Almost a half dozen new licensing agencies have formed in the last few months, many headed by big names in the licensing business who have recently left corporate positions with major property owners. Each claims a distinct positioning within the market: Last week, Robert Marick, most recently head of consumer products at MGM Studios, a […]
Archive | Business models
Strange Bedfellows No More
Toy companies are increasingly working with their direct competitors to refresh, extend, or strengthen their own brands. This would have been almost inconceivable in the past and shows how much the toy industry has changed over the past decade or more as players in this sector face numerous challenges: competition from video games, social media, […]
M&A À La Mode
This year has seen significant numbers of mergers and acquisitions in the global fashion industry, with much of the action centered in the luxury and/or direct-to-consumer spaces. Some of the reasons given for the high level of activity include consolidation in the digital-first DTC space; the need to strengthen omnichannel distribution capabilities; a wish to […]
Studying the NIL Collective Space
Just over two years ago, in July 2021, the NIL era began in the collegiate licensing sector, enabling students to generate revenue from licensing deals and other commercial activities tied to their names, images, and likenesses. Immediately after that, the first NIL collectives were formed. These are organizations that are independent from but affiliated with […]
Monkey Business
The licensing landscape surrounding NFT images is highly fragmented. That is because, in the most popular NFT projects, owners of each unique image typically retain the right to commercialize that image and its derivative works (e.g., slightly manipulated versions for use in merchandise). Many of the licensors do not know how to go about licensing […]
Artists Navigate NFTs
Right from the beginning, artists and the art community were expected to be among the beneficiaries of the rise of NFTs. And many artists, from the biggest names in fine art to digital artists who have become known specifically for their work in the NFT space, are carving out a niche in this market. Some […]
Challenging Times for Esports
The e-sports business has been facing many and varied challenges in the past year: Key sponsors are leaving the business. This is the most important revenue stream for the industry, representing 60% of esports organizations’ total revenue, according to NewZoo. In addition to the failure of crypto company FTX, a big esports sponsor, companies such […]
Costume Change
The costume industry is in the midst of transitioning from a historical focus on kids and Halloween to more of a year-round, all-encompassing, and all-ages business. This change is occurring due in part to an increase in adults going all-out to celebrate Halloween and to the rise of massive fandoms tied to pop-culture properties, many […]
All-In On Acquisition
For some time, the companies that have been best able to navigate a challenging licensing landscape have tended to be either large, resource-rich entities or small independents. The former can control their supply chain and take advantage of synergies across industries, while the latter are able to offer unique, niche-oriented products and are agile enough […]
Reexamining Contract Terms
One of the themes noted across all four weeks of the Festival of Licensing, organized by Informa Markets in partnership with Licensing International, was the need to restructure and rethink the terms of licensing contracts, both new and existing, as a prerequisite for success of a licensed product line. Some of the configurations that were […]