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‘King of Soul’ Sam Cooke moves into licensing with ALG Brands

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The American singer-songwriter, civil rights activist, and recognised King of Soul, Sam Cooke is making a move on the licensing space via a new partnership between the Sam Cooke estate and ALG Brands.

Under the partnership, ALG will represent services for the estate, including the licensing of Cooke’s personality rights and administration of his digital and social media assets.

ALG will work alongside estate CEO, and granddaughter of Cooke, Nicole Cooke-Johnson to “maintain and expand the legacy” of the late entertainer through branding and content initiatives with multi-generational appeal.

In addition to establishing the iconic singer’s online presence with an official website and social media profiles, Cooke-Johnson and Austin will spearhead branded media projects leading up to the singer’s 90th birthday in 2021 and beyond.

“My grandfather was a visionary who understood the power of words, music and ownership,” said estate CEO Nicole Cooke-Johnson. “From his singer-songwriter roots in Gospel music to his global successes in R&B and soul music, my grandfather was an influencer who intentionally used his form of branded entertainment to affect changes in his community, for our nation and around the world.

“I am very proud to be continuing his legacy by working with ALG to explore new co-branding opportunities that will inspire people today and for many more years to come as my grandfather’s leadership, creativity and music have inspired so many people around the world for generations.”

ALG Brands CEO, Ashley Austin, added: “Sam Cooke invented soul; his unique blend of gospel and popular music created an entirely new genre, paving the way for countless artists after him.

“Singer. Songwriter. Producer. Activist. Entrepreneur. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. This is an incredible man with a profound legacy, and it is an honour to be working with the estate to preserve and promote it.”

Cooke’s vocals took over the pop charts in the 1950s and 1960s with a slew of hits, including You Send Me, (What A) Wonderful World, and Twistin’ The Night Away.

In addition to being a celebrated entertainer, Cooke helped usher in the Civil Rights movement as he refused to perform for segregated audiences. His own personal experiences with racial discrimination even served as the foundation for one of his most recognisable songs and one that is universally regarded as the anthem for equality, A Change Is Gonna Come.

Rights & Brands secures Design House Stockholm furniture collaboration for Carl and Karin Larsson

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Rights & Brands, the worldwide agent on behalf of the Swedish artists Carl and Karin Larsson, has launched a creative furniture collaboration with Design House Stockholm.

Karin Larsson created furniture and textiles in a pre-modernist style in the late nineteenth century. The rich, bold colour palette is celebrated in paintings by her husband Carl Larsson.

Both are fixtures of the Swedish art and design world.

“Nordic designers have been at the forefront of the international design scene for decades. But haven’t we been a bit restricted in terms of colour? Design House Stockholm has decided to reach across the centuries and dress up nine objects selected from our contemporary collection of accessory furniture pieces with four of the bold colours of Karin Larsson, a legend of Swedish art and design,” said Anders Färdig, founder and CEO of Design House Stockholm.

The collection Colour Accent inspired by Karin & Carl Larsson is launching today at Stockholm Furniture Fair. The pre-launch took place on Monday, February 3rd at the distinguished National Museum in Stockholm, with over 150 renowned design guests, influencers, journalists and buyers.

“Together with the creative team at Design House Stockholm we are putting a modern take on heritage licensing. It’s been delightful seeing how Karin’s creative, modernist thinking of yesterday marries so well with the objects of today’s top furniture designers,” said Anna Lawrence, rights director at Rights & Brands.

“This collaboration really sets the tone for the year,” said Patrick Ullman, CEO at Rights & Brands. “We are looking forward to adding more creative collaborations to our heritage and art-based brands and showcasing Rights & Brands innovative and progressive take on licensing.”

Design House Stockholm’s contemporary collection includes accessory furniture with straightforward and functional simplicity that pays tribute to the creativity of the Larsson family.

WildBrain CPLG teams with creator Alessandro Enriquez to launch Line Friends designer capsule collections

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WildBrain CPLG has brokered a new deal with the creator and influencer Alessandro Enriquez to launch Line Friends designer capsule collections with some of the biggest names in Italian fashion today.

Featuring signature characters Brown, Choco, Cony, and Sally, Line Friends originated as a collection of stickers for the mobile messenger app, Line and its 200 million active users worldwide. It has since made its presence known across the lifestyle and fashion space.

Developed in collaboration with Enriquez, the collection is the latest instalment of the influencer’s annual Fashion Comics project for Pitti Bimbo. It debuted at the event’s 90th edition in Florence last month.

The project saw designers including Monnalisa, Mc2 Saint Barth, Diadora, Pinko Up, Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Kids, 2Star, and Akep launch new capsule collections each inspired by the popular Line Friends character brand.

Monnalisa unveiled its range of velvet printed patch sweatshirts and a dress with tulle application on the shoulders, MC2 Saint Barth launched a collection of swimsuits for adults and kids featuring Choco and Sally, and Diadora debuted all-over print sweatshirts.

Meanwhile Pinko Up designed a range of sweatshirts in black and pink, while the Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini Kids capsule collection celebrated Line Friends with a cotton sweater and sweatshirt featuring Brown, Sally, and Choco prints.

Enriquez said: “The Fashion Comics Project created with Line Friends, in collaboration with Pitti Bimbo, has been hugely successful due to the quality and mix of products, the calibre of the brands involved and the impressive feedback from media.

“It was fantastic to see Brown, Sally, Choco, and Cony be such a hit with visitors of all ages at Pitti Bimbo, and I’m confident the popularity of these characters will continue to grow in our country as they have done in the rest of the world.”

Maria Gurrieri, managing director at WildBrain CPLG Southern Europe, added: “It has been an incredible creative process combining the distinctive visual style of Line Friends with the visionary Alessandro Enriquez and innovation of our Italian designers.

“The fantastic response to the capsule collections at Pitti Bimbo shows how exciting this new Fashion Comics collaboration is and we’re sure it will be a huge hit with consumers across Italy.”

NetEnt brings Gordon Ramsey into its online entertainment portfolio

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The digital entertainment company, NetEnt is bringing TV chef Gordon Ramsey to its popular online slot games, thanks to a new partnership brokered by Global Merchandising Services.

Notorious for colourful language and TV flair throughout his global television career, Ramsey will be incorporated into NetEnt’s growing library of branded content with his famous catchphrases and imagery.

The Hell’s Kitchen and 24 hours to Hell and Back presenter first graced TV screens in 1998 in the UK mini-series Boiling Point, and has since become a global personality famed for his fiery temper and razor-sharp wit.

Ramsay’s empire of eateries spreads from the UK and France to Singapore, Hong Kong and the US, with 16 Michelin stars under his toque.

“Gordon Ramsay is a true rock star of the restaurant world. His strong personality and use of colourful vocabulary as front-man of Hell’s Kitchen have earned him legend status as a multi-Michelin starred celebrity chef, with fans all over the world,” said Bryan Upton, NetEnt director of games.

“Just as importantly, this allows us to produce a true slot with a strong narrative and a lot of adult fun. We can’t wait to see what our players think of what we have in store for them.”

The deal was brokered by Gordon Ramsay’s licensing agent, Global Merchandising Services.

Licensing manager, Jens Drinkwater added: “NetEnt’s commitment to entertainment has made it a clear leader in the online casino industry and we’re thrilled to support the company with the addition of Gordon’s branded title.”

Dr Seuss Enterprises bolsters senior ranks with two new appointments

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Dr. Seuss Enterprises is continuing its focus on growth as the firm welcomes two additional team members across its licensing division.

Tami Thosath has joined the organisation as senior manager, global licensing, reporting to Julie Dill, vice president global licensing, marketing and communications, while Nicol Hodges has joined as global creative manager.

In her new role, Thosath will be responsible for securing new licensed product partnerships growing Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s global consumer products portfolio. She will ensure that all new partners adhere to the company’s mission to promote literacy, education and life lessons on a global scale in an entertaining way.

Thosath will work cross-functionally with the marketing, communications and creative teams, along with international agents, to identify, sign and onboard new licensees.

“Tami is a dedicated executive with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and extensive experience in licensing and marketing, making her the perfect fit for this role,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

“I’m excited to work with Tami to continue to expand our global Dr. Seuss consumer products business and offer children, parents, grandparents, caregivers and educators new ways to experience the stories, characters and life lessons of Dr. Seuss.”

Prior to joining Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Thosath served as a senior sales manager at Equity Management Inc. where she was responsible for securing new partners and leading new brand development.

She has also held senior roles at Big Tent Entertainment, Endemol USA, and MGA Entertainment. She is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University.

“I’m thrilled to join Dr. Seuss and excited to bring my experience in licensing and children’s entertainment to such a classic and universally beloved brand,” said Thosath.

Meanwhile, Hodges, in her new role, is responsible for interpreting Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ global strategic plan and key initiatives into relevant and commercial creative strategies and assets that can be leveraged by licensees and partners in product development, retail merchandising, marketing materials, and digital outreach.

“Nicol joins DSE with an impressive portfolio that showcases her strong creative skills and extensive experience in product management and design,” said Susan Brandt, president of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P.

“Nicol has a proven track record of effectively moving product from concept to design for well-recognised brands, and we look forward to tapping into her creative skills for all our strategic initiatives.”

Prior to joining Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Hodges served as product development manager at Equity Management Inc. where she worked collaboratively with internal teams, licensors and licensees to define product strategy and drive the product development process for a wide range of consumer brands.

She also held senior positions at Mattel, D&R Women’s Athletic Wear and AB Pro Sports, Inc. Hodges is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia.

“Dr. Seuss has been a part of my family for years. My mother shared them with me and I now share them with my children,” said Hodges.

“I look forward to expanding the Dr. Seuss brand through new and innovative consumer products that engage children, parents and educators in new and inspiring ways and make learning fun.”

Pyramid International talks pop culture, fandom, and its Spring Fair 2020 offering

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If there’s one thing Pyramid International – part of The Art Group – knows how to do well, it’s licensed giftware, an attribute that has carried the firm well over the past 12 months, and helped it maintain its position of strength throughout the choppy waters of 2019.

It’s possibly the breadth of Pyramid International’s portfolio that has helped
it achieve the success it enjoys today, tapping into a spectrum of audiences, from the Netflix-watching pop culture fans of things like Stranger Things, to those in search of the more niche animé brands like My Hero Academia, all the way through to the mainstream and the audience for DreamWorks’ Trolls World Tour.

It’s true that there really is something for everyone among the Pyramid portfolio, and 2020 will be no different. ToyNews catches up with Pyramid International’s marketing executive Robert Ling to find out what the company is bringing to Spring Fair this year.

How was business for you guys through 2019? It was a big year for pop culture licensing, how did this impact on your success over the past 12 months?

2019 was a good year for Pyramid, despite the tough retail landscape. When looking at releases in 2020 we saw success with Stranger Things in the summer and Frozen 2 at the end of the year. As well as these we also had continued success with Harry Potter and Nintendo. We also saw good success with Steven Rhodes, a new license to our license portfolio, whose dark humour style of art is very on trend and a perfect pop culture fit.

What can we expect from Pyramid for 2020? Can you talk us through some of the new licenses you’ve secured and the product lines that you will be launching at Spring Fair?

2020 will see Pyramid keep adding to our already impressive catalogue of product ranges. Visitors to our stand at Spring Fair will be able to enjoy our new collection for the upcoming Trolls World Tour, including our Sequin Flip notebook and Pencil case which we think is going to be hugely popular for consumers.

Our super cute The Child (Baby Yoda) range for the Mandalorian will also be on display. We’ll also have some of our Anime products on show, including Dragon Ball, and My Hero Academia as we expand into this hugely popular area of entertainment. Of course, our line of classics will be available across Harry Potter, Nintendo, Disney, Star Wars, and Music, to name just a few.

What will the product and license line-up be bringing to the gifting/ merchandise scene for 2020? How are you guys continuing to push for innovation in the pop culture sector?

We’re always looking for ways innovate our products. We are examining a host
of new avenues to add the wow factor at retail… but I can’t say too much – you will have to wait and see.

What makes Spring Fair an important date in the calendar for you guys?

It’s the first UK show we attend, so it provides us a good opportunity to connect with our customers, showing them what we have coming through and strengthening relationships.

Ultimately It kicks off the new year positively for our UK operations. It also provides a good opportunity to show off our portfolio to new prospects.

What do you think 2020 holds for the pop culture licensing scene and its presence at retail?

I think pop culture licensees will continue to be a popular choice at retail, especially as people look for different ways to express themselves and the things they are fans off; and as we are spoilt with more and more content from the VOD services, I think people are going to be actively searching to show off their fandom, because there is a lot of it out there now.

What will be fuelling the space for 2020 and beyond?

At the moment, Baby Yoda looks to be one of the stand out characters coming into 2020, dominating internet searches. I also think nostalgia will continue to be popular, especially with uncertainty still in the air and people looking for the comfort of yesteryear.

Anything you would like to add?

Pyramid International is able to offer a one stop solution across retail for the biggest licenses around, so be sure to come and visit our stand to see the depth of license and products for yourself, and talk to us about how we can support you through 2020.

Simon’s Cat lands new board game, card games, and puzzles deals

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Simon’s Cat is slinking into the card games, board games, and puzzles sector thanks to a trio of new partnerships to have been signed by the global content creator, producer, and distributor, Endemol Shine.

Inspired by the hit animated series, Simon’s Cat, the popular moggy will be making its debut among leading names in the tabletop gaming space, including with the like of Alley Cat Games – who will develop a new board game for the IP.

Simon’s Cat will also receive its own series of family card games courtesy of MDR Games, available through Amazon in the UK, Germany, and in stores in Poland, and a puzzle deal with the publisher Athesia Kalenderverlag.

Simon’s Cat follows the antics of a mischievous white cat and his long-suffering owner Simon. It was created by the award-winning illustrator, animator and director Simon Tofield and was first seen on YouTube in 2008.

The series is now a worldwide phenomenon, entertaining audiences in over 100 countries.

These latest deals build on the hugely successful extensions of the Simon’s Cat brand in the mobile games space, with titles such as Simon’s Cat Pop Time, Simon’s Cat Crunch Time and Simon’s Cat Dash, which have generated in excess of 16 million mobile gaming downloads.

Jane Smith, group director, brand licensing and gaming, Endemol Shine Group, commented: “These new deals build on an already successful licensing programme for Simon’s Cat across Europe. The humour and warmth of the brand appeals to a broad fan base of cat lovers around the world who can relate to these charming and cheeky characters, and expanding our digital business into physical products is testament to this.”

The Simon’s Cat brand enjoys success across multiple categories including gaming, publishing and apparel. Last year alone saw sell-out success with Teespring plushies; a brand new book Simon’s Cat It’s a Dog’s Life which brings everyone’s favourite feline back to the page, with a canine twist; the rollout of the hit mobile game Simon’s Cat Dashin China; and continued international growth with further agent appointments in the Nordics and CEE, and Southeast Asia.

Nearly two million Simon’s Cat books have been sold, and there are more than 80 million digital sticker downloads.

The brand has over 6.5 million fans on Facebook, two million followers on Instagram, and more than one billion views on YouTube.

Gibsons partners with Rebel Girls to launch new puzzle range inspired by the best selling book title

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The family-owned jigsaw puzzle and board game specialist, Gibsons, has teamed with Rebel Girls, the award-winning brand behind the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls to launch a new puzzle line.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls is a globally popular book that has sold over 4.5 million and has been translated into nearly 50 languages.

Known for its innovative puzzle designs and best-selling games, Gibsons will release two jigsaw puzzles in spring this year, as well as a card game in the summer, and a board game to follow in 2021.

The jigsaw puzzles will be available in two piece counts, 100 piece and 500 piece, appealing to girls, teens and young women alike. Each product will make full use of the rich Rebel Girls style guide, which focuses on positive, empowering messaging and bold designs.

The partnership was brokered by the UK licensing agent for the Rebel Girls brand, Rocket Licensing.

“We are delighted that Gibsons has joined us on our Rebel Girls mission, encouraging girls to explore, learn and dream without limits,” said Louisa Skevington, licensing executive at Rocket Licensing.

“Gibsons has really reflected the core values of Rebel Girls in their game development and the puzzle designs look absolutely fantastic – we cannot wait to see them in store.”

Emily Charles, product development manager at Gibsons, added: “Rebel Girls is a fantastic brand that we are thrilled to be working with.

“It’s been fascinating and inspiring learning the stories of the amazing women featured in these games and puzzles through the product development process. We heard about the Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls books from our own gang of Gibsons Rebel Girls (the daughters of some of the team).

“As a company, we have a very strong female presence, 60 per cent of the team are women, including two of the directors, and so we felt straight away it would be a great fit.”

Moomin Characters whips up tasty partnership with Lola’s Cupcakes

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Finland’s Moomin Characters has teamed with Lola’s Cupcakes to launch a new, ultimately delectable, range of Moomin themed cupcakes across the UK.

The range will include six different cupcake designs featuring the inhabitants of Moominvalley. Moomintroll, Snorkmaiden, Little My, and a cast of others will jump from the page straight to the icing paper to adorn Lola’s Cupcakes’ signature treats.

There will also be limited edition Moomin cakeboxes to protect the cupcakes on their travels.

On top of this, and as the range focuses on the love and friendship between the series’ characters, there will be a special giveaway of the cupcakes at the Moomin shops, in Covent Garden and Camden Stables Market, on Valentine’s Day. 

The first 50 customers to visit each of the Moomin shops on 14th February will receive a free cupcake. 

Sophia Jansson, creative director of Moomin Characters and niece of Tove Jansson, said: “Moominmamma says that all good things are good for the stomach. She is known throughout Moominvalley to always welcome you with something delicious when you visit.

“That is why Lola’s Cupcakes, famous all over London, match so well with the values of the Moomins for whom food is also a source of joy and togetherness.

“Just like the Moomins, we long to be snug and cosy and feel a sense of togetherness which makes February the perfect time to launch this range, with Valentine’s Day bringing those we love to the forefront of our minds. We hope Moomin fans will find joy from this delicious collaboration with Lola’s Cupcakes.”

Asher Budwig, managing director of Lola’s Cupcakes, added: “Respect for nature, one of Moomin Characters’ core brand values, complemented our core mission at Lola’s Cupcakes, which is to create delicious cakes from the finest natural ingredients. 

“We also believe that our cupcakes should look as good as they taste, which has been easy to achieve using the beautiful images from the Moomin archive.” 

The Moomin x Lola’s range of cupcakes will be available from 1st February. The cupcakes will cost £4 each.

My Gifts Trade and I Like Birds partner with Marie Curie for exclusive new design for charity

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The British home and giftware manufacturer, My Gifts Trade has found itself at the centre of a new collaboration between Marie Curie and the British brand, i like birds.

Launching at Spring Fair this week, the new licensed collection will feature a daffodil and Blue Tit design created by i like birds founder, Stuart Cox, exclusively for Marie Curie. Under the collaboration, ten per cent of the proceeds from every piece sold will be donated to the charity.

The charity was chosen by Cox as one that is close to the company founder’s heart.

“Years ago I was made homeless after leading a bit of a reckless life and falling out of touch with my family in Brighton for years,” he explained. “When I started to find my feet again I got back in touch by sending my mum some illustrations, to somehow let her know that everything was alright.

“Two weeks later she was diagnosed with a super rare cancer of the spine and we were told she did not have long left to live. She managed a year, the last part of which was in a hospice, where they managed to turn what should have been the worst days of my life into a beautiful celebration of her life.

The hospice let her go out in a gentle and graceful way, with views of the birds from her window, so it’s a cause close to my heart and not a charity collaboration that’s been plucked out of thin air.

“Within a year I also lost one of my brothers and my dad and the illustrations were stuffed into a drawer because I was unable to look at them. Years later they were found there by a friend who suggested I get some printed as cards so they could sell them in their local café. I went along with his idea and they went through over 1000 in the first month. Paperchase soon got wind of this and approached me.”

According to Cox, the rest is history and today the artist’s recognisable illustrations of much-loved British birds and flowers now appear on an array of licensed products, including the highly successful gift and homeware collection developed in partnership with My Gifts Trade.

The new collection for Marie Curie will include home textiles and accessories, ceramic products and a lovely decorative pin.

Joanna Mazzotta, product development and creative at Marie Curie, said: “I was very attracted to Stuart’s designs. They are simple yet beautiful and the bold fun graphic added a design style we’d not explored before.

“I thought they’d marry well with incorporating the daffodil – our emblem – and tell a story about how important and joyful nature at the Marie Curie hospices are for the patients.”