Including Rocket Licensing being appointed to build a programme in the UK and Eire for 80s’ TV personality, Bob Ross.
Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
Rocket Licensing has been appointed as licensing agent in the UK and Eire for 80s’ TV personality Bob Ross, on behalf of US agent Firefly Brand Management. TV painter and personality, Bob was the face of The Joy of Painting TV show – which originally ran from 1983 to 1994 and is now available on Netflix and Twitch. The series also recently launched on Vice in the UK and has a successful YouTube channel with four million subscribers. Rocket will be working with partners to build on the brand’s success in the US market for the UK. It will be discussing with potential partners across categories including apparel, dress-up, gifting and homewares, arts and crafts, stationery and social stationery, accessories and publishing.
Egmont Publishing has appointed Rights & Brands to represent Bamse as broker in the Nordics and agent worldwide for licensing and publishing. Rights & Brands will now develop a global licensing and publishing programme for Bamse – The World’s Strongest Bear. First published in 1966, it follows the story of a bear that becomes the strongest in the world by eating magic honey.
Weidenfeld & Nicolson has acquired The Wisdom of Call the Midwife: Words of love, loss, friendship, family and more from the Sisters and midwives of Nonntus House, due to publish in October 2020. Editorial director Maddy Price acquired world rights from Claire Potter at Metrostar, acting on behalf of Neal Street Productions.
IMG has been invited into the Beam family, helping to extend the James B Beam Distilling Company‘s portfolio of brands through strategic licensing partnerships. Best known for Jim Beam Bourbon – which celebrates its 225th anniversary this year – the company’s whiskey portfolio also includes Knob Creek, Booker’s and Little Book among others. IMG will target categories including experiential, fashion, home, gift, memorabilia, grilling and bourbon-flavoured foods.
Outfit7 has revealed that its virtual pet game, My Talking Tom Friends has exceeded 22 million downloads to date. The family entertainment company’s new game launched on June 12 and has already made it to number one in the mobile charts in 40 countries worldwide. All six characters from the franchise are featured, with the game notching up 14 million downloads in its first week and a further eight million from its soft launch.
Now United, the world’s first global pop music group, formed by members from 15 different countries, is to be represented by Redibra in Brazil. The group – which was created by Simon Fuller (creator of American Idol and former manager of the Spice Girls) – has the purpose of inspiring, uniting and changing the world through music and respect for diversity. Brazil is one of the countries with the biggest fanbase for Now United, with the group holding four concerts across the country in 2019.
Surge Brands has signed up as exclusive global licensing agency to develop a campaign for Candy Dynamics‘ line of Toxic Waste Hazardously Sour Candy brands. Targeted categories will initially include food and beverage, apparel and accessories, health and beauty, toys and games, Halloween products, novelties and social expressions.
It’s a Southern Thing, a media channel and lifestyle brand that celebrates the uniquely authentic Southern experience, is expanding its product lines due to rapid growth in consumer demand not only in the South, but across the US. A phrase making card game – Just Like Mama Used to Say – has launched in Target, while a new Southern take on popular children’s ABC books – It’s a Southern Thing: Y is for Y’all – will be launching in the autumn.
The legendary Stetson brand has been given a modern identity refresh and a new ecommerce experience. The company worked with Dallas-based agency Tractorbeam to execute the rebrand – looking through the brand’s extensive archive, examining logos, marks and expressions from the 1860’s through the modern era. The new brand identity – which includes a reimagined brand crest and a refreshed colour palette – will roll out globally across product and consumer touchpoints over the next year, beginning with the new Stetson.com.
WildBrain Spark – the digital media division of WildBrain – has appointed Charles Gabriel to the newly created position of vp and head of US advertising sales.
Crayola Imagine Arts Academy has launched online programming as it looks to inspire children to dream big with unique art experiences which broaden their creative horizons. The programmes are typically offered in-school, at camps or via birthday parties, but have been launched online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Children will learn about the world around them in three programmes, each offering various classes: World of Design (discover design careers from animation to architecture), Artist’s Passport (a global adventure to uncover world cultures) and Wild World (the art of animal conservation).
Big Easy Blends has launched new Airheads Snowcones – individual frozen slush pouches made with real cane sugar and with the tang of Airheads flavours. There are six count boxes in cherry, blue raspberry, watermelon and white mystery flavours.
York Wallcoverings has introduced QuietWall Acoustical Wallcoverings, a stylish soundproofing and ambient noise reduction product designed specifically for the residential market.
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