The Licensing Letter

Music

AC/DC Launches Beer, Sex Pistols In Licensing Battle

There's Anarchy in the UK, as The Sex Pistols' guitarist Steve Jones and drummer Paul Cook are suing former band frontman John Lydon (aka Johnny Rotten) over the use of their songs in the upcoming Danny Boyle biography series Pistol. The series, slated for streaming broadcast on Disney+, is based on Jones' 2016 memoir Lonely Boy, but Lydon says the book and the series paint him … [Read more...] about AC/DC Launches Beer, Sex Pistols In Licensing Battle

KISS Is Rocking New Licensing Deals For World Tour

Legendary rock band KISS is heading back on the road on the End of the Road World Tour, and has launched a licensing blitz along with their exclusive agent Epic Rights. The licensing agency says it has signed several new licensing agreement over the last year across multiple product categories for key territories worldwide, with many new and unique products for retail. The new … [Read more...] about KISS Is Rocking New Licensing Deals For World Tour

Hipgnosis Is Rocking Revenue With Music Catalog Acquisitions

Leader in the Evolution of Music Licensing Says Revenue and Dividends Are Up, After $1 Billion Acquisition of Music Catalogs In the music world, 2020 will be remembered as the year when the value of popular music catalogs soared into the stratosphere, but 2021 will be the year that strategy was shown to pay off, as Hipgnosis unveiled impressive profits and revenue … [Read more...] about Hipgnosis Is Rocking Revenue With Music Catalog Acquisitions

MeUndies Is Rocking Some Rolling Stones Imagery

The apparel brand MeUndies is bringing some classic rock to its collection of underwear, sleepwear and loungewear, licensing the famous Rolling Stones lips and tongue logo for products aimed at its community of loyal Gen Z and millennial customers. The logo may well be the most famous in the world for any musical act, and was designed originally by artist John Pasche to adorn … [Read more...] about MeUndies Is Rocking Some Rolling Stones Imagery

Universal Music Announces Licensing Truce With Triller

The months-long licensing dispute between Universal Music Group and the social video site Triller appears to be over, as UMG announced it has signed a worldwide agreement for its music catalog. Triller is a social media video app, similar to TikTok, in which users can combine video and licensed music to produce their own videos. Triller is different in the sense videos are … [Read more...] about Universal Music Announces Licensing Truce With Triller

India’s Tips Industries Licenses Music For YouTube

As the short video wars heat up between TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels, music labels are enjoying new value for licensing their IP. Now, India's Tips Industries has signed a lucrative deal with Google, allowing users of its YouTube Shorts service to use any music owned by the label. "As part of this deal, Tips will license its large catalogue to YouTube platform … [Read more...] about India’s Tips Industries Licenses Music For YouTube

Update: Jerry Garcia’s Rainforest Benefit Sandals Sell Out in Hours

“Somebody has to do something, and it’s incredibly pathetic that it has to be us.”  –Jerry Garcia, Rainforest Benefit Concert Press Conference, September 1988 A collection of limited edition sandals offered by shoemaker KEEN Inc. and the estate of the late musician Jerry Garcia sold out just hours after being offered on Earth Day. KEEN says the limited-edition, individually … [Read more...] about Update: Jerry Garcia’s Rainforest Benefit Sandals Sell Out in Hours

Billboard Looks For a Hit With Branded T-Shirts

Billboard and Hot Topic Join Forces to Launch Collection of 50 Standout Tee Shirts Inspired by Pop Culture & Music Hot Topic, the ultimate retail destination for music fans, has tapped Billboard, renowned music authority, to launch a limited-edition collection inspired by past, present and future iterations of music culture. Billboard is a global music media brand, … [Read more...] about Billboard Looks For a Hit With Branded T-Shirts

CreateOn Partners With The Beatles

The creative people at CreateOn have entered into a partnership to create The Beatles Collection, featuring classic imagery from the Beatles era. With individual Magna-Tiles depicting album covers and classic images, The Beatles Collection represents a new pinnacle of design and versatility for CreateOn. Individual tiles can be configured into multiple structures including the … [Read more...] about CreateOn Partners With The Beatles

Hasbro Selling eOne Music Division

Major news from toy and entertainment giant Hasbro Inc., which says it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Entertainment One Music (“eOne Music”) for an aggregate price of US$385 million in cash. The transaction has been approved by the Board of Directors of Hasbro and Entertainment One Canada Limited, and is subject to customary closing conditions and receipt of … [Read more...] about Hasbro Selling eOne Music Division