Rubber Road scores new heavy metal music licences

Posted on 31st January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Rubber Road is heading down a new musical path with some new licences that will see the company introducing official merchandise for three of the world’s biggest heavy metal artists.

The company works with some of the leading names in TV shows, movies, gaming and comic books and can now officially add music to the list thanks to a new deal with Global Merchandising Services.

Liam Taylor, Commercial Director at Rubber Road says: “Fans of Ozzy Osbourne, Motorhead and Iron Maiden are going to love this quirky range that pays homage to these rock idols, we guarantee that they won’t have anything like it so far!

“We are delighted to be getting our air guitars out and heading into the world of music, and what a fantastic way to kick off with these three rock icons. When it comes to heavy metal memorabilia, we reckon this range aces it and we are counting down the days until we can reveal all.”

Rubber Road is known for producing merchandise – created by its design arm, Numskull – for some of the leading global brands in entertainment including Universal, Warner Bros, Netflix, Xbox, Sony Pictures, Sony PlayStation, SEGA and Hasbro. Franchises in the portfolio include Minions, Harry Potter, DC Comics, Sonic the Hedgehog, Back to the Future, Stranger Things, Jurassic Park, Star Trek, Ghostbusters, Lord of the Rings, Friends, Jaws and Resident Evil.

Licensing Expo to return to Las Vegas in May 2022

Posted on 28th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Licensing Expo, the world’s largest licensing trade show, will return to Las Vegas from May 24-26, 2022, reconnecting the global licensing industry in person for the first time since 2019.

Organised by Informa Markets in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International (which has served as the exclusive Licensing Expo sponsor since its inception), Licensing Expo reconvenes following a two-year hiatus to celebrate its 40^th live edition with safety very much at the heart of the experience.

“While we are still living and working during a pandemic, the health and safety of everyone attending Licensing Expo will remain our number one priority, and this year’s event has been specifically designed to account for varying levels of attendee comfort with a range of options to suit, whether that’s a preference for one-on-one interaction or to maintain physical distance,” says Anna Knight, VP of Licensing, Informa Markets.

Robust safety measures
All Licensing Expo participants will be required to wear a face mask while indoors at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center (MBCC) and present proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test. Mask wearing will be monitored by the Informa organising team, who are also recommending that participants take a Covid-19 test before leaving their destination to travel to Las Vegas. These safety rules will be in place regardless of Nevada state mandates. Onsite testing will be available off the show floor at the participants’ expense, and this can be used to enter the show or to fulfil any international or domestic pre-departure testing requirements.

“Health and personal wellbeing remain a top priority for us all. As we continue to review and implement vigilant health protocols during this time, we’re excited for the all-important and safe return to Licensing Expo in Las Vegas,” says Licensing International President Maura Regan.

“Bringing licensing professionals from around the world back together in person affords us all opportunities for new partnerships, networking, and learning – and a critical chance to move businesses forward. We’re confident Licensing Expo 2022 will bring the industry back together for a long-awaited reunion!”

Industry support
With four months still to go, the industry is throwing its full support behind Licensing Expo, with exhibiting companies already confirmed, including ViacomCBS, Hasbro, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Mattel, NBCUniversal, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Lego, Joester Loria Group, Beanstalk, Buzzfeed, The Pokémon Company, NFL Players Association, Games Workshop, Peanuts Worldwide, BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America, Frida Kahlo, Yale University, MGM Studios, Spin Master, BBC Studios, Crayola Properties, BrandComply fuelled by Octane5, and TOPPS/Garbage Pail Kids.

Licensing Expo will also adopt a theme for the first time ever, with 2022 spotlighting Location-Based Experiences: immersive, interactive out of home experiences like theme parks, escape rooms, gaming arcades, amusement parks, bowling alleys, VR worlds, and much more. LBE will be the focal point for one of Licensing Expo’s two in-person keynotes, in addition to interactive LBE activations on the show floor highlighting the creativity and consumer engagement possible when brands and experiences collaborate.

“LBE really suffered during the pandemic lockdowns, but experiences have now reopened to customer delight and the sector is predicted to boom,” explains Anna Knight. “It’s been interesting to note the increasing number of collabs between brands and LBE in recent years. We’re keen to shine a light on this growing licensing category and excited to investigate its future with Licensing Expo attendees.”

Licensing Expo online platform
This year’s event will be supported by the Licensing Expo official online platform, available to all exhibitors and visitors pre, during and post-show, allowing them to browse exhibiting brands & IPs, see who’s attending, view exclusive content and schedule meetings to take place both in-person in Las Vegas and online post-event until June 3.

The platform garnered extremely positive feedback at Brand Licensing Europe in November 2021, which reunited the European licensing community in London after a two-year break.

Anna Knight concludes: “Thousands of retailers, manufacturers and designers attended BLE to meet close to 200 brands, and we received really positive feedback about the importance of BLE and Licensing Expo in driving business for the licensing industry. Hundreds of deals were signed at BLE, so we’re very much looking forward to bringing back Licensing Expo in-person and welcoming everyone to Vegas in May.”

Mattel and Disney announce multi-year global licensing agreement for Disney Princess and Frozen franchises

Posted on 26th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Mattel has announced a multi-year global licensing agreement for the Disney Princess and Frozen franchises. Mattel will have the global licensing rights to develop lines of toys for Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing, including fashion dolls, small dolls, and figures. The collection is expected to launch at retailers around the globe at the beginning of 2023.

“We are incredibly proud to welcome back the Disney Princess and Frozen lines to Mattel,” says Richard Dickson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Mattel. “As the worldwide leader in dolls, we look forward to bringing our unique Mattel Playbook approach to brand management, product and marketing expertise, and unrelenting attention to detail and quality to create innovative and inspiring lines for these iconic stories and characters.”

The new licensing arrangement builds on the existing licensing relationship between Mattel and Disney for Pixar Animation Studio’s Toy Story and Cars franchises, and the recently announced global licensing agreement for Lightyear.

“The courage and compassion found throughout our Disney Princess and Frozen stories and characters continue to inspire fans around the globe,” says Stephanie Young, President of Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing. “By furthering our longstanding relationship with Mattel, we look forward to expanding the worlds of Disney Princess and Frozen, introducing an innovative new era of these beloved franchises through captivating products and play opportunities.”

Through the agreement, Mattel will develop dolls based on Disney Princess including Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Brave, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Mulan, Pocahontas, The Princess and the Frog, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Tangled, Disney Frozen, The Little Mermaid Live Action, Moana D+ Series, Tiana D+ Series, Aladdin Live Action, Beauty & the Beast Live Action, Cinderella Live Action, and Mulan Live Action.

Bulldog signs Wow! Stuff for master toy global deal

Posted on 25th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Licensing agency Bulldog has agreed terms on a deal with Wow! Stuff for the toy company to become the first licensee for the ‘boundary breaking’ 2.5D animated series Odo.

Created by Sixteen South Originals and co-produced with Letko, Odo has now sold into more than 128 countries. In the new Master Toy global deal, Wow! Stuff will create a comprehensive range of toys including plush, dolls, figures and accessories, role-play toys, play sets, track sets, construction toys and bath toys.

Odo is a little owl with big ideas and was recently selected to join the Bulldog family of brands following its stellar TV launch last year. The first series comprises 52 x 7-minute stories and has already been pre-sold to many leading networks and broadcasters worldwide. The series is now airing every weekday on Milkshake! in the UK.

Odo has also been signed by HBO Max in the US and is airing on MiniMini+ in Poland, TVO Kids and Knowledge Kids in Canada and ABC in Australia. Many more territories will roll out throughout 2022.

The series combines humour and heart and aims to teach young children self-efficacy and to believe in themselves to help combat the troubling rise in childhood anxiety and depression levels. Each episode sees Odo positively tackle challenges with the help of his best friend Doodle, under the loving watchful eye of Camp Leader, an eagle.

Wow! Stuff’s Director of Licensing, Kenny McAndrew, is delighted with the deal. “We were pitching against some of the biggest toy companies for Odo,” he says. “Everything Odo stands for resonates and aligns with our own values, we wanted this with all our hearts – and I think that showed through in our pitch! Odo is unique; Odo the owl is gender neutral, the themes are groundbreaking and the series is grounded on social justice. And it’s very, very funny.”

Vicky Miller, Licensing Director of Bulldog Licensing, adds: “Wow! Stuff’s reputation for innovation is really unmatched in the industry and that’s what we wanted for Odo. The series is breaking boundaries in its approach to children’s mental health and wellbeing, it’s a trail-blazer in the preschool entertainment arena. Similarly, Wow! Stuff always goes above and beyond to create innovative, show-stopping product ranges and that’s just what Odo deserves”.

New Chicken Run and Wallace & Gromit adventures in the works from Aardman

Posted on 24th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Aardman Animation Studio has announced the cast lineup for its latest feature film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, and confirmed a brand-new Wallace & Gromit adventure for 2024.

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop-motion animated film of all time, will be coming exclusively to Netflix in 2023.

Like its 2000 predecessor, Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is a comedy action-adventure, in which our chicken heroes have to break into an impenetrable fortress. Ginger and Rocky will be played by Thandiwe Newton and Zachary Levi, respectively, while Bella Ramsey will voice their headstrong daughter, Molly. Reprising their roles are Jane Horrocks (Babs), Imelda Staunton (Bunty) and Lynn Ferguson (Mac), joined by new additions Josie Sedgwick-Davies (Frizzle), David Bradley (Fowler), Romesh Ranganathan (Nick), Daniel Mays (Fetcher) and Nick Mohammed (Dr. Fry). Sam Fell (Flushed Away and Oscar-nominated ParaNorman) will direct the film, on which production is already underway.

The BBC has also announced a brand-new Wallace & Gromit adventure for British audiences in 2024.

From the creative mind of Nick Park and the first Wallace & Gromit film since the 2008 BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated A Matter of Loaf and Death, the as-yet-untitled new film focuses on Gromit’s concern that Wallace has become over-dependant on his inventions – which proves justified when Wallace invents a “smart gnome” that seems to develop a mind of its own. As events spiral out of control, it falls to Gromit to put aside his qualms and battle sinister forces or Wallace may never be able to invent again…

The BBC has a long relationship with Aardman and this announcement follows the success of the latest Shaun the Sheep caper The Flight Before Christmas, which aired on BBC One over the festive period.

Sean Clarke, MD of Aardman, says: “Wallace and Gromit are so loved by everyone at Aardman – they’re like family to us, and we couldn’t be more excited to be creating a brand-new film for them to star in. When Nick came up with the concept for a ‘smart gnome’, we all agreed that Wallace would find the idea irresistible – despite warnings from Gromit, who is wise beyond his (dog) years. We’re sure audiences will find the story irresistible too.”

The film will premiere on the BBC in the UK, and on Netflix in the rest of the world. It will be directed by Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) and Merlin Crossingham (Creative Director, Wallace & Gromit and Animation Director, Early Man) with the story written by Nick Park and Mark Burton (Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep Movie) and the screenplay by Mark Burton.

Spotlight Licensing and Rocket Licensing welcome All Creatures Great and Small

Posted on 21st January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Rocket Licensing and Spotlight Licensing are set to build a global consumer products programme for critically acclaimed fan-favourite television drama All Creatures Great and Small, with Rocket leading in all markets outside North America and Spotlight focused on North America.

The series, based on the best-selling stories written by Alf Wight under the pen name James Herriot, follows the adventures of a young vet from Glasgow working in the Yorkshire dales. Herriot’s books have sold 60 million copies internationally, becoming a global cultural phenomenon with devoted fans around the world.

The series airs in the UK as Channel 5’s top rating British drama, with five million viewers to date for the latest series, and is the second highest-rating programme on the channel, behind The Drowning.

In the U.S., All Creatures Great and Small is currently in its second season on PBS MASTERPIECE after debuting as one of PBS’s biggest hits of 2021 (seen by more than 10 million U.S. viewers).

PBS MASTERPIECE, Channel 5 and All3Media International recently announced that All Creatures Great and Small has already been renewed for a third and fourth season.

Rocket and Spotlight will be looking to target both the young adult and older age-group fans of the show with licensed products including gifting, homewares, stationery, apparel, food and beverage, and more, as well as experiential partnerships, and the team is looking forward to discussing the property with potential licensees and partners.

Carole Postal, president of Spotlight Licensing, says: “All Creatures Great and Small is a wonderful property for anyone who loves and cares for animals, enjoys the beautiful British countryside, and appreciates that small-town community life which Herriot portrays with such warmth and humour. U.S. audiences love the character and charm of this quintessentially British show and we are excited to get a consumer products licensing programme started here in North America.”

Charlie Donaldson, joint MD of Rocket Licensing, commented: “All Creatures Great and Small is a great brand which really resonates with UK consumers, and we are looking forward to discussing the exciting opportunities this property offers for licensed merchandise and collaborations with potential licensees. The demand for British brands is bigger than ever right now and this property fits the bill perfectly.”

McVitie’s launches biggest-ever marketing initiative with sponsorship of Britain’s Got Talent

Posted on 20th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

McVitie’s is undertaking its biggest ever marketing initiative to date by joining forces with Britain’s Got Talent as the new headline sponsor of the entertainment talent show for 2022.

The partnership marks the coming together of two of the UK’s favourite, and most quintessentially British brands, promising “Golden Moments of absolute fun for families to share together”.

The new McVitie’s sponsorship of Britain’s Got Talent will be activated across the major UK grocery chains.

The brand has collaborated closely with Britain’s Got Talent to roll out a fully-fledged 360-degree marketing plan across TV, digital and social media comms, bespoke packaging and in-store displays, competitions as well as a host of PR initiatives that will run throughout the course of the season.

Through the new partnership, fans of McVitie’s and Britain’s Got Talent will have the chance to win top prizes through the new Golden Moments campaign that will offer exclusive money-can’t-buy experiences including VIP tickets to the live BGT Final at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London.

The Golden Moments campaign aims to spread stories of positivity and fun across the nation. Competition details will be available across special Britain’s Got Talent branded packs including McVitie’s Chocolate Digestives, Hobnobs and Jaffa Cakes in retailers across the UK from 7 March, 2022.

The new partnership was announced in with a surprise red-carpet performance from the winners of Britain’s Got Talent: The Champions, Twist and Pulse (aka Ashley Glazebrook and Glen Murphy).

The packed crowd were delighted to see the pioneers of ‘Streetomedy’ – a mix of street dance and comedy, a phrase coined by the two – perform their latest routine which had them dunking their McVitie’s biscuits into mugs of tea.

During the performance, Twist and Pulse handed out a range of McVitie’s treats and cups of tea to warm up the crowd in the chilly January weather.

Caroline Hipperson, UK&I CMO of McVities’ parent company pladis, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be the new headline sponsor of Britain’s Got Talent. Two of Britain’s most loved brands, who share in the same message of positivity, fun and indulgence, best enjoyed in the company of others – it’s a perfect fit. As our biggest ever sponsorship to date we wanted to go big and we have some brilliant surprises planned throughout the season, so we welcome everyone to sit back, enjoy their favourite McVitie’s biscuit and watch the show!”

Licensing International launches global mentoring programme

Posted on 19th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

In honour of National Mentoring Month, the leading trade organisation for the global licensing industry, Licensing International, and its sponsor Octane5, have announced today the licensing industry’s first ever global mentoring programme, aimed at bringing the expertise of global industry veterans to young professionals.

With an initial focus on regions including the United States, UK, France, Germany, Japan and China, industry professionals and Licensing International members can sign up to join the programme directly at LicensingInternational.org beginning today. Following sign-up, participants will be matched up by Licensing International with their mentor or mentee through the programme.

Licensing International’s new programme will allow mentees to build skills and knowledge while working toward attaining career goals. At the same time, it will provide an opportunity for mentors to further enhance skills and knowledge areas through exposure to fresh perspectives.

Most importantly, the Licensing International Mentoring Program aims to bring value and career growth to licensing experts of all levels across a multitude of businesses and categories. Participating mentees will have an opportunity to gain wisdom from an experienced professional, while mentors have the chance to invest in an up-and-coming professional who can benefit from their skilled guidance.

“Knowledge sharing and mentoring are such powerful tools that have the potential to transform lives, and so we knew as industry leaders we wanted to create a platform to encourage just that,” says Maura Regan, President of Licensing International. “Our mentorship programme will not only build meaningful connections between longstanding professionals and young newcomers, but also offer important opportunities for growth and development.”

“When we connected with Licensing International to sponsor the upcoming mentorship programme, we were delighted to be able to facilitate connections between professionals in our industry,” says Mike Dunn, Co-Founder and President of Octane5. “Partnering with Licensing International allows us to offer a space where professionals new and old can form working relationships that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.”

For more information, visit LicensingInternational.org or contact Licensing International SVP, Global Partnerships, Gisela Abrams at gabrams@licensing.org.

Poetic Brands signs deal with Walkers for adult apparel

Posted on 18th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Apparel specialist Poetic Brands has partnered with Walkers to launch a range of adult clothing in the UK and Ireland, through a deal brokered by Walkers’ licensing agency IMG.

The new collection will include sweatshirts, T-shirts, joggers, shorts and more, all taking inspiration from the iconic brand which originated in 1948 and quickly became the most popular crisp brand in the UK.

Utilising the instantly recognisable branding and graphics synonymous with Walkers, the collection is set to tap into the nation’s demand for heritage brands.

Elliott Matthews, Managing Director of Poetic Brands, commented: “Walkers is a dream property to work with as it holds a place in the hearts of many. We’re having fun with the iconic logo and branding for this collection and creating some on-trend pieces which are sure to be a hit.”

Sam Barker, Senior Licensing Director at IMG, added: “The Walkers brand is instantly recognisable and has a timeless appeal that is loved by consumers of all ages, which will be highlighted throughout this apparel collection with Poetic Brands.”

Skullcandy taps Beanstalk to extend its lifestyle audio brand

Posted on 17th January 2022 by Sam Giltrow

Lifestyle audio brand Skullcandy has selected global brand extension licensing agency Beanstalk to extend its brand into new product categories, including audio equipment, consumer electronics, sporting and outdoor goods and accessories, apparel and accessories, collaborations and experiences.

Skullcandy has become the number-one-selling brand in Stereo Headphones and True Wireless Earbuds. The Skullcandy licensing programme will encourage both existing and new fans to “tune into their own Skullcandy lifestyle and express their individual personalities”. Beanstalk will leverage the distinct aesthetic of the Skullcandy brand to further extend its unique voice, style and purpose from audio to lifestyle.

Allison Ames, President and CEO of Beanstalk, says: “We are truly excited to be partnering with such an adventurous and inclusive brand as Skullcandy. It has all of the right ingredients for successful brand extensions. It’s accessible and doing great things in the tech space. It’s diverse and progressive. It understands its audience and in a sea of sameness, Skullcandy stands out from the crowd. This provides us with a wonderful opportunity to create a licensing programme that speaks to Skullcandy’s fans’ lifestyles, interests and values.”