By Karina Masolova As one of the first categories in which properties originating outside the U.S. became part of global culture, the worldwide preschool sector essentially provides licensors with a passport to the global licensed consumer products market. The trend is only accelerating as the over-$10 billion market for licensed preschool products expands. See the complete … [Read more...] about Preschool: A Passport to the Worldwide Market
Articles
Celebrating Coffee With Food
By Marcy Magiera To celebrate National Coffee Day, Dunkin' Brands Group announced that it will launch a Dunkin' Donuts branded ready-to-drink coffee line in early 2017. The new products, to be manufactured and distributed by The Coca-Cola Co., will strengthen Dunkin' Donuts' position as a coffee authority and extend the brand into new distribution channels, the company … [Read more...] about Celebrating Coffee With Food
Pumping Up Brands
By Karina Masolova Despite our love for athleisure and all things healthy, a recent study by Nautilus shows that Americans and Europeans fail when it comes to general health and fitness knowledge (scoring an average of 42% and 39%, respectively). But it can't be denied that fitness is a big business, even if it is more aspirational than not. The 2016 update to Inc.'s 5000 list … [Read more...] about Pumping Up Brands
Franchise Films Losing Ground to Publishing Adaptations
By Marcy Magiera Franchise films still consistently top the U.S. box office, but 2016 has seen many sequels and reboots fall flat with audiences, causing many observers to question whether consumers have hit an unanticipated limit when it comes to Hollywood's franchise obsession. It takes time, however, before those concerns are reflected in studio production schedules. Our … [Read more...] about Franchise Films Losing Ground to Publishing Adaptations
Content & Experiential Roundup
Mattel and Otoy join force to bring original episodic "Batman: The Animated Series" content to the View-Master VR Viewer this fall. The new content is developed in partnership with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, DC Entertainment and Warner Bros.’ digital studio Blue Ribbon Content. Cartoon Network will release a new Adventure Time virtual reality mobile game and a Jake the … [Read more...] about Content & Experiential Roundup
Who’s News
Genius Brands Intl. promotes Stone Newman to President Global Consumer Products, Worldwide Content Sales & Marketing and hires Jo Kavanagh-Payne as SVP Global Distribution. PBS promotes Dawn Ciccone to VP Brand Licensing, where she leads PBS KIDS brand licensing. Amanda Hill is elevated to CMO of A+E Networks. Chris Heatherly is now EVP Worldwide Games & Digital … [Read more...] about Who’s News
TLL Survey: Nascent Digital Celebs Sector Rivals Entertainment/Character for Growth
Relative to the rest of licensing, retail sales of goods licensed by digital celebrities grew with the speed of a viral video in 2015, spiking 8% to approach $1 billion in 2015 according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. The fledgling subcategory of the celebrity property type grew more during the year than any full-fledged property type except for the … [Read more...] about TLL Survey: Nascent Digital Celebs Sector Rivals Entertainment/Character for Growth
Kid’s Tech Goes Back to the Future
By Karina Masolova The future of kid's tech products sees an overhaul in traditional play patterns even as less modern concerns are being addressed. TLL recently attended the Kids' & Family Tech Expo in NYC hosted by Child's Play Communications. From this intimate subset of kid's tech manufacturers emerges a picture of how the industry is addressing the biggest concerns in … [Read more...] about Kid’s Tech Goes Back to the Future
Mergers & Acquisitions
PlayMonster acquires Automoblox, a line of collectible toy vehicles in the classic wooden toy car category. VF Corp. completes the sales of its contemporary brands business (7 for All Mankind, Splendid and Ella Moss) to Delta Galil Industries. People and Entertainment Weekly launch an ad-supported streaming service called the People/Entertainment Weekly Network (PEN). The … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
Who’s News
Andrew Cooper is the new President of Sequential Brands Group.HMD global Oy appoints Pekka Rantala CMO. Following NBCUniversal’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group restructures its management team. Vince Klaseus leads the combined Universal and DreamWorks Animation games, digital and consumer products divisions. Margie Cohn helms the … [Read more...] about Who’s News