The last year has brought a burst of collaborations that combine savory food flavors with alcoholic beverages in offbeat pairings. A few years ago, these novelty spirits would have turned out to be April Fool’s jokes. In today’s landscape, however, they are real products that are released throughout the year. And, while the purpose is […]
Archive | Licensing
Influencers as Comic Creators
Earlier this week, YouTube storyteller MrBallen announced the details of his first graphic novel with Ten Speed Press, news of which first came out in May, becoming the latest in a flurry of influencers to enter the comic book and graphic novel category recently. Many of the YouTube, TikTok, and Twitch-based celebrities in this space […]
Pairing Anime and E-sports
By Karen Raugust on March 25, 2024 in Character/Entertainment, Interactive gaming, Licensing, Sports
A popular sub-segment within the e-sports licensing sector consists of cross-licensed apparel collections that bring together e-sports teams and anime properties. The audiences for the two types of IP dovetail nicely, and the anime characters help drive interest and purchase intent for the e-sports brands. This trend has been ongoing since at least 2019 and […]
20/20 Vision for Licensed Eyewear
In some industries, licenses come and go, depending on property and product trends at any given time. An exception is the eyewear industry, especially the luxury component, where licensing is a consistent staple. Most deals are global and long-lasting, and contract renewals are in the news as much or more than new agreements. Here’s a […]
A Focus on Hearth and Home
Licensing has its cyclical ups and downs in every category, and it has been on a definite upswing over the past few years in the home goods sector. Recently, three high-profile celebrities have added their names to the list, each with extensive home goods programs or plans, with a focus on the kitchen. None has […]
Playing for Keeps in the Sports Card Sector
Interest in trading cards featuring women’s sports leagues, teams, and athletes is on rise, and so are licensing deals in this space. This month, Upper Deck announced an agreement with University of Iowa basketball player Caitlin Clark, while Panini said it would be creating cards for the new Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), to name […]
The Skinny on Celebrities and Men’s Skincare
Last week it was announced that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was launching a skincare brand, adding his name to the fast-growing list of skincare lines tied to male actors, musicians, and other celebrities known for their accomplishments outside the beauty and wellness industry. The landscape is varied. Most of the celeb-connected lines, which range from […]
A Double Dose of Sweetness
Two new candy-based soft drinks debuted in the first week of March 2024: Ring Pop soda from Bill’s Olde Fashioned Soda and Stardust Sparkling Ice drinks from Talking Rain. These are just the latest additions to a growing list of collaborations over the past five or so years that have brought some big names in […]
The Devil Is In The Detail
Location-based entertainment has been in the news lately, and not in a good way. Willy’s Chocolate Experience, a live event organized by House of Illuminati and held at Box Hub Warehouse in Glasgow, Scotland, has attracted a lot of attention for its poor execution. The ticketing website promoting the event is full of lush A.I.-generated […]
Hooked on Fast Fashion
Sustainability concerns have taken some of the luster from the fast fashion retail sector. The core business model, after all, is to encourage purchases of inexpensive clothes that are meant to be replaced quickly with trendy new pieces, creating an ongoing cycle of waste. Based on the number of deals being done with fast-fashion retailers, […]