Andy and the Odd Socks appoints Brands with Influence to manage worldwide licensing

When Andy and the Odd Socks formed in 2017 and played the world-famous Glastonbury Festival, they had no idea that just a few years later they would have a hugely successful TV show in the UK, Australia and the USA, plus over 100 live shows under their belt, and a social media reach of 100 million.

The CBBC/CBeebies family show led by Andy Day has gone from strength to strength and Ninja Pig Productions, which put together the band and produces the show, has now appointed Brands with Influence to manage its worldwide licensing programme.

Martin Lowde, MD of Brands with Influence, says: “The energy you get from this series and this band is infectious. They amplify fun, make great music and deliver a really positive message on anti-bullying. They have been building a large loyal fan base over the last few years and we are excited to be asked to help serve this audience by creating fab merchandise.”

With a core audience of 4-9 year olds, Andy and the Odd Socks is a family brand, with parents loving the great music and positive messaging about inclusivity and anti-bullying. Content is now being delivered across TV, live tours and social media, and the brand is attracting guest stars like Brian May to join the fun.

Odd Socks Day in November 2021, which marked the start of Anti-Bullying Week, engaged over 7 million children and 15,000 primary schools in 2021.

Tamsin Skan, Creative Director of Ninja Pig Productions, says: “We were really impressed by BWI’s understanding and passion for what we are producing here at Ninja. We promote a positive social message throughout the TV show, our live show and original songs and we deliver it via a heady mixture of fun, comedy and music.

“Andy and the Odd Socks encourage children to celebrate difference and individuality, which is so important, especially in today’s world. Everyone is invited to join the Odd Socks and we look forward to embracing licensees who share our vision and positive ideas.”

Genius Brands appoints Brands with Influence as UK agent

Genius Brands International has appointed award-winning agency Brands with Influence as its exclusive licensing agent in the U.K. for the Company’s portfolio of IP.

Brands with Influence will be responsible for creating licensing, merchandising and retail programmes for Genius Brands’ slate of properties, including the Stan Lee brand, from the legendary Marvel creator, which the global media children’s company manages and controls following a joint venture announced in 2020 with Stan Lee’s POW! Entertainment.

Additional IP from the Genius Brands’ catalogue that Brands with Influence will represent include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rainbow Rangers, and more.

Genius Brands’ Chief Brand Officer Kerry Phelan says: “Stan Lee is a global icon who inspirational messages of hope, diversity and inclusivity have resonated globally for decades. It is of vital importance to us to find partners that understand our vision for the Stan Lee brand and can be trusted to deliver on Stan’s values and lasting legacy. We are thrilled to bring Brands with Influence on board to develop programmes across the U.K. for Stan Lee and our entire portfolio of brands and look forward to more exciting developments in the months to come.”

Martin Lowde, MD Brands with Influence, says: “Like millions across the world, we are massive fans of the legendary work of Stan Lee – he is the ‘Godfather of Marvel Comics’. We look forward to working with Kerry and the Genius Brands team to create a consumer products programme that honours his legacy, as well as developing unique programmes for their library of original children’s brands.”

Brandgenuity to rep Too Hot to Handle in US and Canada

UK-based licensing agency Brands with Influence has tapped Brandgenuity to serve as the exclusive licensing agency in the US and Canada for blockbuster reality dating show, Too Hot to Handle.   

Brandgenuity will build a robust lifestyle licensing programme for Netflix’s steamiest show. Now in its third season, Too Hot to Handle, produced by Fremantle labels Thames and Talkback, follows serially single contestants on a tropical getaway. The catch? A total sex ban. If they can keep to it, virtual assistant “Lana” is ready to issue rewards and big prize money.

Brands with Influence chose Brandgenuity for the agency’s strategic approach and entertainment experience. “Their team had seen the show and like the rest of us, are addicted. We loved that,” says Martin Lowde, Managing Director of Brands with Influence. “But we also knew that they will be able to help us get to market quickly and in a totally brand-aligned way.”

With season three a Top 3 show in the US (Top 10 in 64 countries) and with more than 20 million followers across its contestants’ social platforms, Too Hot to Handle is arguably the buzziest reality series around. Season three dropped in January 2022 and instantly rocketed again to the streamer’s hot list, racking up over 72 million hours viewed globally.

“We love everything about this show and we know it’s going to be in high demand by licensees, since it’s so top-of-mind for Gen Z viewers,” says said Allison Lort, Vice President, Business Development at Brandgenuity. “Brandgenuity will seek partners in categories including swim and resortwear, beauty, beach gear, accessories and branded collaborations. The agency is confident they can leverage the spicy look and feel and carefree attitude of the show and its memorable content.”

For licensing opportunities, contact info@brandgenuity.com

 

Wimpy Kid appoints Brands with Influence to spearhead UK consumer products programme

On the back of another consecutive international number-one bestselling children’s book and ahead of a new animated movie streaming on Disney+, Wimpy Kid, Inc. has appointed Brands with Influence (BWI) to manage and market its consumer products programme in the UK.

A cartoon fiction series by Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the best-selling children’s book series of all time, having sold over 250 million copies in 79 editions and 65 languages since it was first published in 2007. The series is published in the UK by Puffin, and the UK is a major and long-established market for the IP.

With 16 books in the series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid continues to outsell its competitors. The most recent title, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot (released 26.10.21), was an instant No #1 in the UK children’s book chart.

The story that started it all, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, will be brought to life as an original movie on Disney+ this festive season. The 3D colour animated feature will release worldwide on the platform on December 3, 2021.

Speaking of the new partnership with Brands with Influence, Vanessa Jedrej, Global Brand Manager at Wimpy Kid, Inc, says: “We’re confident that BWI will apply their wisdom, passion and thoughtfulness to deliver a range of attractive and authentic products that Wimpy Kid enthusiasts will truly treasure. Wimpy Kid has a long-standing, loyal fanbase in the UK and we look forward to partnering with BWI to build an enduring programme that will satisfy both younger children and send our nostalgically devoted ‘Gen Z’ following into meltdown.”

“We are delighted to be entrusted with such a valuable and powerful children’s brand,” says Martin Lowde, CEO at Brands with Influence. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid has an ageless quality and deals with universally relatable themes like family dynamics, surviving middle school, and friendships. Kids across the globe love the style and humour of the books. We are looking forward to creating a strong consumer products programme on this massive brand.”

Brands with Influence will be meeting with key partners and potential licensees at the upcoming BLE in London.

 

 

B.O.T. and the Beasties agrees publishing deal as the show’s audience grows

Award-winning merchandise, licensing and brand agency Brands with Influence has announced the signing of two new licensing partners for CBeebies show B.O.T. and the Beasties, made by Ragdoll Productions.

Leicester-based Sweet Cherry Publishing, recent winners of Small Press of the Year 2021 at the British Book Awards, is to produce a series of new book formats for the show, with the first release planned for 2022. These will include story books, picture books and creative play books utilising sounds from the episodes.

In parallel, Immediate Media has signed to run regular B.O.T. and the Beasties content in their CBeebies magazine.

“We are delighted to be welcoming two excellent new partners to the B.O.T. family,” says Martin Lowde, MD at Brands with Influence. “The series is proving really popular with the young audiences and with its colourful and eclectic range of characters there is lots of scope for a fabulous new range of books and magazines.”

Sanjee de Silva, Publisher at Sweet Cherry, explained why they were so keen to sign with B.O.T. “This brand is exactly what we have been looking for here at Sweet Cherry. It has longevity, a range of great characters and portrays the fun and educational values that we are proud to align ourselves with. Sweet Cherry’s creative teams have designed a really innovative and exciting new range for the series.”

Brands with Influence will be at BLE next month sharing more details about the B.O.T. and the Beasties licensing programme.

12 year old vegan cooking sensation Omari McQueen appoints Brands With Influence

Following the recent announcement of his first cookbook and a new BBC TV show, Omari McQueen has appointed Brands With Influence to develop and widen a merchandise and licensing programme around the 12-year-old and his new vegan brand, Dipalicious. 

McQueen is already taking the world by storm and cooking up a wave of enthusiasm for his innovative take on vegan cooking. In recent weeks, the youngster launched his own range of vegan dips under the Dipalicious umbrella. BWI has now been brought on board to help the brand reach a wider audience through licensing partnerships.

Dom Wheeler of Brands With Influence, said: “Omari is an incredible young man with a real penchant for not just cooking, but communicating too. His passion for Veganism coupled with his flair and showmanship is proving a really popular formula online and is now also being extended on TV.

“We are really looking forward in taking his brand, products and ideas to a wider mass market through a really exciting new licensing programme.”

McQueen has already detailed the launch of his first cook book, to be published by Scholastic, while CBBC is preparing to broadcast a new series titled What’s Cooking, Omari?

McQueen said: “I am really excited that the team at Brand With Influence will be helping me share my love of vegan food with a wider audience. We have so many great ideas that it feels like the right time to be sharing the yummy opportunities with more people. I just want to bring people together to share great food without harming animals.”

Ragdoll Productions taps Brands with Influence to manage licensing roll out for B.O.T. and the Beasties

The award winning production company, Ragdoll Productions, has tapped Brands with Influence to manage the licensing and merchandising rights for its new animated children’s TV series, B.O.T. and the Beasties, a new series scheduled to land on CBeebies in early 2021.

Developed by Anne Wood and the team at Ragdoll Productions’ studios in Stratford upon Avon, B.O.T. and the Beasties draws upon the team’s unrivaled experience in the pre-school market to deliver a series that follows that trials and tribulations of the lovable robot B.O.T. (Beastie Observation Transmitter) as he discovers new worlds and the Beasties that inhabit them.

The BBC has acquired 50 episodes of the new series and B.O.T. Crucial to the development of the series and its appeal has been Ragdoll’s research and development process. All the characters have been tested with the target market for appeal and comedic value for a show that attracts the pre-school audience and keeps them engaged through visual comedy and imaginative play.

Martin Lowde of Brands with Influence, said: “We have been working with Ragdoll for the last 18 months through the development phase of this exciting new series and it’s fabulous that we are now able to share this great show with the licensing industry.

“With a strong commitment from CBeebies across their platforms and a great production team at Ragdoll the series has all the ingredients needed in a new show.”

Brands with Influence is now organising a series of live online screenings and presentations.

Chris Wood of Ragdoll Productions, added: “We are delighted to be working with the team at BWI. Our new pre-school B.O.T. and the Beasties series is full of fun through silliness, play and imagination and has masses of potential for licensing as we have seen first-hand how children love to interact with the stories and characters.”

Ragdoll Productions taps Brands with Influence to manage licensing roll out for B.O.T. and the Beasties

The award winning production company, Ragdoll Productions, has tapped Brands with Influence to manage the licensing and merchandising rights for its new animated children’s TV series, B.O.T. and the Beasties, a new series scheduled to land on CBeebies in early 2021.

Developed by Anne Wood and the team at Ragdoll Productions’ studios in Stratford upon Avon, B.O.T. and the Beasties draws upon the team’s unrivaled experience in the pre-school market to deliver a series that follows that trials and tribulations of the lovable robot B.O.T. (Beastie Observation Transmitter) as he discovers new worlds and the Beasties that inhabit them.

The BBC has acquired 50 episodes of the new series and B.O.T. Crucial to the development of the series and its appeal has been Ragdoll’s research and development process. All the characters have been tested with the target market for appeal and comedic value for a show that attracts the pre-school audience and keeps them engaged through visual comedy and imaginative play.

Martin Lowde of Brands with Influence, said: “We have been working with Ragdoll for the last 18 months through the development phase of this exciting new series and it’s fabulous that we are now able to share this great show with the licensing industry.

“With a strong commitment from CBeebies across their platforms and a great production team at Ragdoll the series has all the ingredients needed in a new show.”

Brands with Influence is now organising a series of live online screenings and presentations.

Chris Wood of Ragdoll Productions, added: “We are delighted to be working with the team at BWI. Our new pre-school B.O.T. and the Beasties series is full of fun through silliness, play and imagination and has masses of potential for licensing as we have seen first-hand how children love to interact with the stories and characters.”