The Licensing Letter

Music

TikTok Inks Critical Licensing Deal with Sony Music

Another day, another TikTok licensing deal to report, but in this case, the agreement is critical to the way TikTok operates.  TikTok announced this week it has reached a new agreement with Sony Music Entertainment that allows its millions of users to use songs from SME’s vast roster of global music superstars, as well as its many emerging artists.  "We are thrilled to enter … [Read more...] about TikTok Inks Critical Licensing Deal with Sony Music

Experiential & Partnerships Roundup: Worldwide

Contact the editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Crayola and Bulu Inc. launch new Create It Yourself (CIY) monthly subscription boxes, based in part on its YouTube series. Each branded box contains supplies for two premium craft projects, including a how-to guide, a bonus crafting challenge, and unique surprises, gifts, and coupons. Penguin Ventures collaborates with Le … [Read more...] about Experiential & Partnerships Roundup: Worldwide

Guess Who’s Back

By: Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Nostalgia remains strong for retro brands—and it's not just '50s and '60s-inspired designs, icons, and goods. The '90s counts, too. We review the top retro announcements this week. Epic Rights signs *NSYNC, one the bestselling bands of all-time with over 70 million records sold, in time for the 20th anniversary of the pop … [Read more...] about Guess Who’s Back

Preschool Properties With Some Licensing Activity

The preschool market is one of the most stable we track, compared to other property types and product categories. In 2016, licensed retail sales of preschool brand-based, preschool-oriented merchandise grew 6.7% to reach almost $12.8 billion. You've seen the top 20 list—now TLL is releasing a selection previously available only to paid subscribers. See below for an accounting … [Read more...] about Preschool Properties With Some Licensing Activity

TLL’s Guide to Music-based Properties

Musicians and bands, living and dead, are included in “Music.” Apart from merchandise licensing based on the individual or group name or imagery (the Rolling Stones tongue or the Grateful Dead dancing bears, for example), owners of music copyrights grant authorizations to perform or record music. These uses are outside the scope of consumer products licensing unless the usage … [Read more...] about TLL’s Guide to Music-based Properties

Licensors Poised to Lose Millions in Royalties

The Hollywood Reporter reports that top entertainment and music companies like Discovery, CBS, Fox, and NBCUniversal are facing millions in lost royalties if a planned bankruptcy auction of Delivery Agent goes through. Delivery Agent was founded in 2005; the company runs digital platforms that sell licensed merchandise and has generated more than $800 million in revenue. After … [Read more...] about Licensors Poised to Lose Millions in Royalties

Preschool: A Passport to the Worldwide Market

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

Music Licensed Goods Down 1.7% as Movie Merch Spread Out on Shelves

By Marcy Magiera U.S. and Canadian sales of licensed goods based on music properties trended down for the second consecutive year in 2015, though not as steeply as in 2014. Music licensed goods represented $2.45 billion in North American retail sales in 2015, a drop of 1.7%, according to The Licensing Letter's Annual Licensing Business Survey. In 2014, sales of music licensed … [Read more...] about Music Licensed Goods Down 1.7% as Movie Merch Spread Out on Shelves