Tag Archives: Cocomelon

Moonbug Entertainment brands to arrive front-of-store in Asda this Christmas

Posted on by

Just weeks after The Point.1888 announced a record-breaking 66 new licensees across EMEA for Moonbug Entertainment’s leading IP CoComelon, the superbrand has secured a prime spot in Asda stores nationwide, for a dual-branded activation focusing on children’s brands Blippi and CoComelon.

Since coming on board as Master Licensing Agency for Moonbug’s portfolio of brands in EMEA* last summer, the brand licensing specialist has sought to leverage CoComelon and Blippi’s popularity with children by bringing the brands closer to their audience across a broad range of categories, including clothing, puzzles, arts and crafts, games, and outdoor, to name just a few.

As part of a special activation arranged by The Point.1888, George at Asda has been given an exclusive style guide to create market-leading products for CoComelon and Blippi. The products include branded daywear and nightwear clothing, accessories, bags and footwear, and will be on sale across 453 Asda stores. In addition to the activation, there will also be a TOY FSDU included.

The full branded cross-category activation commences today in storefront mobile event units. Having seen huge success with CoComelon and Blippi earlier this year at Easter, this new activation is welcomed by for Asda and George. The retailer will be supporting this new and exclusive promotion with POS activity and marketing.

“When it comes to the launch of soft lines across Blippi and CoComelon, the George and Asda buying teams have been excellent supporters of the Moonbug brands,” says Hannah Stevens, Head of Retail at The Point.1888. “It had a strong apparel launch in Q2 and has carried lines throughout the year so it seems fitting that it should end the year with a bang. George at Asda will have a fantastic range of products and designs available for their customers in the lead-up to Christmas.”

Jenna Perry, Buying Expert at George at Asda commented: “We’re really excited to partner with The Point and Moonbug to bring this collaboration to the market across George and Asda. Blippi and CoComelon resonate well with our preschool customer and this launch will be great to showcase the licenses just in time for Christmas.”

“At Moonbug Entertainment we pride ourselves on developing world-class partnerships with retailers that share our vision in creating amazing products that bring joy to kids and families,” adds Ryan Gorman, Global Head of Retail Development and Marketing. “The partnership with George at Asda is a prime example of best-in-class collaboration. We are elated to work together with the entire team at Asda to bring joy to all families this holiday season.”

*With the exception of CoComelon in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, which are represented by Super RTL.

 

Moonbug Entertainment to be acquired by Next Generation Media Company

Posted on by

Moonbug Entertainment, the digital-first, global children’s entertainment company, has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by the recently formed media company run by leading entertainment executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs and backed by investment capital from Blackstone. Moonbug’s founders CEO René Rechtman and COO John Robson, and existing management team and shareholders, will retain equity stakes in the Mayer-Staggs-Blackstone-backed media company.

Founded in 2018, Moonbug has rapidly built a global family audience through its highly popular shows such as CoComelon, Blippi, Little Baby Bum, and others. Its content appears in 27 languages on more than 100 platforms around the world such as YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon and Sky. Moonbug’s CoComelon is currently the second-most subscribed YouTube channel with approximately 120 million subscribers globally and the most-watched kids show on Netflix.

This marks the second acquisition for Mayer and Staggs’ new media company backed by Blackstone, following the acquisition of Hello Sunshine, the mission-driven media company that puts women at the centre of every story it creates, founded by Reese Witherspoon.

“John and I have built a category-leading, digital-first kids entertainment business based on strong values and content that is focused on digital platforms,” says Moonbug’s René Rechtman. “Our vision is to build global family franchises, which is wholly aligned with Kevin and Tom’s vision and experience. I have had the pleasure of working with them both earlier in my career and am thrilled to be reunited to build the next global powerhouse of entertainment. You could not find stronger partners in our industry.”

Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs added: “We have known René and his innovative team for years, including during our time together at Disney, and they have built a perfect example of the type of category-defining business we are looking to bring into our company. They know how to identify and support brands that are beloved by millions of families across the globe. We and our partners at Blackstone look forward to helping expand Moonbug’s portfolio of titles and further extend its franchises across digital platforms and key licensing and merchandising channels.”

 

CoCoMelon comes to Riyadh Winter Wonderland

Posted on by

Spacetoon Event and Moonbug Entertainment have collaborated with the Saudi General Entertainment Authority to bring a CoComelon Town to Saudi Arabia for the first-time during Riyadh Season.

For three months, kids and parents will be able to visit the CoComelon Town while at the Riyadh Winter Wonderland. This new experience, inspired by the number-one most-watched brand on YouTube – with over 3.5 billion monthly views – has been created by the Spacetoon Event team.

“Our audience has always been at the core of our work and we’re really proud to present this first-of-a-kind experience for all kids and parents of the region to enjoy,” says Ahmad Weiss, the General Manager of Spacetoon. “The CoComelon Town takes us one step closer to achieving our goal of expanding the presence of the brand in MENA through our on-the-ground family-friendly experiences.”

Adam Steel, International Licensing at Moonbug Entertainment, adds: “Our beloved CoComelon is the most-watched kids’ show in the world right now and bringing the town to life was no easy task, but the team at Spacetoon have delivered above and beyond our expectations, it’s going to blow kids’ minds! We look forward to the continued expansion of both our live entertainment and licensed goods, giving our fans across the region more chances to interact with the brand.”

The CoComelon Town will feature five locations, including: a replica of CoComelon’s famous house; Melon Patch Academy, a place where kids can learn 
about art, careers, animals and the world around them; Melon Patch Academy Playground; JJ’s Grandparent’s Farm, featuring planting, playing with sand, camping and other activities, and the CoComelon Musical Bus.

Additionally, kids will have the chance to meet JJ and take photos capturing that special moment. A range of CoComelon toys will also be available to purchase on-site.

Spacetoon and Moonbug Entertainment’s partnership goes back to the beginning of 2021, when the two parties signed a deal that named Spacetoon the master licensee of the CoComelon franchise in MENA, which resulted in the content being distributed across multiple Spacetoon platforms. Last August, they held a successful on-ground event at the Mall of Emirates in Dubai.

Story House Egmont launches CoComelon Magazine

Posted on by

Story House Egmont has launched CoComelon Magazine, based on Moonbug Entertainment’s successful preschool brand. The magazine aims to help preschoolers learn letters, numbers, and colours, and will cover important life lessons, providing parents with an opportunity to teach and play with their children as they enjoy the content together.

On YouTube, CoComelon is the no. 1 kids’ channel, the no. 1 educational channel, and the no. 2 channel worldwide. CoComelon garners 2.5 billion monthly views on YouTube and is adding to its 119 million subscribers every day.

On Netflix, CoComelon was 2020’s most watched show, and so far in 2021 it has been featured in the top 10 list for 258 consecutive days.

With further reach on BBC iPlayer, Cartoonito, Tiny POP and SKY Kids, this makes CoComelon the world’s most watched kids’ show, with the largest kids’ audience ever.

CoComelon is the latest addition to Story House Egmont’s pre-school portfolio which currently includes Thomas & Friends, Milkshake!, Ryan’s World, PAW Patrol, the UK’s no. 1 preschool magazine, and PAW Patrol EXTRA, which launched into the UK market in August this year. The launch issue comes with a Doctor Playset and complementary content inside the magazine which encourages young fans to ‘Play Doctors’. Issue 1 also includes 45 stickers alongside a tick-and-stick reward chart to incentivise all those mini milestones that young children achieve every day.

Over 14,000 retail outlets are stocking the magazine in the UK, enhanced by mass-market listings achieved across all major grocery, convenience, and discount outlets. Further promotional activity is happening in-store to celebrate the first issue at Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Co-op, and LIDL, to drive prominence and awareness among consumers.

“We are delighted to be launching the CoComelon magazine and sharing this joyful brand in a printed format with thousands of young families across our publishing network,” says Laura Adnitt, Story House Egmont Publishing & Brand Management Director. “CoComelon, with its mind-blowing reach and ‘of the moment’ relevance, is a wonderful addition to our publishing portfolio. We are incredibly excited by this new entry into the market and can’t wait to see the consumer reaction to CoComelon magazine.”

Katie Wilkinson, Publishing Manager for Moonbug’s EMEA Licensing Agent, ThePoint.1888, says: “To launch a new title into 14,000 retailers in the UK from the start is quite incredible and shows the immense popularity of CoComelon.  Story House Egmont have done an incredible job capturing the essence of this brand in a new magazine and are supporting with an exciting marketing plan.  I cannot wait to see this launch.”

CoComelon magazine will launch in UK, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Croatia in 2021, with Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland all due to market in early 2022.

Star Editions launches online shop for CoComelon and Blippi in Moonbug partnership

Posted on by

The personalised giftware specialist, Star Editions has opened an e-shop for CoComelon and Blippi, featuring exclusive products and an extensive range of toys, games, and customisable gifts for the globally popular preschool IPs.

The launch of the online store is part of Star Editions’ ongoing licensing partnership with Moonbug Entertainment Ltd. It has seen the licensee create a bespoke online shopping destination for fans, all under Moonbug branding. Products available include personalised art prints, mugs, apparel, homeware and stationery, as well as toy ranges from Bandai and Jazwares.

Will Marston, CEO, Star Editions Ltd, said: “Working with the Moonbug team and The Point.1888 has been a blast. We have wanted to bring our take on both Blippi and CoComelon to the UK for a while now and I am thrilled to say that we have achieved that goal this year.

“We are thoroughly delighted with the launch of https://moonbug.shop and more importantly, so are the parents of the children who just adore these brands. Loads more planned before Q4 for this shop from new properties as well as new products, so stay tuned.”

Ryan Gorman, head of global retail, Moonbug Entertainment, said: “We are thrilled to be working with market leaders Star Editions, and excited that Moonbug fans now have a stunning new range of giftware that can be easily personalised for an even more special gift.”

https://moonbug.shop is now live.

Little Brother Books on track to sell over one million Annuals this year and reveals Christmas 2021 line-up

Posted on by

Little Brother Books is on track to sell over one million Annuals this year, with more than 2,500 dedicated FSDUs across major retailers in the run up to this Christmas. The feat will make the company the UK’s number one publisher of licensed annuals for the fourth year running.

Supporting its chances, Little Brother Books has details a new line-up of titles for the festive season this year, with 12 new Annuals in the collection, including titles and brands such as Blippi, CoComelon, Gigantosaurus, Roblox, and Minecraft. Each title will be hitting shelves from this September.

In an agreement inked with The Point 1881, there will be 2022 Annuals for the popular children’s YouTube live-action character, Blippi, as well as the educational songs and nursery rhymes brand, CoComelon. Also new to LBB is Gigantosaurus Annual 2022, based on the vibrant animated TV series and book licensed through Riverside Brands, as well as a new Ultimate Guide to Among Us.

The other eight titles featured in the 2022 line-up include Shoot Annual 2022, L.O.L. Annual 2022, Barbie Annual 2022, World of Dinosaurs 2022 by JurassicExplorers, Little Mix 2020 Special by PopWinners, as well as three additional ‘Ultimate Gaming Guides’ – GamesWarrior’s Ultimate Guide to Fortnite, Roblox, and Minecraft.

Little Brother Books reached the number one spot in Annuals publishing sector at the end of 2020, overcoming the plight that struck the market due to the pandemic, and expanding its retail listings and partnerships further. This year, the team is looking ready to strengthen its market position with exclusive retailer support and dedicated displays in high profile stores.

Managing director, Matthew Reynolds, said: “Like many businesses, without doubt 2020 was a rollercoaster but we came through it with flying colours and unbelievably had our most successful year to date. It meant we had to focus more than ever on new and existing retail partnerships to demonstrate that our leading products and brands were the ones to support and will deliver much needed incremental impulse sales for 2020.

“I’m pleased to say that our number one ranges delivered exactly what we promised. This success has given us the perfect opportunity to continue a growth trajectory for 2021. Having four exciting new titles on board with us is testament to the continued demand for Annuals which appeal from preschool to young adults alike.

“We can’t wait to see them hit the market from September this year. Annuals are a very important part of Christmas stocking filler purchases and the significant volumes we and our retailers sell each year shows families love to buy them at Christmas.”

Moonbug Entertainment taps Brand Energy as licensing agent for French market

Posted on by

Moonbug Entertainment has appointed Brand Energy to represent the licensing rights of its portfolio of children’s entertainment properties across France, spanning CoComelon, Blippi, and Morphle.

Under the deal, the Paris-based agency will be in charge of finding local partners to develop licensed products under Moonbug brands as well as assist Moonbug with the promotion of the studio’s global and pan-European partners in the French market.

Moonbug has already signed on more than 120 licensees worldwide including Jazwares/Bandai, Ravensburger, Crayola, Harper Collins or Mandadori, to name a few, with products distributed at all major retailers such as Walmart and Target in the US, Amazon, and ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Smyths Toys in the UK.

In France, the first CoComelon products will hit the shelves this fall in major supermarket chains and specialty shops.

Moonbug’s top preschool properties, CoComelon, Blippi and Morphle are now distributed on over 100 digital networks internationally including YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video and have reached unprecedented highs in viewership throughout global markets.

CoComelon, Moonbug’s leading property created for kids aged one to four and their parents, has become the
world’s number one kid’s channel on YouTube with over 3.5 billions views per month globally while audiences
continue to grow at impressive rates.

In France, the English version of the series already reaches over 30 million monthly views. The French translation has just launched this June and viewership is expected to grow well beyond current levels.

Recently formed by two brand licensing and consumer goods veterans, Benoit Roque and Alexandre Ardant, Brand Energy is a branding agency specialized in the development of digital properties as well as corporate and food brands. Benoit and Alexandre have been in the business for several decades and formerly worked for companies like Netflix, Disney Consumer Products and CAA-GBG.

“At Brand Energy we believe digital brands will play a major role in the licensing business,” said Benoit Roque. “Our challenge in France is to help retailers and manufacturers understand that it is no longer all about what is on TV. Preschoolers are not waiting for their favorite shows to play on traditional television, they are watching them on demand.”

“In France, 76 per cent of kids ages four to 14 own their own personal screen,” added Alexandre Ardant, “Moonbug has developed a fantastic catalogue of streaming age-specific content that is both very entertaining and geared towards helping children develop their social and emotional skills, knowledge and confidence. Kids love the shows and so do their parents.”

Moonbug makes play for organic baby food in the US and lands BBC iPlayer UK deal

Posted on by

Moonbug Entertainment is strengthening its licensing and broadcast portfolio on both sides of the Atlantic this week, having entered the organic baby and toddler foods market in the US, while strengthening the reach of its preschool portfolio through a new partnership with BBC here in the UK.

The content studio has struck up a new partnership with Neptune Wellness Solutions, a health and wellness company focused on plant-based and sustainable lifestyle brands, and its Sprouts Foods organic baby and toddler foods range for a new, officially licensed CoComelon range of products.

Brokered by Moonbug’s North American licensing agency, UTA, the product is expected to land at retailers across the US this summer. Sprout is currently the fifth largest name in the organic baby food category in the US, and number three organic baby food brand on Amazon.

“I am thrilled to announce this arrangement with CoComelon, the number one children’s show in North America,” said Michael Cammarata, chief executive officer and president of Neptune. “Since acquiring Sprout in February, we have already increased sales through expanding our distribution across Target stores in the United States, and we expect to add more national retailers.

“This agreement with CoComelon, through its unparalleled reach, should fuel additional dynamic growth for this leading organic baby food brand.”

With more than 110 million subscribers worldwide, CoComelon is the number one children’s entertainment and educational show in the world claiming a number one ranking on Youtube with its top three episodes generating nearly 9bn views around the world. Additionally, the show was number one on Netflix and maintains a Top 10 ranking across all genres with the recent launch of Season three.

Simon Philips, senior in-house advisor at Moonbug, said: “Healthy living is a core part of what makes CoComelon a global family favorite, so are thrilled to be launching a partnership with Sprout, a leading North American organic baby food and toddler snack brand.”

Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic, Moonbug has struck its first deal with a public broadcaster, having signed with BBC to bring its portfolio of preschool properties, including CoComelon, Digley and Dazey, Little Baby Bum, Go Buster, and Playtime with Twinkle to the iPlayer platform.

Nicolas Eglau, managing director EMEA and APAC, Moonbug has called the deal “a real quality stamp” for the company’s creative teams.

“BBC is known worldwide for its engaging programming for preschoolers, and Moonbug is excited to enter a partnership with such a renowned organization,” said Eglau.

Moonbug’s programming introduces universal themes that children can relate to via colorful animation and compelling storytelling. Whether it’s eating veggies or getting ready for bed, Moonbug’s playful animation and catchy songs supports children’s development and learning.

The Point. 1888 secures 12 EMEA sub-agents for Moonbug Entertainment’s preschool portfolio

Posted on by

Moonbug Entertainment has set a course for global expansion, having signed with 12 sub-agents across the EMEA region for a number of its popular preschool properties. The string of sub-agent partnerships was secured by the firm’s master licensing agency, The Point. 1888.

The sweep of new licensing agents is just the latest move for Moonbug Entertainment who continues to bolster its presence on the international licensing scene. The firm has already secured a number of licensee partners for its brands Blippi, CoComelon, and My Magic Pet Morphle, courtesy of The Point. 1888.

The brand extension specialist was appointed last summer as the master licensing agency across EMEA for Moonbug. Since coming on board, The Point.1888 has sought to leverage the shows’ popularity with children by bringing the brand closer to its audience across a broad range of categories, including clothing, puzzles, arts & crafts, games, outdoor to name just a few.

The Point.1888 has also now secured a wealth of sub-agents to  help it deliver its licensing plans across EMEA. These include the German brand licensing expert, The Brand Residence, in Germany, Austria and Sweden; the award winning Spanish agent, El Ocho, in Iberia; the leading agent for the Italian market, The Evolution of Licensing, and Spacetoons, one of the largest and most successful kids entertainment conglomerates in the Middle East.

Further partners include LDI in Israel LDI in Turkey and Cyprus, ELC to cover Eastern Europe, Brand4rent in Russia, CLM in South Africa, License Connection for the Benelux region, Ferly in the Nordics, and Brand Energy – headed up by Benoir Roque and Alex Ardant – will be covering France.

So far, all sub-agents are in discussion with prospective licensees in their territories and a number of agreements are now in place. Jazwares and Bandai are working with the sub agents and The Point.1888 on the master toy launch of CoComelon and Blippi across EMEA this year, following a strong 2020 launch in the UK.

Character Options is planning for the launch of its master toy range for My Magic Pet Morphle this Autumn.

Bethan Garton, commercial director at The Point.1888, said: “Every agent we’ve signed really understands the new digital world that kids live in and that properties on YouTube, Netflix, Amazon and others can have just as successful a launch at retail as those on a traditional broadcaster, if not more so.

“Our agents will all act as ambassadors of Moonbug and The Point.1888 in their region and so a retail approach is key. They will be working with and educating retailers across EMEA on the strength of digital content brands.”

Jo Galpin, international licensing manager at Moonbug, added: “The success that we’ve seen so far has been phenomenal and allows families across the globe to connect with their favourite Moonbug characters. The Point.1888 have been excellent partners and we look forward to what each sub-agent will bring to their region.”

The Point. 1888 nets Farshore for CoComelon book publishing in the UK, Eire and Poland

Posted on by

The hit preschool property and leading children’s series, CoComelon has bolstered its portfolio of international licensees once more, this time tapping Farshore for children’s book publishing across the UK, Eire, and Poland. The deal was brokered by Moonbug’s European licensing agent, The Point. 1888.

CoComelon is a preschool phenomenon currently dominating the digital space and, according to the firm, is set to become one of the biggest global preschool brands across all categories. It is the number one children’s and educational channel on YouTube worldwide, seeing more than 100 billion views globally.

The Moonbug series has spent the most consecutive days in Netflix’s top ten programs across both adult and children’s shows, and in 2021 it has been the most streamed Netflix show beating Bridgerton to the top spot.

Launching with two titles in October 2021, Farshore will publish CoComelon’s most watched and popular songs in bright, bold board book format for preschoolers to sing along with, followed by further publishing in 2022.

CoComelon Bath Song Board Book includes the main character JJ and his brother TomTom from the hugely popular and catchy Bath Song episode. Children can sing along to another much-loved classic with CoComelon Wheels on the Bus Board Book.

Zoe Masters, brands and licensing publisher at Farshore, said: “We are delighted to be publishing CoComelon in this joint deal with HarperCollins Poland. We are incredibly proud to bring Moonbug’s hugely successful entertaining educational content to life in our book publishing.

“At Farshore we are committed to ensuring a love of reading from an early age, and our CoComelon titles will provide fun and engaging books for children to share and enjoy time and time again. The books are launching in 2021 and we couldn’t be happier with the response from retail we have received so far.”

Katie Wilkinson, senior commercial manager at ThePoint.1888, added: “Farshore’s purpose is to make every child a proud reader so I am absolutely thrilled that we are working with them on this epic brand. Cocomelon has joined the digital kid’s entertainment space and achieved growth like no one has seen before, currently it is the most viewed You Tube channel in the world and second most subscribed.

“This lends itself to publishing perfectly and I’m excited to see the first titles later this year and then the ever growing title list rollout in 2022 and beyond.”

CoComelon Bath Song Board Book and CoComelon Wheels on the Bus Board Book publishes on 30th September 2021, for children aged one to four.