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 top entertainment/character properties including Star Wars. The new market size analysis comes from comic book data specialist Comichron and online retail trade magazine ICv2 just before giant Comic-Con International opens next … [Read more...] about Top Entertainment/Character Properties Drive Comics Sales Above $1 Billion
Articles
Vegan Cosmetics: The Newest Wave in Fashion Brand Building
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. Quality is no longer enough. Today's consumers also want their brands to have a moral and social conscience. Few sectors have been more responsive to this demand than fashion. Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this is the proliferation of vegan makeup brands. The Appeal of Vegan "Natural, organic and clean are the buzzwords across the beauty … [Read more...] about Vegan Cosmetics: The Newest Wave in Fashion Brand Building
Shopping for School Supplies, Electronics Moves Online
Back-to-school shopping—including school supplies and electronics—is expected to grow dramatically in the ecommerce channel in 2016, mirroring the growing channel share for ecommerce in licensed product sales overall, as consumers shop for savings. While back-to-school shoppers are still heading primarily to bricks-and-mortar stores, they are increasingly purchasing … [Read more...] about Shopping for School Supplies, Electronics Moves Online
New Players Enter the eSports Area
By Karina Masolova Turner's Cartoon Network EMEA is the latest company to enter the eSports arena with a single elimination live tournament based on its upcoming mobile game app Adventure Time Card Wars Kingdom in partnership with Machinima. Let's Play Flooping Card Wars! will stream on Machinima's Twitch channel on July 15, when four of the gaming culture site's top … [Read more...] about New Players Enter the eSports Area
Stephen Curry & His Warriors Top NBA Sales List
By Karina Masolova Reigning NBA MVP Stephen Curry and defending NBA Champion Golden State Warriors reigned as No. 1 on the NBA's most popular jersey and team merchandise lists for the 2015/2016 season. The team's NBA Finals 2016 win landed them on the top of the popular team merchandise list for the first time since January 2015. See the results below, which are based on … [Read more...] about Stephen Curry & His Warriors Top NBA Sales List
YouTubers Ride Streaming Services Toward Mainstream
Top digital celebrities including Grace Helbig, Cameron Dallas and Miranda Sings (aka Colleen Ballinger) continue to edge their way toward the linear, aka "old", media still favored by the licensing community. These three and others are making the jump from social media platforms led by YouTube and Vine to longer-form programming on streaming services Netflix, Amazon and Hulu. … [Read more...] about YouTubers Ride Streaming Services Toward Mainstream
The NBA & Its Licensees Woo the Female Fan
By Glenn S. Demby, Esq. As in the other pro sports leagues, the NBA and licensees are investing heavily in the female market. Women now account for 38% of the league's fan base and 40% of its licensed apparel purchasers. True, only 10% of those apparel products are actually for females, but that ratio has tripled since 2012. "The NBA has been working with its partners to … [Read more...] about The NBA & Its Licensees Woo the Female Fan
Who’s News
Global Brands Group and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) create a joint venture, CAA-GBG Global Brand Management Group (CAA-GBG). Perry Wolfman will serve as CEO, while Jared Margolis will be President. Endemol Shine North America names Michael Gifford SVP Business & Legal Affairs, while Ed Prince and Marjorie Williams have each been named VP Business & Legal … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Franchises and the 360 Experience Dominate Vegas
Over the last week, 16,000 attendees braved triple-digit temperatures at Licensing Expo 2016 in Las Vegas. Over 150 new exhibitors entered the fray—totaling 460+ licensors and agents representing over 35 countries. See this coming Wednesday's Deal Sheet for a complete breakdown of new properties showcased and deals announced. The top trends that we'll see in licensing over … [Read more...] about Franchises and the 360 Experience Dominate Vegas
At 50, Original Series Still Drives Star Trek Licensing
The original Star Trek series debuted on Sept. 8, 1966 and aired for only three seasons. Fifty years later it's hard to believe that the show had such a short run, given the influence it has had on the entertainment landscape, spawning five more TV series and 13 feature films, and licensing. The latest franchise film, Star Trek Beyond, will premiere at this month's … [Read more...] about At 50, Original Series Still Drives Star Trek Licensing