May 16, 2023 - aNb Media, Inc.

Licensing Expo Hosts Two-Day Round Table Discussions with Licensing Experts

Licensing Expo, the premier event dedicated to licensing and brand extension, is hosting Round Table talks with industry experts at the Licensing Expo event, June 13-15, 2023, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas in partnership with industry association Licensing International. The full Licensing Expo round table talks lineup includes two days of Expert-Led Round Table discussions with executives from prominent industry associations and businesses.

Forbidden Planet International Announces Andrew Staff as New Managing Director

Forbidden Planet International, a leading chain of 18 pop culture retail stores, is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Staff as its new Managing Director. Andrew has extensive experience in the retail sector, having previously served as CEO of Notcutts Garden Centres, COO of the EMEA region for Funko and more recently MD of Builders Merchants UP Building Products. Kenny Penman, a founding Director at Forbidden Planet International, said: “We are delighted to welcome Andrew as the new Managing Director of Forbidden Planet International. Andrew brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, and we are confident that he will be a great asset to our team. We look forward to working with him to continue growing the Forbidden Planet brand.”

The Insights Family Releases its Inaugural Brand Management Playbook 2023

The Insights Family – the global leader in kids, teens, parents, and family market intelligence, and MarTech company of the year – has launched its inaugural Brand Management Playbook 2023 (https://go.theinsightsfamily.com/brand), which looks to uncover, present, and discuss the key components of building a compelling brand in the kids, teens, parents, and family space.

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Sesame Workshop Promotes Valerie Mitchell Johnston to EVP, Legal & Business Affairs and General Counsel

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, announced the promotion of Valerie Mitchell Johnston to Executive Vice President, Legal and Business Affairs and General Counsel, effective July 1, 2023. In addition, Sesame Workshop’s Board has voted to name Johnston Board Secretary on the same date. Johnston will report to Steve Youngwood, CEO.

MGM Sci-Fi Icon RoboCop Brings His Prime Directives to the Ring in WWE SuperCard

Part Man. Part Machine. Now, all WWE Superstar. WWE and MGM, in partnership with 2K, bring science fiction icon RoboCop to the virtual squared circle in WWE SuperCard, appearing now through May 31, 2023. During the RoboCop event, two Superstar cards ranging up to WrestleMania 39 tier will be available for players to earn, along with Prime Directives and ED-209 Support Cards, Helmet and Armor Plating Equipment cards, and multiple Cardbacks, all themed around the titular cyborg.

Sesame Place Philadelphia and Just Play Kick Off “Partnership of Play” with Dino Stomp Celebration Event This Summer

Sesame Place Philadelphia, the first theme park in the US based entirely on the award-winning show Sesame Street, and Just Play, a leading, global toy company, will team up for the all-new Dino Stomp Celebration for one weekend only this season. The celebration will feature exclusive prizes and giveaways from Just Play, including the all-new Dino Stomp Elmo, a dino-mite Elmo plush dressed in a cuddly green dinosaur costume that sings, moves his arms, and stomps along to the “If You’re Happy and You Know It” song.

Bluey’s Big Play Live Show Heads to Canada

Everyone’s favorite Blue Heeler family is coming to Canada! Bluey’s Big Play The Stage Show, the hit live show based on the Emmy-winning animated series, will “take the show on the road” to venues in Thunder Bay, Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto, starting December 8, 2023. Fans can expect more cities to be added. See blueylive.com for pre-sale tickets information and to purchase tickets, which will be on sale starting Thursday, May 18, 2023. The 24-hour pre-sale starts on May 16, 2023 at 10 AM local timezone and the General Public on-sale starts on May 18, 2023 at 10 AM local timezone.

WildBrain Teletubbies Partnerships Licensing

WildBrain Says “Eh Oh!” to the Enduring Popularity of the Teletubbies, Celebrating a Wave of New Licensing Partnerships and Activations

WildBrain, a global leader in kids’ and family entertainment, is continuing to build on the growing wave of fandom around the world for its enduringly popular Teletubbies franchise. Following the launch of new content on Netflix and YouTube during the brand’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2022, the Teletubbies have continued to take the world by storm as pop-culture icons with this year’s smash hit apparel collection from celebrated designer Christian Cowan and two electrifying appearances at RuPaul’s DragCon. Fueled by WildBrain’s unique 360° approach to brand building through innovative content creation, fan engagement and global licensing, Tinky Winky, Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Po are more relevant than ever as exciting new content deals, licensing and promotional partnerships, and creative activations are unveiled, all designed to delight fans old and new.

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Bubblegum Kids Hires the Licensing Shop Inc

The Licensing Shop Inc (TLS) has announced it has signed a manufacturer’s representation agreement with Bubblegum Kids, the avantgarde character brand created by NHL Player Zach Hyman. Hyman is also an award-winning children’s book author and the C.E.O. of Soar Gaming Inc. Launched in 2021, Bubblegum Kids is an innovative brand combination of viral animated shorts, social media content and limited-edition NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain which sold over 2 million dollars within the first 24 hours with an additional 10 million dollars of secondary (third party) sales within the first year. Each of the distinctly designed characters have unique hairstyles, eyes, bubblegum color, clothing and accessories styled with nostalgic reverence to retrospective pop culture.