in the first half of this year, outpacing first-half growth in 2015, when full-year growth ended up at 6.7%, according to NPD. The biggest driver: Star Wars, with sales for toys based on the franchise increasing nearly 200% for the year through June, representing $300 million…
TOYS & GAMES
Summer or Not, Mattel and Hasbro Still Feeling Frozen
July 29, 2016
The extent to which the world’s largest toy companies are reliant on entertainment/character licenses is clear in a side-by-side comparison of giants Mattel, Hasbro and Jakks Pacific—all of which are feeling the Frozen effect two years after the property stormed retail…
EXPERIENTIAL
With VR, Top Entertainment Properties Weave a Web Around Fans
July 22, 2016
Virtual reality technology is giving entertainment licensors a way to immerse fans more fully in their favorite franchises, with perennial properties including…
COMIC BOOKS
Top Entertainment/Character Properties Drive Comics Sales Above $1 Billion
July 18, 2016
Pow! Retail sales of comics and graphic novels in the U.S. and Canada grew 10% in 2015, passing $1 billion for the first time in decades, driven by…