Rolling Stone to launch dedicated UK magazine in licensing deal with Stream Publishing

The iconic music magazine, Rolling Stone is to launch a dedicated UK edition thanks to an exclusive licensing agreement between its owners Penske Media Corporation and Stream Publishing, home of the LGBTQ magazine, Attitude.

The UK edition will launch across print and online and will emerge some 50 years after the first attempt to launch a local titles – which was sponsored by the Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger – dissolved within its first few months.

The launches will go live this autumn but the frequency of the UK print title is still to be confirmed. Its New York flagship magazine is a monthly print publication. Stream, a content creation and live events agency will begin to launch live events under the Rolling Stones brand in spring 2022.

Darren Styles OBE, managing director of Stream, said: “The arrival of Rolling Stone in the UK is not only a hugely exciting development for our brilliant team, but also fantastic news for the UK music and entertainment industries which deserve the showcase and platform that this iconic brand will deliver.

“A Rolling Stone cover is the picture worth 10,000 words and UK artists will now have opportunities of their own to achieve just that, as well as access to the RS network that stretches well beyond its native USA to Australia, CHina, and more than a dozen other countries.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to search out UK talent to commentate on one of the most fascinating political ages this country has seen and have the opportunity to bring to light the kind of long-reads and investigative work made famous by the like of Hunter S Thompson, P J O’Rourke and Tom Wolfe

“Rolling Stone UK, here as there, will share the stories that need to be told, shine light into dark corners and yet celebrate too, that which entertains us. There is no title better suited to these times.”

Rolling Stone president and chief operating officer, Gus Wenner, said he “couldn’t be more thrilled about the launch.

“The opportunity to bring our content to a country we have a longstanding history with and admiration for feels right. The UK is the birthplace of some of the most iconic musicians, many of whom have played a significant role in shaping our legacy.

“Today is the beginning of another exciting chapter in our evolution.”

Bulldog Licensing inks first partnership for Rolling Stone with Iconospheric

Bulldog Licensing has brokered a new partnership between Iconospheric and the iconic music and culture brand, Rolling Stone, marking the fist to be signed by the licensing agency since it picked up the popular property earlier this year.

The new Iconospheric collection will feature a range of products including apparel, accessories, home, and gift merchandise all of which will celebrate Rolling Stone’s heritage and authority across music, culture, and politics. Rolling Stone’s platform reaches a global audience of over 600 million people per month.

Through the partnership, Bulldog Licensing continues to widen its consumer product offerings in the UK, spanning gift, accessories, stationery, wall art and home.

Rob Corney, MD, Bulldog Licensing, said: “Iconospheric is the perfect first partner for the UK Rolling Stone programme. We love their approach to design and it means that we will have high quality Rolling Stone merchandise available all year round.

“This collaboration showcases our ability to deliver a wide range of quality products that represent the influence of a truly iconic brand. The interest in the programme has been very strong thus far, and we look forward to announcing additional key partners soon.” 

The Iconospheric x Rolling Stone collection launched yesterday and is available for purchase online at  iconospheric.com/pages/rolling-stone-collection.

Bulldog Licensing signed as European licensing agent for Rolling Stone

Bulldog Licensing has been appointed as the European licensing agent for the iconic music, entertainment, and politics media brand, Rolling Stone. Established for 50 years, Rolling Stone spans print, digital, social and events, and is now looking to leverage its brand, develop products and reach its extensive audience in new ways.

In the US, the Rolling Stone licensing programme is already underway with brand owners, Penske Media Corporation already working with licensees including Anheuser-Busch’s brewery Elysian Brewing for a Rolling Stone Lager, publishing deals with Alfred Publishing, Sellers Publishing, and Meredith, puzzles and games from Spin Master, and location based experiences including the Rock Room on Holland America Line ships and the Rolling Stone Bar & Grill at LAX airport.

Rolling Stone has a monthly footprint of 42 million people across its platforms, who access the brand for its photography, insightful reviews, in-depth interviews and award-winning journalism.

Across social media, Rolling Stone has 5 million Facebook fans, 4.5 million Instagram followers and 6.3 million Twitter followers worldwide. The UK is one of the strongest audiences and provides over 1 million unique users and 6.8 million page views each month to the rollingstone.com website.

Across Continental Europe, the brand enjoys a huge footprint with local editions in Italy, Germany and France reaching millions of people every month.

Discussions are already well underway with licensees across a diverse area of products with announcements expected very soon.

Kevin LaBonge, VP global partnerships and licensing at Penske Media Corporation, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the team at Bulldog Licensing as we expand Rolling Stone into new formats. Rolling Stone is a hugely iconic brand around the globe with millions of touchpoints every month in Europe alone.

“With Bulldog’s rich history of delivering large scale licensing programmes for iconic media properties we are excited to tap into their experience and energy to grow the Rolling Stone brand even further.”

Rob Corney, MD of Bulldog Licensing, added: “Rolling Stone is a true icon in the music, entertainment and politics industry and has a huge, dedicated audience. We’re thrilled to have them on our roster and are looking forward to building a consumer products programme across the diverse core classic and vivid culture graphic collections.”

 

Rolling Stone joins forces with Elysian Brewing Co to launch Elysian Rolling Stone Lager

Rolling Stone, the famed music industry publisher has joined forces with Elysian Brewing Company, a brewery that is rooted in music and art, to produce Elysian Rolling Stone lager, a high-end beer that embraces the spirit of music.

The new lager will debut this Saturday, February 1, at the Rolling Stone Live: Miami Big Game Experience, and will roll out to beer-lovers across the US in April this year.

The Rolling Stone collaboration is a milestone in craft brewing, and the first time the music publisher has put its iconic name on a craft beer. Both companies are rooted in their respective histories and constantly push to change and reinvent with the times.

“This one’s for the rebels. Those with wandering souls who aren’t afraid to be their truest selves while pushing boundaries in search of authentic art and discovery,” said Elysian Brewing co-founder, Joe Bisacca. ​

“​The Elysian brand was built on music and that gritty, unapologetic form of expression which is in our blood. It fuels us to keep experimenting and spread love back to those that inspired us. And what better way to do that than with our friends over at Rolling Stone?”

The Seattle-based brewery built its brand on music and wanted a beer that ‘expressed the sensation that sparked fire in its soul.’

“The fact that Elysian has supported and been inspired by music and musicians since their beginnings makes this partnership a natural fit for Rolling Stone,” said Gus Wenner, president and COO, Rolling Stone. “We’re excited and proud to share our first venture into craft beer with our readers – we put a lot of passion into this project and we know they’re going to love it.”

Elysian’s approach to making beer is based on experimentation, collaboration and boundary-pushing, a brewing approach, the company has said, aligns with Rolling Stone’s editorial bent.

The brewery is proud of its culture of broad acceptance, and has long sponsored, supported, and actively participated in community events and celebrations that bring people together.

The Elysian Rolling Stone Lager will be the exclusive beer for the Rolling Stone Live: Miami event. It will be integrated throughout the event at all bars, displays and bottle service tables.