Licensed cookbooks historically have been connected to a limited number of closely related properties, such as food brands, restaurants, and chefs, with other property types popping up very occasionally. Over the last few years, however, cookbooks have become a standard format to be considered as part of licensed publishing programs tied to entertainment and pop-culture […]
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Fright Night in the Toy and Collectibles Aisle
Scary plush and plush-like characters from the worlds of video games and collectibles are currently having a moment in the licensing business. These properties do not represent a new phenomenon, but their number is currently ramping up, likely due in part to the popularity of the horror genre in general. Most are meant to appeal […]
Science of Reading Spurs Focus on Phonics
In the hopes that all U.S. children will be able to read at grade level by their third year in school, educators have turned to instruction rooted in “the science of reading (SoR).” This is a body of research about how children learn to read that emphasizes phonics and phonemic awareness along with fluency, vocabulary, […]
Young at Heart
Classic entertainment properties looking for fresh programming ideas, a way to reach new audiences, and/or a boost to merchandise sales have long created child or baby versions of their well-known characters. Examples extend from Tiny Toon Adventures in the early 1990s to Spidey and his Amazing Friends in recent years—to name just two of many. […]
Making News with Consumer Products
Legacy newspaper and magazine brands have been struggling financially for years, in part because of increased competition from digital news and information sites. More recently, however, the latter have been facing equally steep challenges, as consumers rely less on—and often mistrust—official news organizations and turn instead to independent, often opinion-driven sources they follow on social […]
Bringing the Beats to Kids’ TV
A handful of classic rappers have made forays into the children’s entertainment and content arena, and sometimes into related licensed products, in the past year or so: Darryl McDaniels of Run DMC partnered with Nickelodeon and Paramount Global last November in a wide-ranging deal in which McDaniels lends his voice to the new Noggin series […]
Talking Turkey
The U.S. holiday of Thanksgiving is one of the few celebration days throughout the year with relatively little licensing activity tied to it. It is a holiday centered on gratitude, food, and family, and not on extensive gift giving, costumes, decorating, or other more commercial endeavors. That said, there are a few opportunities tied to […]
Now Hear This
By Karen Raugust on July 15, 2021 in Character/Entertainment, Consumer electronics, Content, Licensing
Kids’ audio is hot, with everything from podcasts to musical albums on the rise. One of the most active areas within this sector consists of a growing number of low-tech, screenless audio players designed to allow young children to control what they listen to independently and safely in a closed eco-system. The proliferation of these […]
Lending a Helping Hand
Many companies active in the global licensing and consumer products business are doing what they can to support medical professionals and consumers during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition to being the right thing to do, their efforts help keep some of their workers employed, utilize existing capacity and already-purchased materials, and give them a positive […]
More Visibility for Disability
By Karen Raugust on March 16, 2020 in Character/Entertainment, Demographic groups, Licensing, Toys/Games
Over the past several years there has been a focus on diversity and inclusion of all types in advertising, content, and consumer products. The introduction of characters with physical and mental disabilities has been a recent manifestation of this trend, with more and more examples in the toy and children’s entertainment industries, especially in the […]