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CONTACT US TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP BUILD YOUR BRAND
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17/9/09 12:28:30
JANUARY 2010 Volume 5, No. 1
FEATURES
20 Adult Industry Faces Triple Threat
by Chris Adams
22 From TV to Video Games:
Music Licensing Keeps Up with Consumers by Laurie Leahey
26 SHOT Show:
Licensor Roundup by Paul Narula
28 DeLorean Looks Back, to the Future by Chris Adams
ON THE COVER: This Hey Jude T-shirt, by Lyric Culture, is licensed by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which manages the licensing program for compositions written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney while they were members of The Beatles.
COVER BY DESIGN EDGE
DEPARTMENTS
ON THIS PAGE: The Chippendales live show is a major driver for the property’s licensing program; A.V.W. produces Winchester Gun Wash and Winchester Gun Cleaner; and the DeLorean Motor Company’s iconic DMC-12
4 Observations & Opinions 6 The Ticker 10 Real Deal 12 On the Radar 14 Royaltie$ Marketplace: Top Chef 16 Essence of Style 18 Mavericks in the Market: Julie Newman 30 You’re Hired! 32 Calendar of Events 35 Endcap
www.aNbMedia.com PUBLISHED BY ANB MEDIA • Volume 3, Number 8
I
PUBLISHER ANDY KRINNER ANDY@ANBMEDIA.COM
by Andy Krinner
SIGNS OF LIFE
t seems that someone must have used
2009 and 2010 is a question mark at best.
faint heartbeat after all. As of press time—
past years is that the automatic successes
a defibrillator on the mostly dead body of retailers because there is a
well into Q4 selling—the numbers appear to be tracking up ever-so-slightly. This is a
good sign considering most forecasters were predicting a flat or down market.
Shoppers are showing signs that their
buying is more need-based. Coats, shoes,
and other daily necessities, which did not
bode well last season, are weighing heavy on the minds of cost-conscious consumers. In toyland, a little mechanical hamster
is making quite a ruckus. Zhu Zhu Pets are so popular, in fact, that the manufacturer,
Cepia, is unable to keep up with the current demand. The mad dash to try to find one of
these hard-to-get items is driving people into the toy stores and toy departments na-
tionwide, which is a good thing for these retailers, many of which bought conserva-
tively after last year. In many cases, the most popular toys will be in short supply. However, this is not a bad thing for toyland. Of course, the downside of this is some
There are some properties that are still very hot. The difference between now and are few and far between. Intellectual prop-
erties that would have been easy sells 10
years ago are now having difficulty finding retail support and licensees.
While some licensing execs find the
market difficult, others are seeing it as a market of opportunities. Ambitious licen-
sors and agents are trying to make an impact
in non-traditional categories. It’s simply
going to require a little more creativity and plain hard work to make things happen.
I’m looking forward to an exciting year
for licensing in 2010. I’ve recently been trav-
elling around the country visiting members of the licensing community and the strate-
gies that are being set in place have a real shot at success. The licensing business has changed quite a bit, forcing everyone to ne-
gotiate a little harder and make a few more concessions to get the deal done. This is cer-
tainly not going to change anytime soon and we here at ROYALTIE$ will continue to report
folks are taking advantage of the supply
to you on the best and brightest properties.
price to make holiday dreams come true.
exciting changes that aNb Media will an-
shortage by greedily gouging prices. But some consumers are willing to pay any In any event, the faint heartbeat has to be
considered a good sign that retail is starting to come out of its coma.
Licensing had a challenging year in
4
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER BOB GLASER BOB@ANBMEDIA.COM
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
We wish our readers a happy and
healthy New Year. Stay tuned for new and
nounce in 2010. In the meantime, check out our websites www.aNbMedia.com and
www.TimeToPlayMag.com to see the latest news and information.
ADVERTISING MANAGER AMY LAND AMY@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTROLLER MARY GROGAN MARY@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM SILVER JIM@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NANCY LOMBARDI NANCY@ANBMEDIA.COM MANAGING EDITOR CHRIS ADAMS CHRISA@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR AT LARGE CHRISTOPHER BYRNE CHRISB@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSISTANT EDITOR LAURIE LEAHEY LAURIE@ANBMEDIA.COM ASSISTANT EDITOR PAUL NARULA PAUL@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB MASTER ERIK KIECKHAFER ERIK@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB CONTENT MANAGER BRENDAN SANABRIA BRENDAN@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTRIBUTOR MATT NUCCIO MATT@DESIGNEDGE.NET HONG KONG REPRESENTATIVE TONY LEE SMART REGENT PRODUCTIONS LTD., 66–72 STANLEY STREET, ROOM 603, KAI TAK COMMERCIAL BUILDING, CENTRAL HONG KONG PHONE: 2815 0166 • FAX: 2815 6911 • SREGENT@NETVIGATOR.COM
PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE JOSSLYNNE WELCH LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS, 320 SINATRA DR., HOBOKEN, N.J. 07030 (201) 222–9118 EXT. 13 • JWELCH@LITZKYPR.COM
INTERESTED IN A SUBSCRIPTION? CONTACT SUBSCRIPTIONS@ANBMEDIA.COM ANB
MEDIA, INC.
229 WEST 28TH STREET, SUITE 401, NEW YORK, NY 10001 PHONE: (646) 763–8710 • FAX: (646) 763–8727
ROYALTIE$ is published 12 times a year by aNb Media, Inc. Copyright 2010 aNb Media, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. ROYALTIE$ is a registered trademark of aNb Media, Inc. Opinions and comments expressed in this publication by editors, contributing writers, or solicited or unsolicited documents are not necessarily those of ROYALTIE$ management.
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10/26/09 5:57:28 PM
A RECAP
OF
INDUSTRY HEADLINES
JAKKS TO LICENSE GIRL GOURMET
Jakks Pacific, Inc., announced that it has signed The Name Game licensing agency to represent Girl Gourmet for an out-bound licensing program. The Name Game’s Holly Rawlinson is partnering with Sharon Bennett of Bennett Branding to execute the program. Jakks plans to extend its Girl Gourmet brand into a complete line of merchandise and brand extensions including publishing, interactive, apparel, bath and beauty, accessories, social expression, home décor, food/confections, entertainment, and more.
MEREDITH GETS THE DIRT
IN
DISCOVERY DEAL
Discovery Communications and Mike Rowe’s co-branded lifestyle brand—DirtyJobs/mikeroweWORKS—have partnered with Meredith Corporation to create a children’s book titled Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe: Get the Real Dirt Behind the World’s Dirtiest Jobs. The publishing deal was brokered on behalf of Discovery Communications and mikeroweWORKS by their licensing agent, The Joester Loria Group, and is North American-based only. Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe: Get the Real Dirt Behind the World’s Dirtiest Jobs will be released this month. It will be marketed via school book fairs and book clubs initially and then be available at bookstores, mid-tier chains, and online retailers.
KENN VISELMAN PRESENTS THE OOGIELOVES
Kenn Viselman, the producer and marketer who brought Teletubbies and Thomas the Tank Engine to the Americas, has formed a new film and television production company called Kenn Viselman presents… Principal photography
The Oogieloves
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ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
was recently completed on the company’s first feature The Oogieloves in The BIG Balloon Adventure. Viselman plans on releasing the film in November 2010 on more than 3,000 screens. The company currently has 11 films in development including Sleeping Rudy, Step Off, and the second installment of The Oogieloves, which will begin pre-production this month. The company is also beginning pre-production on a coming-of-age comedy set to begin production early this year.
MODA SIGNS A MEATY DEAL
FOR THE
HENRY FORD
MODA International Marketing announces a licensing agreement between client The Henry Ford and Dearborn Sausage Company, Inc., to create a line of meat products under the Greenfield Village—Rooted in The American Farm brand. Part of The Henry Ford located in Dearborn, Mich., Greenfield Village is 80 acres filled with 300 years of American history including four authentic working farms (including Firestone Farm, which is the most visited farm in America) and 12 on-site restaurants including a candy store, slow food dinners, a farmer’s market, and seasonal food events all celebrating American traditional food. Greenfield Village—Rooted in The American Farm celebrates America’s food heritage, supporting local and sustainable agriculture with recipes and cooking techniques that speak to today’s hottest trends. Using time-honored recipes from Greenfield Village, Dearborn Sausage will develop offerings including dried sausage, hams, meat sticks, and hot dogs. Product will begin shipping to grocery, mass, convenience stores, and auto travel centers in early spring.
BEANSTALK ANNOUNCES NEW FORD LICENSEES
Ford Motor Company is further diversifying its licensed product offerings. Through its exclusive licensing agency, The Beanstalk Group, Ford has secured several new licensee relationships that build upon the program. New license agreements and product launches include a deal with C-Life to launch a Ford T-shirt collection to be sold
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
7
A RECAP
OF
INDUSTRY HEADLINES
exclusively at Old Navy. Ford Mustang Energy Shots will be developed by licensee Core-mark. New licensee Hot Sauce Harry’s will be launching Ford-branded hot sauce in time for holiday 2010. Spin Master has joined the Ford licensing program and will launch a Radio Control Wall Climber featuring the new Ford Mustang for summer 2010.
PARAMOUNT EXPANDS PARANORMAL ACTIVITY OFFERINGS
Paramount has announced new deals for the Paranormal Activity property. Available soon at the iTunes App Store will be Paranormal Activity: The Search For Katie, A Case Study by Dr. Johann Averys DMN. iPhone and iPod touch users will have exclusive access to this digital comic. Additional deals include signing Aquarius (posters, postcards, and playing cards), Breygent Marketing (trading cards), Changes (T-shirts), Import Dragons (stationery items, including postcards and calendars), NTD (T-shirts and hoodies), and Scorpio (a variety of posters).
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T-shirt by Changes
This season's most highly trafficked family-friendly website, TimetoPlayMag.com offers parents and gift givers information, entertainment, and services on what's fun for children and their families. The comprehensive site includes: hundreds of toy reviews and recommendations hot toy lists and editors' picks a product/gift finder informative and amusing blog entries from leading toy, family entertainment and parenting experts seasonal stories safety tips and recall information daily giveaways of hot toys and more!
Created by Jim Silver, editor-in-chief at aNb Media, and Chris Byrne, renowned toy and children's lifestyle expert (A.K.A. The Toy GuyÂŽ), Time to Play is powered by aNb Media, TheToyGuy.com, and a team of leading, well-known toy, family entertainment, and parenting experts. Key team members include Elizabeth Werner, chief toy officer, iVillage.com, and Shannon Eis, parenting and toy expert.
For advertising information, contact advertising@timetoplaymag.com Š 2008 aNB Media. All Rights Reserved.
MATTEL AND TOYQUEST
Mattel has signed ToyQuest as the licensor for a new Barbie backyard play program for girls. The collection will include inflatable pools and pool toys, sand boxes and accessories, bubbles, sprinklers, chalk, garden tools, and outdoor furniture in the signature Barbie pink. ToyQuest will unveil the program this spring. The line will be available at most mass retailers.
SCHOLASTIC MEDIA AND POST CEREALS
Scholastic Media has teamed up with Post Cereals to create two promotions for 2010 in conjunction with the publication of Scholastic’s The 39 Clues Book #7 this month and Book #10 in August. Post Cereals will feature the series on more than four million branded cereal boxes for each promotion on its Honeycomb, Alpha-Bits, Golden Crisp, and Waffle Crisp brands. Post will also create a Race to Win Sweepstakes for families to enter for a chance to win a trip to New York City and compete in a 39 Clues Scavenger Hunt for a prize. Other prizes include 39 Clues backpacks, signed books, and more.
ELECTRONIC ARTS AND MULTIPLE LICENSEES
Creative Minx Marketing has secured new licensing agreements for a wide variety of brands from electronic entertainment publisher Electronic Arts (EA). For branded products based on the new Dragon Age video game, Creative Minx has secured deals with Hybrid Promotions for T-shirts; Epic Weapons for replicas; DC Direct for action figures; Bioworld Merchandising for accessories; and IDW Publishing for a licensed comic book. For the upcoming Mass Effect 2, EA has partnered with Mighty Fine for apparel, Trends International for paper products, DC Direct for action figures, and Bioworld Merchandising for accessories. More deals have been signed for other EA brands, including Army of Two, American McGee’s Alice, Skate, and more.
4KIDS ENTERTAINMENT AND NFL PROPERTIES
TC Digital Games, a majority-owned subsidiary of 4Kids Entertainment, has reached an agreement with NFL Properties and NFL Players as a licensee to produce a football collectible trading card game with a digital card online component, targeted for launch to coincide with the 2010 NFL season. The collectible card game will allow fans to compete online using their favorite teams and players. The new NFL game is expected to use many of the online elements contained in the platform for TC Digital’s Chaotic trading card game.
CHORION AND HAVEN LICENSING
Chorion is expanding its relationship with Haven Licensing by appointing the company as agent for its brands Olivia, The World of Eric Carle, and Noddy in Australia and New Zealand. This expands on Haven’s previous position as a subagent for Beatrix Potter in the region, as well as representing Chorion’s Mr. Men and Little Miss for many years in this territory. Chorion and Haven will work together to develop and execute brand strategies to further grow the business of all properties in Australia and New Zealand.
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ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT AND VARIOUS PARTNERS
As part of the promotion for the upcoming Wubbzy Goes Green DVD, which features a number of earth-friendly episodes of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Anchor Bay Entertainment has created cross-promotional programs with Mama Rosa’s and First Juice. The First Juice program will begin in March and run through August and the Mama Rosa’s program will begin in April and run through June. Both programs will be active on April 22, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day and the launch date of Wubbzy Goes Green.
GLOBAL ICONS AND STEAK AND ALE
Global Icons has announced its exclusive worldwide licensing partnership with the Steak and Ale chain of American steakhouses. The company will take a number of Steak and Ale’s classic recipes, such as the Kensington Club, Hawaiian Chicken, and 1001 Chocolate Chip Cake, and translate them into easy-to-make meal planning solutions. The licensing program will introduce new entrees, appetizers, side dishes, desserts, and beverages into the frozen, refrigerated, shelf stable, and spirits aisles. Global Icons will leverage Steak and Ale’s reputation to continue to expand the line in the coming years.
THE ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA AND VOTTO VINES IMPORTING
Broad Street Licensing Group has brokered an exclusive licensing agreement between the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) and Votto Vines Importing for the retail of imported Italian wines with OSIA’s Leone D’Oro trademark. The Leone D’Oro-branded line of white, red, and sparkling wines will be imported from vineyards in Italy, from regions such as Piedmonte, Fruili, and Le Marche. The wines are part of the program Broad Street has developed for the Leone D’Oro and Figli d’Italia trademarks.
LE TOUR DE FRANCE AND CYCLE FORCE GROUP
MODA International Marketing has announced a licensing partnership between Le Tour de France and Cycle Force Group. Cycle Force Group has been granted a license by Amaury Sport Organization (the official organizer of Le Tour de France). The company will offer a full range of Le Tour de France bicycles, parts, and accessories beginning in spring in North America, United Kingdom, and across Europe.
IMC LICENSING AND CHECKERS
IMC Licensing has entered into a representation agreement with Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, a chain of double drive-thru restaurants. IMC Licensing will help the company expand its line of licensed french fry and sandwich products, as well as develop new categories for sales at retail.
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
11
New products, new deals, and new trends this month in the licensing industry.
BABY G ENIUS S IGNS CANADIAN G ROUP
Pacific Entertainment Corporation, creators of the Baby Genius brand, granted a license to The Canadian Group to create a line of Baby Genius cardboard puzzles and children’s early learning, board, and card games. The Canadian Group plans to debut the new line of Baby Genius merchandise in fall 2010 at mass, e-commerce, and specialty retail chains throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Joester Loria Group, exclusive licensing agency for Baby Genius, secured the deal.
K ENA K AI ’S DATA S AFE P RODUCTS FEATURE T RAVELOCITY
Kena Kai is launching a new line of Travelocity-branded wallets and travel accessories. Kena Kai will incorporate its exclusive DataSafe radio frequency (RF) shielding technology into the designs to protect today’s new contactless credit cards and ePassports from wireless identity theft. The new contactless credit cards and ePassports use wireless technology to transmit data that used to be transferred via swiping the magnetic strip. Since August 2007, the U.S. State Department has been issuing only its new ePassports, with 20 million-plus currently in circulation. Additionally there are approximately 30 million-plus of the new contactless cards currently in use. The line will include men’s and women’s wallets along with passport holders in full-grain Italian leather. Items will retail between $40–$120 and will be available in April 2010 at fine retailers and www.kenakai.com. The deal was brokered by Nancy Bailey & Associates.
12
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
DISCOVERY E XPEDITION
E XPANDS WITH MERCH SOURCE
Discovery Expedition is the newly launched brand extension of the Discovery Channel featuring a collection of rugged, lifestyle products. Expanding on the current line of Discovery Expedition product that launched this fall at JCPenney’s and Kohl’s, licensee MerchSource will be debuting four new items to the Discovery Expedition line at CES this month. Discovery Expedition Folding Speakers (shown) are wireless, splash-proof speakers and transmitter with an iPod deck that allows it to be used indoors or outdoors. The Discovery Expedition Utility Flashlight features seven LED headlights plus 18 LED side lights and six flashing red LED lights. The sleek design makes it great for use in home or outdoors. Discovery Expedition 12 LED Lantern contains 12 LED lights for indoor and outdoor use making it a perfect item for camping, backyard, power outages, and emergencies. Discovery Expedition Sports Bottles, which come in a two-pack, are stainless steel 500ml and 1L bottles with a carabiner top.
X GAMES P ERSONALIZED P LATES FROM H ALLMARK
ESPN has signed Hallmark as a licensee to create an X Games line of personalized partyware. The plates are X Games themed and allow consumers to personalize the plates with their own images, photos, and text. The plates are available for purchase on Hallmark.com and there is no minimum order or set-up fee. The MSRP is 10 plates for $10.
S HOWTIME H AS H OST OF L ICENSEES FOR DEXTER
Showtime Networks, Inc., and its licensing agency 360ep have announced several new licensed deals for the Showtime original series Dexter. Triad Toys is developing a limited-edition collectible Dexter figure, with more than 35 points of articulation and exact replica accessories. The product will be produced in an initial run of 1,000 pieces and will be available for sale online for an estimated MSRP of $119.99 starting first quarter 2010. Subsequent characters will be released following Dexter. Dark Horse Comics will also be producing a limited-edition product, a Dexter bust, featuring star Michael C. Hall’s image. The bust is expected to be available in Q3 2010. GDC Ltd. is developing a Dexter board game, which will be available for purchase early this year. Top Heavy Clothing has renewed its license for Dexter T-shirts and headwear. New designs are now available at www.topheavyclothing.com. In addition, licensed Dexter T-shirts from Changes, bobbleheads from Bif Bang Pow!, and novelty items from C&D Visionary are now available at select Hot Topic locations.
F REAKY P ETS AVAILABLE AT H ALLMARK
Abandon Interactive Entertainment announced that it has entered into an exclusive deal with Hallmark Gold Crown stores to distribute its interactive product, Freaky Pets, in 2010. Targeting children ages 4 and up, Freaky Pets brings to market a line of unique reversible plush toys with a web-browser-based 3-D game. The toys, which will retail for $14.99 each, will include a one-year subscription to the interactive Freaky Pets virtual world that unlocks each player’s Pet, opening up a world of new and exciting adventures. The first line of reversible plush Freaky Pets will include 10 different characters that are cute on one side and cranky on the other, giving children a funny and safe outlet to explore their emotions. Once online in the Freaky Pets virtual world, players can train and bond with their Pets by feeding them, petting them, and teaching them tricks. After the Pets have been trained, players can then take them to Pet Town to interact and play with others. Players can also earn rewards and in-game currency by going on quests assigned by Pet Town residents and entering their Pets into a variety of 3-D mini-games. Freaky Pets will be distributed exclusively in Hallmark Gold Crown stores nationwide in 2010.
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
13
F
by Paul Narula
BRAVO MEDIA’S TOP CHEF
rom Julia Child to Rachael Ray and Bobby Flay to Anthony Bourdain, the celebrity chef has become a major figure in American media. However, one of the most popular cooking shows on television today isn’t about these big-name culinary stars. Rather, Bravo’s Top Chef reality show pits a number of skilled but unknown chefs against one another in a variety of cooking challenges, with each season’s winner receiving a cash prize and additional cooking-related prizes. Top Chef has aired for six complete seasons on the Bravo television network, with a seventh season scheduled to begin shooting in January. While Katie Lee Joel was the original host during season one, Padma Lakshmi has hosted the show since season two. Her fellow hosts and judges have included celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, food critic Gail Simmons, television personality Ted Allen, and British journalist Toby Young, as well as many celebrity guest judges. Each season of the show takes place in a different location, but Chef’testants in the kitchen follows a similar structure. Contestants compete in two challenges per episode. The Quickfire Challenge is a short cooking challenge that grants a winner a small prize, such as immunity from elimination. Elimination Challenges are the main events of each episode, which the judges use to decide who remains on the show and who packs up their knives. The final competition between two contestants at the end of the season decides who will hold the Top Chef title. Because of Top Chef’s success, Bravo has been establishing a number of new ventures based on the Top Chef brand. Spin-offs of the series have been created, such as Top Chef Masters, Top Chef Junior, and Top Chef: Just Desserts. In addition, Bravo has signed multiple licensing agreements to create a full-fledged Top Chef brand. Master Cutlery will be producing kitchen knives for the brand. Terlato Wines has produced a Top Chef-branded wine. Other licensees include Schwann’s, Chronicle Books, and Teleflora. With a new season of the original series on the way, Top Chef products will continue to be served up for fans and consumers.
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ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
The cast of Top Chef: Las Vegas
FAST FACTS ° Sponsors for Top Chef have included Sears, Bertolli, T.G.I. Fridays, Cold Stone Creamery, Kraft, Nestlé, and more.
° Shooting for season seven of Top Chef begins this month.
° Top Chef has been nominated for two Emmy awards and has received one Emmy award for Outstanding Editing in a Reality Series in 2008.
° Some of the guest judges include Anthony Bourdain, Rocco DiSpirito, Wylie Dufresne, and Hubert Keller.
° Top Chef has been filmed in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, with finales taking place in New Orleans, Waikaloa Village in Hawaii, and Aspen.
CHRONICLE BOOKS
A sequel to the original Top Chef: The Cookbook released in 2008, Chronicle Books’ new Top Chef: The Quickfire Cookbook will focus on the recipes that were a part of the show’s Quickfire Challenge events. The cookbook will also include behind-thescenes interviews and other insider information for fans of the series.
TERLATO WINES
Bravo Media has partnered with Terlato Wines International to launch the Top Chef co-branded wine. Available in retail and grocery stores nationwide, Terlato will be introducing two types of wine under its new “Quickfire” brand label and is designed to be ideal when paired with a meal or drunk on their own.
TELEFLORA
Teleflora has created a line of flower arrangements as a co-branding venture with the Top Chef brand. These themed bouquets are available at florists throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as on Teleflora.com, and come with recipes and containers featuring a mix of flowers, fruit, and vegetables.
MASTER CUTLERY
Teaming up with Master Cutlery, Bravo has developed a line of Top Chef-branded knives based on the tools the chefs use during the show. The collection includes a Top Chef Santoku knife, a five-piece cutlery set, and a full nine-piece set with a wood block included.
SCHWAN’S HOME SERVICE
Working with Bravo Media, Schwan’s has developed a line of food based on some of the dishes that have appeared on Top Chef. Schwan’s will deliver a number of Top Chef dishes to a customer’s home, which can be ordered off the Schwan’s website. Dishes include Prosciutto and Cheese Pizza, Chicken in Red Curry Sauce, Polenta with Braised Meatballs, and more.
LIGHTSPEED VT
Bravo Media has signed on with LightSpeed VT (which provides online virtual training classes for a number of topics) and Post Oak Productions to create Top Chef VT. Top Chef VT is an online virtual cooking class, featuring interactive content, multimedia lessons, recipes, and more, all taught by the chef’testants of past Top Chef seasons.
ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
15
Headwear for Expeditions
Discovery Communications entered into a licensing agreement with Dorfman Pacific Co., Inc., to create a line of Discovery Expedition men’s and women’s hats and caps to launch in spring 2010. The deal was brokered on behalf of Discovery Expedition by its licensing agent The Joester Loria Group. The functional features of the hats include UPF 50+, solarweave for ultimate sun protection, and water repellent and/or coolmax treatments. Materials being used in the headwear line include cotton, canvas, knits, cotton blends, fleece, microfiber, and other functional materials.
A Rebel in Leather
Brando Enterprises and its exclusive licensing representative Brand Sense Partners, LLC, entered into an agreement with Triumph Motorcycles for the design and recreation of a leather jacket worn by Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The jacket includes features of Brando’s original jacket, including the embroidered “Johnny” name tag and the BRMC distressed print on the jacket’s back. The style is inspired by the original with a classic highway collar, shoulder epaulettes, and pocket detailing. The jacket also features double-impact seam stitching, CE-certified shoulder and elbow protectors, and a removable thermal vest lining. It is available at Triumph dealerships.
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ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
Scarlett & Crimson
Lisa Marks Associates, Inc., (LMA) signed Jem Sportswear and Awake, Inc., as the master apparel partner for the Scarlett & Crimson brand. Jem Sportswear and Awake will create a contemporary line of Scarlett & Crimson girls’, tween, and juniors’ T-shirts, sweatshirts, dresses, tunics, and bottoms. The line, which will include a number of print applications, fashion bodies, and specialty washes, launches in time for back-to-school 2010. Scarlett & Crimson is a fashion design-driven property with themes of friendship, individuality, and positive messages, including “be your own scene.”
Disney Shows Team Spirit
Disney Consumer Products announced a line of collegiateinspired women’s loungewear and baby apparel, manufactured by Knights Apparel. Celebrating some of the most accomplished athletic programs in the NCAA, Mickey and Minnie will help sports fans root for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas in fall styles featuring the school’s colors, logos, and mascots. The line includes sweats, tees, and pajamas for women (sizes S–L) and onesies and bibs for babies (sizes 0/3–5T). The line will be available this fall at Walmart stores in the featured schools’ home states and will range from $12–$28.
J
JULIE NEWMAN - PRESIDENT by Laurie Leahey
ulie Newman did not want a typical 9–5 job. So in 2008, she decided to launch her own licensing agency, Jewel Branding & Licensing. “Was there anyone saying, ‘Why go into this right now at this time?’ besides me?” she asks, referring to the impact the economy had on the licensing industry during that time. However, Newman didn’t let it deter her from going after something she loved to do. Newman knew that she loved licensing ever since working at Creative Brands Group (CBG). Eric Kuskey, one of CBG’s founders, recruited Newman into the licensing business from her previous job at AT&T, where she worked in telecommunications sales for global clients. Through her AT&T job, Newman had done business with Kuskey’s start-up internet company and they developed a rapport. When the dot-com era went south, Kuskey started CBG and brought Newman onboard. For six years, Newman worked with celebrity- and art-based clients at CBG, but she wanted to focus less on celebrities and more in the art and fashion area. Taking her nickname “Jules” and combining it with the idea of finding a jewel of a brand, Newman named her licensing agency Jewel Branding & Licensing. Newman sought out her first
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ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
clients by attending trade shows, looking through trade magazines, and word of mouth. In its first year, the company signed 35 licensing agreements for its clients, which include corporate, art, and fashion brands, such as artist Robin Pickens, fashion illustrator Izak Zenou, and social expression brand The Pet Poets Club. Jewel Branding & Licensing clients offer a modern, but not too modern, take on artwork, creating an updated look over traditional art licensing companies. “I look at a lot of art licensing and fashion licensing companies out there and they seem to be a little bit older,” she says. When choosing which products make sense for her clients, Newman considers her own young perspective and what she would like to see in the marketplace. For Robin Pickens, a three-year deal was recently signed with Ronnie Sellers Publishing for Seize the Izak Zenou Day Calendars, with 2011 apparel by Total Source calendars launching this Solutions summer. Izak Zenou will have a line of jewelry and watches from Options in Time, handbags by licensee Belief, scarves from Le Marais, and apparel by Total Source Solutions launching in March on ShopNBC, a home shopping network and online store. To find the right licensing partners for these brands,
Jewel Branding & Licensing (404) 303–1872 Atlanta, GA www.jewelbranding.com
Julie Newman
Clients Include: Robin Pickens Izak Zenou Phillips Allrich Simon and Kabuki The Pet Poets Club Julie Bluet
Newman seeks companies “that haven’t been licensing everything for the past 20 years.” Her goal is to find “small companies that are looking for unique brands that they can grow a business with.” Being the president of a small company herself, Newman feels she is able to give her clients more attention and better service than if she were working at a large licensing agency. “I talk to my artists all the time and they call me,” she says. “We really do have a partnership.” Newman wants her artists to feel like more than just another client. With 13 brands represented, Newman feels that Jewel Branding & Licensing is at its max. But Newman says she always keeps an eye out for new brands. “It’s finding the ones that you feel have the most potential and maximizing them,” she says. Or rather, finding a brand and turning it into a jewel.
ADULT INDUSTRY FACES TRIPLE THREAT
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by Chris Adams
he adult industry is in the midst of suffering a triple threat. Regardless of the current economic conditions, the industry overall has been shrinking over the past few years. It is following the arc traversed by the music industry. Consumers are choosing to get free online content rather than paying for it. In addition, many of the marquee brands in the adult space are print-based. The print media industry has been consistently shrinking as consumers look toward other avenues of getting content and advertisers follow suit. Add a shaky economy into the mix, and it is clear that brands within the adult industry are working hard to hold their ground. Playboy, which didn’t respond for requests to be interviewed for this article, is the highest profile brand in the adult space, but that has done little to help the company weather this storm. It was announced in October that its rate base for print magazines dropped to 1.5 million from 2.6 million and that it would be combining its January and February issues after doing the same with its July and August issues in 2009. Then, in November word was out that Playboy
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The Chippendales live shows are a major driver for licensed merchandise.
Enterprises agreed to outsource most of the business operations of the magazine to American Media, Inc. And, according to its 2008 annual report, revenues for Playboy’s licensing division, while performing relatively well, decreased $2.6 million (6 percent) due to lower consumer products revenues, reflecting global economic conditions, and $1.3 million less in original art sales than in 2007. It should be noted, however, that a 6 percent decrease in sales from 2007 to 2008 is minor relative to the market.
he shift from tangible adult product such as maga-
And, it should be noted that the meager losses of Playboy’s licensing program pale in comparison to core entertainment products in the adult industry. It is the shrinkage of core sales that has lead some in the adult industry to increasingly focus on the licensing marketplace. “The economy is really bad for the adult industry, which is being hit by a number of different things including free online content and sales in brick-and-mortar stores being off by about 50 percent because of the economy,”
Recently, Université de Montréal assistant professor
zines and DVDs to digital content has had an inter-
Simon Luis Lajeunesse was looking to study the effects of
young men who never get to experience the nervous
based experiment, the study needed a control group—in
esting side effect. There is an entire generation of
excitement of going into a brick-and-mortar store to pro-
cure their first adult goods. That’s not to say that today’s young men are not enjoying the content available to them.
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pornography on men in their 20s. As with any sciencethis case, men who haven’t been exposed to pornography. The only problem was, Lajeunesse couldn’t find any men to fit the bill.
says Robert Interlandi, the Chippendales marketing and licensbrand. The live ing director for Arrow show is clearly at the Productions. “We saw core of this brand. The this coming a few years brand’s live entertainment back, which is why we segment has fared well started branching out into throughout the economic Arrow signed a deal with 247skins.com to produce Deep avenues like licensing. We downturn, seeing only a 5 perThroat skins for Guitar Hero needed to produce tangible cent drop in sales. While there controllers. items that couldn’t be has been a larger decrease in downloaded off the internet for free.” licensed merchandise, “we have been able This idea of producing tangible goods to increase merchandise sales at the is mirrored on a successful strategy the shows,” says Kevin Denberg, vice-presimusic industry is utilizing. While a work- dent at Chippendales. “People at live ing, touring band can lament the loss of events seem to be willing to spend on the album sales through downloading, provid- merchandise.” ing an array of merchandise for sale on Another popular adult brand, Hustler, is tour helps defray the losses. seeing growth in its Hustler Apparel segThis approach has proven successful for ment. “With Hustler Apparel’s continued
growth through these economic times, Flynt Management is pleased to see this natural brand extension continue to succeed and support the company’s overall business,” says Theresa Flynt, Hustler’s vice-president of licensing and business development. “As other areas of Flynt’s business may be more affected by digital media and the economy, it’s positive to see successful diversification of the brand through other avenues like apparel and licensing.” Talking to licensing executives in the adult industry, it is clear that persistence and diversification are the two keys to success in this day and age when adult entertainment is being affected by free digital content as well as a weak economy. After all, while online content can be accessed for free, you can’t download a T-shirt.
Below is a small sampling of some of the latest licensed offerings featuring adult properties.
Hustler
Recent deals for Hustler include Putnam Accessories for wallets, belt buckles, and belts; O’Neal Racing for helmets and goggles; Gemsen for flip flops, novelty, apparel, and headwear; and Bluw for stripper pole kits. Hustler is actively seeking licensees in the following categories: footwear, denim, publishing, watches, eyewear, jewelry, luggage/handbags, outerwear, automotive accessories, and cosmetics/fragrance.
Arrow Productions
Arrow Productions signed a deal with 247skins.com to develop skins for platforms such as Guitar Hero, Rock Band, iPhone, and Xbox. The skins will feature the classic adult properties that Arrow represents, such as Deep Throat. In other Deep Throat news, Deep Throat the Play is set to bow in New York City’s 45 Bleecker Theater this spring.
Chippendales
Chippendales plans on making a significant announcement at this month’s AVN Awards. Unfortunately, details were scarce as of press time. The licensor also has signed a home party distribution deal with Undercoverwear, which takes the Tupperware home party concept and applies it to categories such as lingerie, loungewear, and pajamas. In addition, Chippendales iPhone apps are in development.
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FROM TV TO VIDEO GAMES: MUSIC LICENSING KEEPS UP WITH CONSUMERS
F
by Laurie Leahey or years, record companies have seen a decline in sales thanks “Music touches your emotional fiber,” says Kevin McKiernan, to the popularity of buying music on the internet. The creation president and CEO of Creative License. “It taps into our collective of the iPod has changed how people interact with music. More emotional reservoirs, so it makes sense to creatively coopt that so a recently, the poor economy has played a role in decreased sales. But marketer can tap into that same emotional wellspring. [And] the platpeople still listen to music and aspire to be like their favorite rock form that marketers can give musical artists has now become incredstars. They just do it in different ways than in the past. This means that ibly essential to those musical artists.” So whether it’s The Beatles’ record companies must reach consumers and generate revenue in dif- “Hello, Goodbye” in a Target commercial (a cover version of the ferent ways and this includes different methods of licensing. David song) or singers Zooey Deschanel, Miranda Lambert, and Jazmine Reeder, vice-president of GreenLight Rights, says that the record Sullivan singing in Cotton commercials, advertisers know they can companies are heavily investing in music licensing. “They’ve had hook consumers through music and record companies know they can their business turned upside down in the make money from licensing the music. past 10 years,” he says. “What they turn It’s not just commercials that are to is trying to find ways to make their seeing an increase in music licensing. music more accessible and find ways to Television shows are, too. From the proactively pitch their music.” CSI TV series using songs by The Who Making the music more accessible as theme songs to having a musician means bringing it to where consumers perform on a scripted TV show ala listen to it. “Whereas previous generaGossip Girl, the music industry is tions may have discovered The Beatles’ using the television industry as a way music through radio, films, or concerts, to boost exposure. Some are even callthe current youth culture embraces realiing TV the new radio. ty TV and video games,” says Rob One of the most recent boosts to the Kaplan, senior vice-president of global record companies is the Fox TV show marketing at Sony/ATV Music Glee. The show, which follows a high The Beatles Box of Vision by licensee Box of Vision Publishing. “Licensing the music of school glee club and features musical John Lennon and Paul McCartney into performances of popular songs, has The Beatles: Rock Band or American Idol is a perfect way to interject gained a large music-loving and music-buying fanbase. According to these songs into current youth culture.” a November 9, 2009, Reuters article, after the Glee cast performed a Today’s culture involves spending a lot of time in front of the TV. rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” the tune was certified According to a 2009 Nielsen Company report, which covered the last gold after more than 500,000 digital sales. Rihanna’s “Take a Bow” three months of 2008, the average American TV viewer watches more saw a 189 percent sales increase after it was covered on Glee. The than 151 hours of television per month, up from more than 145 hours article also states that Fox splits revenues with the record companies, during the same period in 2007. What do record companies do with while artists and music publishers are paid licensing fees for songs this information? They turn to commercials. that Glee uses in its musical numbers. Licensing music for use in TV commercials is nothing new, but it’s Consumers not only like to hear their favorite songs on TV, but recently become even more important. Just the right song can help sell a they also like to play those songs—or pretend to play them. And it’s product and can also help give a musical artist much-needed exposure. not just teenagers who are into rocking out. Mom, dad, and even
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grandpa, can get in on the action, something especially important during tough economic times. “Video games still continue to be a big driver because families continue to entertain themselves at home,” says Dominic Griffin, vice-president of licensing, Walt Disney Music Group. “The karaoke games and Rock Band [are games] the entire family can play.” Griffin also says that music games are making their way to mobile applications. With the iOKi Karaoke application, iPhone users can record themselves singing popular songs and send the performances to friends. But performing like a rock star is only the beginning. “We want to be the celebrities,” says Creative License’s McKiernan. “There’s something aspirational about that.” Fans want to live the lifestyle of their favorite musician and licensed consumer products Beatles T-shirt by English Laundry help them achieve that goal. And because so much of music licensing these days is driven by what consumers want, record companies and licensing agencies want to give consumers control over what the licensed product is. Through partnerships with online print-on-demand manufacturers such as Yerzies and Zazzle, consumers can customize products—T-shirts, hoodies, mugs, mouse pads—to have a truly unique licensed product. Going the online route is
helpful to musicians such as Ray Charles, whose music appeals to a specific demographic. Charles’ music mainly appeals to men over 35, “and what we have found is that from a retail perspective, most retailers are targeting teen boys,” says Aviva Rosenthal, partner, Act III Licensing. Act III made the online retail sector the go-to place for everything Ray Charles, from wall art to collectibles. However, for a music licensing program to see success, the music and musician must be more than just a one-hit wonder. “This [person] has to be a strong, well-known personality who has a very broad-based following or a very solid niche following,” says Dana Smith, an agent at Creative Artists Agency. “Just because you have a great song doesn’t mean you can follow that as your positioning.” Luckily for The Beatles, the band had numerous great songs. The Beatles licensing program last year was a success because it involved a popular band that spans generations releasing remastered original albums and getting its own Rock Band video game. To support those two initiatives, dedicated merchandise displays were set up in a variety of retail stores, offering a variety of licensed Beatles product in one place. “With the Rock Band game coupled with the remastered original Beatles albums, [2009 was] probably the largest year they’ve
An image of Ray Charles available in poster form from AllPosters.com and Art.com.
had in licensing in decades,” says Steve Glasenk, vice-president of licensing, LiveNation Merchandise. Michael Jackson is another big-name star who is expected to have a successful licensing program thanks to his large fan base that now wants ways to remember the late artist. Bravado, the exclusive merchandiser for Jackson’s “This It It!” tour, now owns the global rights to exclusively create, market, and distribute Michael Jackson-related products. The company was unavailable for comment. Other big-name artists such as John Lennon and Johnny Cash are receiving major pushes in licensing and, because of their iconic statuses and large fanbases, they have the potential to sell lots of licensed product. But to many in the industry, it isn’t just about moving merchandise off store shelves. “That’s obviously the reason why music companies are so focused in licensing because it’s great to sell merchandise,” says Act III’s Rosenthal. “But they’re really there to sell you music and have you rediscover music.”
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MUSIC LICENSING
by Laurie Leahey
These days, consumers listen to music in different ways. In order to reach consumers, record companies are licensing music and musicians to TV and video games and giving consumers more control over licensed product. On the following pages are examples of recent music-licensed product and deals.
CREATIVE LICENSE
Creative License works with brands and their advertisers as pop culture catalysts. The company recently worked with Cotton to bring the brand’s classic jingle into the 21st century. The company brought on board singers Zooey Deschanel, Miranda Lambert, and Jazmine Sullivan to reinterpret the jingle for commercials and also appear in those commercials and Cotton advertisements.
LIVENATION
Box of Vision produces The Beatles Box of Vision. The black, linen-covered box is built to store the CD remasters. Its top and bottom are made to look like Beatles LP spines. It also includes an LP-sized book containing all of The Beatles’ album artwork and a guide to The Beatles catalog of albums. (CDs and CD booklets are sold separately.) A licensing program for John Lennon will launch in celebration of what would have been Lennon’s 70th birthday this year.
ACT III
Act III’s licensees for Ray Charles include AllPosters.com and Art.com for wall art, which feature photos such as the one pictured here. Other licensees include Yerzies for T-shirts and Genesis Publications for a coffee table book called Ray Charles: Yes Indeed! Act III is also reaching out to the cruise lines industry for a Ray Charles tribute show to be performed on cruises, with tie-in merchandise that would be sold on the cruises.
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FUSION LICENSING
Daisy Rock Girl Guitars is one of the guitar manufacturers featured in Activision’s latest video game Band Hero. Gamers can choose to jam with one of five in-game Daisy Rock guitar models, including the Butterfly, Daisy, Siren, and Star electric guitars. Fusion Licensing represents Daisy Rock.
SONY/ATV
Sony/ATV, which licenses compositions written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney while they were members of The Beatles, licensed English Laundry for T-shirts (shown), Lyric Culture for apparel including Tshirts and scarves, and Zazzle, a print-on-demand website where consumers can customize T-shirts, coffee mugs, skateboards, and more with imagery and/or text of their choosing.
GREENLIGHT RIGHTS
For Johnny Cash (pictured) and June Carter Cash, GreenLight will focus on signing deals for high-end product. The company is working in concert with Sony Music, which handles some of the product-related licensing for Johnny Cash. GreenLight is also working on several commercial negotiations for Johnny Cash.
WALT DISNEY MUSIC GROUP
Walt Disney Music Group is in talks to bring its pop artists, such as Demi Lovato and Selena Gomez, to musical instrument video games, such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and karaoke games. The company, which encompasses Hollywood Records, Lyric Street Records, and Walt Disney Records, licenses its music to iOKi Karaoke, an iPhone application that lets people record themselves singing a popular song and send the performance to friends.
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SHOT SHOW
by Paul Narula
The Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show better known as the SHOT Show will take place this month, January 199 22, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Exhibitors and attendees from more than 75 different countries will attend to see the latest developments in shooting, hunting, and outdoor products. Whether it:s a tent, a hunting rifle, or a water bottle, being able to rely on your equipment is a major part of participating in many outdoor activities. When a particular brand has proven itself useful, reliable, and trustworthy to consumers, a licensing program is never far behind. Some outdoor brands expand or support their core product line with a strong licensing program. Others explore entirely new avenues for their brands. Here:s a sample of what some of the latest developments are in the world of outdoor licensing.
JEEP
Jeep has signed a new deal with Paramount Apparel for a line of Jeep-branded caps. Paramount will be producing caps in two different styles: one made of black twill with camo accents (shown on the right) and another with a khaki twill front and camo back. Both caps will feature the Jeep logo and are designed to be durable products for the outdoor consumer. Jeep has also signed a deal with Master Cutlery to produce a line of Jeep tools. The JP-1026R is a combination knife that features a three-inch blade with an anodized aluminum handle and liner lock. The handle stores four reversible bits. The JP 4013 also features a three-inch blade, but includes a pair of needle nose pliers, wire cutters, a saw, a bottle and can opener, and an adapter with nine different bits. Both tools come with a sturdy nylon pouch. Both licensing deals were secured for Jeep by its licensing agent, The Joester Loria Group.
REALTREE
the JP 4013 from Master Cutlery
Realtree and Master Lock have teamed up to produce the Realtree Master Lock Python. The 8mm Python locking cable features the trademark Realtree camo finish and can be used to secure hunting and camping gear in any outdoor situation.
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NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION
The National Wild Turkey Federation has teamed up with ammunition manufacturer Hevi Shot to create the new Hevi Shot Turkey Choke Tube System. This choke tube is designed to give hunters a tight spread with their shot while hunting, which is ideal when the quarry is a wild turkey.
SMITH & WESSON
The Smith & Wesson Ambassador wrist watch, from CampCo, is designed to meet the demands of the businessman or the outdoorsman. The watch performs as an analog watch with stopwatch functions and is available in multiple models, including stainless steel, black stainless steel, titanium, and black titanium.
WINCHESTER
A.V.W., Inc., has been signed as a licensee for Winchester and is making gun maintenance products for the Winchester brand. A.V.W. produces Winchester Gun Wash and Winchester Gun Cleaner. Both come in a convenient spray bottle to allow easy application to every part of a firearm. The company is also developing a new Winchester Synthetic Gun Wash and a Winchester Gun & Optic Duster.
BROWNING
Browning has signed Signature Products Group (SPG) as its licensee for automotive products featuring the Browning name. SPG is producing a full line of automotive accessories for the brand. Each product features the authentic Browning Buckmark logo or other iconic Browning imagery and traits. New products in the SPG line for 2010 include seat covers (pictured), steering wheel covers, key chains, luggage racks, foot and utility mats, mirror hangers, and more.
BUCK WEAR
United Weavers has signed on as a licensee for Buck Wear and will be producing a line of area rugs (top left) in five different sizes. Each rug will feature one of Buck Wear’s authentic lodge icons in earth-tone colors on an Olefin surface. Lang has also signed on as a Buck Wear licensee and will produce 2010 calendars (bottom left) featuring authentic and whimsical Buck Wear imagery.
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DeLorean Looks Back, to the Future
by Chris Adams
he DeLorean is a car with a very storied past, but the brand is not only looking back to its roots. The vehicle has a storied history including being invented by John De Lorean, one of the most famous, and infamous, car designers of all time. And the vehicle’s high-profile appearance in 1985’s Back to the Future (and its sequels) has cemented its image in pop culture. Entering 2010, the company is focusing on the future of its licensing program. The car owns a very unique position in the minds of consumers. If you close your eyes and try to picture, say, a Lamborghini, you may have some troubles. But if you conduct the same exercise for the DeLorean DMC-12 (the model name of the famous car) it is easy to envision the car’s sleek stainless silver exterior and its eye-catching gull-wing doors. Consumer research conducted through Fuse Marketing, which is helping the DeLorean Motor Company build the DeLorean brand through licensing, shows that this brand has legs beyond the realm of the vehicle itself. “At the end of the day, why did DeLorean become more aggressive with licensing?” asks Michael Dresner, licensing director at Fuse Marketing. “The consumers told us they liked the brand and the media also liked the brand and when you bring that combina-
Contact info:
Stephen Wynne, CEO licensing@delorean.com (281) 441–2537 Humble, Texas
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tion to the licensing community, they want to invest in the brand.” While the DeLorean Motor Company is certainly in the midst of ramping up its licensing efforts, it has had a smaller presence in licensing, albeit with some high-profile licensees. Prior to Fuse being on board, DeLorean had Sony, Sun Star, and Microsoft on its licensing roster. “We have been approached over the years by quite a lot of large companies about using the name and the brand,” says Stephen Wynne, CEO of DeLorean Motor Company. “Our approach was that when people came knocking, we responded and left it at that.” With the aid of Fuse and its consumer research, DeLorean is looking to broaden its licensing program. Licensing partners include Mattel (for a Hot Wheels DeLorean), The Hundreds (for limited-edition T-shirts, fleece, and headwear), and Nike (for a sneaker). And Fuse and DeLorean say this is just the start. The consumer research that Fuse conducted pointed toward a three-pronged strategy for licensing. The first prong focuses around the DeLorean as an iconic sports car. This angle points toward product categories such as radio control, interactive, lottery, and slot machines.
The second prong positions the DeLorean as the quintessential ’80s brand. This angle conjures images of Gordon Gekko, E.T., and New Wave. And the third prong plays up the car’s affordable luxury angle. This could be translated into categories such as personal accessories, leather goods, and men’s fragrance. Formulating this three-pronged strategy and the avenues each can lead the brand down is just the tip of the iceberg in developing the DeLorean licensing program. “Licensing professionals are attracted to brands that have high awareness in a specific consumer demographic, have a set of visual assets that people can quickly recognize, have longevity, have a unique emotional position, and have ownership that is hungry and aggressive at growing business,” says Dresner. “Fuse recognized that the DeLorean Motor Company brand has all five of those assets. Follow that logic and the brand has enormous upside potential in licensing.” It is plain to see that this brand is one of potential. It is an instantly recognizable icon that also has its roots in a beloved pop culture franchise. While Fuse Marketing and the DeLorean Motor Company are looking back to the brand’s beginnings, the licensing program could very well propel the brand into the future.
CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY STEIN AND SMITH, NEW HIRES
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) hired licensing industry veterans Michael Stein and Dana Smith to guide the agency’s licensing initiatives. Stein and Smith have worked together for many years. As a team, they played an instrumental role in the growth and development of Equity Management, Inc. (EMI), a leading agency in corporate Michael Stein trademark and brand licensing. Stein comes to CAA with more than 20 years experience in consumer products, licensing, brand management, sports, and entertainment. Throughout the past seven years, he served in several executive management roles for EMI, most recently as SVP and director of new business. Prior to joining CAA, Smith spent 16 years at EMI, most recently as president Dana Smith and COO, where he was responsible for managing the development and acquisition of licensing agreements. Smith also facilitated the company’s operations, client management, contract and product administration, market research, royalty collection/auditing and new client development.
HASBRO STUDIOS
KATHY SAMUELS, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Hasbro Studios named Kathy Samuels as executive producer. She will be responsible for overseeing production on a number of the newly formed studio’s creative initiatives, covering a variety of program genres. Samuels comes to Hasbro Studios from CTDG, a syndicator of television programming, where she was senior vice-president and part of the team that oversaw the development, launch, and programming of shows such as Rachael Ray, The Doctors, Entertainment Tonight, and The Insider.
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COPYRIGHT PROMOTIONS LICENSING GROUP KAMONDY, GONZALEZ, AND BISNER NEW HIRE AND PROMOTIONS
Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG), Cookie Jar Group’s licensing arm, named Andrew Kamondy as senior licensing director of CPLG Canada. He will help rejuvenate the licensing program for Jim Benton’s It’s Happy Bunny, as well as orchestrate the Canadian launch of the teen and junior ladies’fashion brand Pink Cookie. Most recently, Kamondy served as director of marketing/licensing Andrew Kamondy sales at Segal Communications. CPLG U.S. promoted Stephanie Gonzalez to director of licensing. Gonzalez will continue to oversee the development and implementation of merchandising programs for brands, such as Strawberry Shortcake, Varsity, Harlem Globetrotters, and Richard Scarry. She will focus on a wide range of categories including all soft lines, accessories, back-to-school, bags, Stephanie Gonzalez costumes, food and consumables, footwear, Halloween, party goods, vending and amusement, and stationery. CPLG U.S. also promoted Brenda Bisner to director of licensing. Bisner will solicit partners in a variety of categories including trading cards, HBA, home décor, and live shows, as well as secure master toy licensees for the company’s top properties. She will also sign Brenda Bisner global interactive deals with developers and manufacturers of console games for Cookie Jar’s property list. Bisner will help handle sales and secure home entertainment distribution deals for Cookie Jar and CPLG’s third-party properties in addition to managing existing relationships with DVD partners.
CHORION
RACHEL BADER, LICENSING DIRECTOR, PACKAGED GOODS AND PROMOTIONS
Chorion appointed Rachel Bader as licensing director, packaged goods and promotions. She will be responsible for maximizing the revenue and exposure generated by Chorion’s portfolio of brands, including Olivia, Mr. Men and Little Miss, Noddy, Paddington Bear, and The World of Eric Carle, for the Americas. Bader joins Chorion from Scholastic Media where she was director, licensing and consumer promotions and, prior to that, manager, online marketing.
THE JOESTER LORIA GROUP
LAURA LOMANDA, ACCOUNT MANAGER
The Joester Loria Group hired Laura Lomanda as an account manager. Lomanda will be responsible for managing licensing programs for key clients including PepsiCo (Pepsi, Mountain Dew, AMP, and Aquafina). Prior to joining The Joester Loria Group, Lomanda worked for The CocaCola Company, where she built the licensing program for Coca-Cola Olympic City in conjunction with the 1996 Olympic Summer Games.
THE BRIDGE DIRECT, INC.
GEORGE VORKAS, GENERAL MANAGER, NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
The Bridge Direct, Inc., named George Vorkas as the company’s general manager of new business development. In this role, Vorkas will develop new business opportunities and act as the direct liaison with the company’s major clients. Vorkas joins The Bridge from Li & Fung, where he spent more than seven years managing supply chain projects. While at Li & Fung, he served as head of Toy Island and managed the Disney Direct initiatives. Prior to Li & Fung, he was head of Monogram International, served as a senior executive at Toy Biz, and as director of research and development at Toymax.
HIT ENTERTAINMENT
SANGEETA DESAI, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
HIT Entertainment hired Sangeeta Desai as COO. Desai will be responsible for the day-today operations of the company, and will oversee the business development, global brand management, consumer products, live events, marketing, communications, and creative resources teams around the world. Since Jeff Dunn’s appointment as CEO of HIT last year, Desai has been working closely with HIT Entertainment, acting as an advisor and helping to develop the company’s strategic plans.
KENN VISELMAN PRESENTS… APPOINTMENTS
Kenn Viselman, the producer and marketer who brought the Teletubbies and Thomas the Tank Engine to the Americas, formed a new film and television production company called Kenn Viselman presents… Key staffer appointments include Angela Rivet as senior vice-president of production; Eileen Potrock as senior vice-president of marketing and third-party strategic alliances; Julie Polkes as vice-president of public relations; Kara Moline as director of ancillary rights; and Mitchell Rivet as manager of investor relations. Rivet comes to Kenn Viselman presents... from her position as co-producer on The Oogieloves in The BIG Balloon Adventure. Potrock worked with Viselman at The itsy bitsy Entertainment Company. Previously, Polkes served as senior vice-president at Rogers and Cowan where she represented films from production through release, talent, producers, and directors. Moline was previously licensing consultant for The Oogieloves in The BIG Balloon Adventure. Rivet previously served as vice-president of Pure Media Creative, securing financing and overseeing development for the independent production house.
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MARCH
2/26–3/1 8–9 11–14 18–20 23-26 27–30
Halloween Costume & Party Show Brand Licensing Central & Eastern Europe Australian Toy, Hobby, & Nursery Show Ed Expo Bologna Children’s Book Fair Western States Toy & Hobby Show
hcpshow.com brandlicensing.eu toyfair.com.au nssea.com bolognachildrensbookfair.com wthra.com
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center VAM Design Centre Orange County Convention Center Bologna Fair Centre Long Beach Convention Center
Rosemont, IL Budapest, Hungary Melbourne, Australia Orlando, FL Bologna, Italy Long Beach, CA
17–19
Hawaii Merchandise Marketing Expo
douglastradeshows.com
Blaisdell Exhibition Center
Honolulu
16–18 16–19 25–27
SURTEX National Stationery Show Sweets & Snacks Expo
surtex.com nationalstationeryshow.com allcandyexpo.com
Jacob Javits Convention Center Jacob Javits Convention Center McCormick Place
New York City New York City Chicago
8–10 13–16 15–17 22–27 27–29
Licensing Show 2010 ASTRA Marketplace E3 Origins Game Fair Summer Fancy Food Show
licensingshow.com astratoy.org e3expo.com originsgames.com specialtyfood.com
Mandalay Bay Convention Center Rhode Island Convention Center Los Angeles Convention Center Greater Columbus Convention Center Jacob Javits Convention Center
Las Vegas Providence, RI Los Angeles Columbus, OH New York
8–10
Comic-Con International
comic-con.org
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego
12–15
Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo
chicagocomicandentertainmentexpo.com
McCormick Place
Chicago
28–30 29–30
HBA Global Expo Brand Licensing Europe
hbaexpo.com brandlicensing.eu
Jacob Javits Convention Center The Grand Hall, Olympia
New York London
A PRIL MAY
JUNE
JULY
A UG UST
S EPTEMBER
Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Center
Licensing Show 2010
June 8–10 Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas; www.licensingshow.com
Fall Toy Preview 2010
October 5–8 Dallas Market Center, Dallas; www.toyassociation.org
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by Christopher Byrne
POSTED
BELOW IS A SAMPLING OF WHAT
BEST-SELLING BOOKS, DECEMBER 21, 2009
AMERICAN
Source: Amazon 1. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown 2. The Help by Kathryn Stockett 3. Going Rogue: An American Life by Sarah Palin 4. Under the Dome: A Novel by Stephen King 5. Mastering the Art of French Cooking Boxed Set by Julia Child 6. SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner 7. Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government by Glenn Beck 8. Have a Little Faith: A True Story by Mitch Albom 9. Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol. 1 by Julia Child 10. I, Alex Cross by James Patterson 11. The Twilight Saga Collection by Stephenie Meyer 12. Stones into Schools by Greg Mortenson 13. Open: An Autobiography by Andre Agassi 14. What the Dog Saw: And Other Adventures by Malcolm Gladwell 15. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
TOP SONG DOWNLOADS, DECEMBER 21, 2009
Source: iTunes 1. “Tik Tok,” Ke$ha 2. “Bad Romance,” Lady GaGa 3. “Replay,” Lyaz 4. “Fireflies,” Owl City 5. “Empire State of Mind,” Jay-Z with Alicia Keys 6. “Down,” Jay Sean featuring Lil Wayne 7. “Meet Me Halfway,” Black Eyed Peas 8. “Whatcha Say,” Jason Derulo 9. “Party in the U.S.A.,” Miley Cyrus 10. “Do You Remember,” Jay Sean featuring Sean Paul & Lil Jon
POST-CHRISTMAS FACTS: “WHITE CHRISTMAS” TRIVIA Source: various • The song has sold more than 50 million copies. • It was written by Irving Berlin in 1941. • Bing Crosby recorded it in 1942. • It first appeared in the movie Holiday Inn in 1942.
CONSUMERS ARE INTERESTED IN THIS MONTH .
• • • • •
Crosby gave the first public performance of it on NBC Radio on Christmas Day in 1941. The Drifters’ 1954 recording reached No. 2 on the charts. The song was broadcast on April 30, 1975, as code signaling the evacuation of Saigon. The Library of Congress called it one of the 50 most significant recordings of all time. It has been recorded by such diverse talents as Barbra Streisand, Twisted Sister, Andrea Bocelli, and Still Little Fingers.
TWITTER DEMOGRAPHICS FOR 2009
Source: Nielsenwire • Unique visitors increased 1,382 percent from 2008–2009 • Largest group using the site are adults 35–49 (41.7 percent) • 18–24 year olds do not use the site in a statistically significant way • Adults ages 25–34 represent 16.6 percent of usage • The majority of these people (62 percent) say they tweet from work and home. • In Q4, 2008, cell phone tweets averaged 240 per user. • Twitter users tend to be more interested in popular culture/entertainment than the U.S. mean. • As of the end of Q2, 2009 there were more than two million active users of the site.
MOST POPULAR TV EPISODES ON HULU.COM, DECEMBER 21, 2009
Source: Hulu.com 1. Scrubs: Our Histories 2. Glee: Sectionals 3. Dog Whisperer: Mad Dogs 4. The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty Pilot 5. Bones: The Woman at the Airport 6. The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: December 16 Episode 7. Saturday Night Live: James Franco as guest host 8. The Simpsons: Oh Brother, Where Bart Thou? 9. The Simpsons: Mypods and Boomsticks 10. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Frank Sets Sweet Dee on Fire ROYALTIE$ JANUARY 2010
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