The Licensing Letter

U.S.

The World Comes to Play at Toy Fair New York This Weekend

Allison Watkinson TLL Reporter The America's largest trade show for the toy industry gets underway this weekend, with hundreds of creative toy companies showing their wares at the 120th annual Toy Fair. The annual event, produced by The Toy Association starts this Saturday, February 14, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a parade of costumed mascots from various … [Read more...] about The World Comes to Play at Toy Fair New York This Weekend

Mattel to Acquire Full Ownership of Games Studio Mattel163 for $159 Million

TLL Staff Toymaker Mattel is going all in on mobile gaming, as it moves to acquire full ownership of the games studio Mattel163. The studio is currently a joint venture between Mattel and the Chinese internet software giant NetEase, which owns 50% of Mattel163. Mattel, Inc. announced Tuesday it has reached an agreement to acquire full ownership of Mattel163 in a deal that … [Read more...] about Mattel to Acquire Full Ownership of Games Studio Mattel163 for $159 Million

LEGO and The Met Bridge the Gap Between Art and Play with Monet Masterpiece Set

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Put away the paint brush, because art lovers and LEGO enthusiasts can now build their own Impressionist masterpiece, brick by brick. The LEGO Group announced Tuesday a collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art to release the LEGO Art 'Claude Monet – Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies' set, a 3,179-piece recreation of the French … [Read more...] about LEGO and The Met Bridge the Gap Between Art and Play with Monet Masterpiece Set

Britney Spears Sells Catalog to Primary Wave for Reported $200 Million

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief The pop superstar Britney Spears has sold the rights to her music catalog to the independent music publisher Primary Wave.  Unconfirmed media reports put the price tag for Spears’ catalog at approximately $200 million.  Given Spears’ determination to stay out of the U.S. music industry at this point, the move isn’t that surprising. … [Read more...] about Britney Spears Sells Catalog to Primary Wave for Reported $200 Million

Kids Get Busy in the Kitchen With Red Toolbox x Kitchen Aid Collection

TLL Staff Red Toolbox announced Tuesday a licensing agreement with KitchenAid to create KitchenAid Kids, a line of children's kitchen products set to launch in September 2026. The product line will feature two categories. The first is pretend play kitchen appliances for imaginative role play, and the second consists of functional junior appliances, including a mixer and … [Read more...] about Kids Get Busy in the Kitchen With Red Toolbox x Kitchen Aid Collection

Moose Toys Partners With NASA Engineer Mark Rober for New STEM Toy Line

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Designing new toys isn’t rocket science … or is it? Moose Toys came down on the opposite side of that question, and has partnered with former rocket scientist and NASA engineer Mark Rober’s company Crunch Labs. The partners have now developed an all-new line of toys in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) … [Read more...] about Moose Toys Partners With NASA Engineer Mark Rober for New STEM Toy Line

Wasserman Talent Agency Faces Artist Backlash Over the Epstein Files

Pop Star Chappell Roan First to Leave the Wasserman Agency Photo caption: Casey Wasserman, seen here at his appointment at the White House to the Los Angeles Olympics task force, has apologized for emails he sent to Ghislaine Maxwell, long before her conviction for sex crimes related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Official White House Photo by Joyce N. Boghosian. By Gary … [Read more...] about Wasserman Talent Agency Faces Artist Backlash Over the Epstein Files

Eddie Bauer Launches Major Rebranding Based on its ‘First Ascent’ Line

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Eddie Bauer announced Monday a new strategy centered on technical product innovation and digital expansion, anchored by the return of its high-performance line First Ascent. Founded in 1920 in Seattle, Eddie Bauer created the first patented quilted down jacket and has spent more than a century equipping adventurers with outdoor apparel … [Read more...] about Eddie Bauer Launches Major Rebranding Based on its ‘First Ascent’ Line

Brand Central Hires Molly Jacobson as Senior Vice President

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Brand Central LLC announced Molly Jacobson has joined the licensing agency as senior vice president of licensing and strategy in its manufacturing representation division. Jacobson brings more than 20 years of experience in brand partnerships, licensing and omnichannel business development to the role. She most … [Read more...] about Brand Central Hires Molly Jacobson as Senior Vice President