Why are Nike’s Chunky Dunky going for $6k on eBay? How did Mickey Mouse find his way onto a COVID face mask? Who put all that "Stranger Things" gear in your Target cart? Find the answers to questions like these and more in a new podcast from the editors of License Global, The Licensing Mixtape, where we explore what makes consumers click “buy” on the products that stand out above the rest, thanks to a little thing called brand licensing. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Also, let us know what you think about the show or share suggestions for future episodes by emailing us at news@licenseglobal.com. New episodes every other week.
S3 E9: The Art of Storytelling with The Walt Disney Company
Three franchise leaders discuss how Disney taps into its powerful ecosystem to create constant memorable moments for its fans across products, games and publishing.
10/11/2021 • 20 minutes, 53 seconds
S3 E8: Cyber Group Studios on Building an Animation Brand that Lasts
Pierre Sissmann and Bruno Danzel d'Aumont of Cyber Group Studios shine a light on global animation trends and building a brand that lasts with "Gigantosaurus."
9/27/2021 • 30 minutes, 34 seconds
S3 E7: Bioworld Presents... Cultivating Happiness
Jennifer Staley and Beth Taylor of Bioworld share what keeps the team positive and optimistic—and why it’s so important for licensing success.
9/13/2021 • 18 minutes, 41 seconds
Exclusive Episode: Macy's and Funko Discuss a Partnership Like No Other
Patricia DeLuca of License Global sits down with Funko and Macy's present for an exclusive insight into the latest reveal of a brand-new partnership.
9/9/2021 • 20 minutes, 32 seconds
S3 E5: Spin Master CEO Max Rangel Talks Brand Strategy
From entertainment brands like "Paw Patrol" and "Bakugan" to global toy partnerships with the likes of DC, Max Rangel, chief executive officer, global president, Spin Master shares his view on the key pillars of Spin Masters future.
8/23/2021 • 29 minutes, 3 seconds
S3 E4: Ira Friedman of Topps Talks Publishing, ‘Star Wars’ and Trading Cards
From his time in creative publishing to his time at LucasFilm ahead of the launch of “The Empire Strikes Back,” or his tenure at Topps – working with Garbage Pail Kids and some of the world’s greatest brands – Ira Friedman talks to License Global's Patricia DeLuca about the power of fan engagement.
7/26/2021 • 32 minutes, 13 seconds
S3 E3: Hyram Yarbro on the Launch of SELFLESS with Semaphore Licensing
Globally renowned beauty influencer Hyram Yarbro and Mike Bienstock of Semaphore Licensing join License Global's McKenna Morgan to discuss launching the SELFLESS skincare brand.
7/12/2021 • 31 minutes, 27 seconds
S3 E2: Epik Explain Everything You Need to Know About NFTs
Gary Ma, COO of Epik speaks with License Global's Ben Roberts to explain everything you need to know about non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
6/28/2021 • 24 minutes
S3 E1: License Global Live - The Evolution of Kids Content
Season 3 has landed, offering a dedicated look at the upcoming events, high-profile panels, and cutting-edge trend insights.
To kick us off Anna Knight (VP, Licensing, Informa Markets) brings together a License Global Live panel with Mark Kingston (ViacomCBS), Gary Pope (Kids Industries), and Jon Gisby (WildBrain Spark) to discuss the evolution of kids content.
6/14/2021 • 53 minutes, 55 seconds
S2 E10: Discussing The Halo Effect with Xbox
License Global shares its exclusive cover story interview with John Friend, head, Halo & Xbox Consumer Products, and goes behind the scenes with the global gaming disruptor brand behind "Halo" and a new generation of cutting-edge consoles.
5/31/2021 • 34 minutes, 35 seconds
License Global x Bioworld - Episode 2: Connecting Fans at Retail
Navigating the consumer engagement landscape is more challenging than ever. With new platforms emerging every day, consumers have options on where to engage. Bioworld understands that and is meeting the fans wherever they are. This makes it easier for their retail and brand partners to succeed.
McKenna Morgan, digital editor, License Global is joined by Beth Taylor, Jennifer Staley, Sean Parnell, Chad Neurenberg and Casey Hulse of the Bioworld team to discuss how Bioworld connects with fans at retail.
5/17/2021 • 24 minutes, 52 seconds
S2 E8: Gaming Issue Special - Top 5 Brand Engagement Trends in Gaming
To mark the launch of License Global's Gaming Issue, we’re looking at the top five brand engagement trends and methods behind the biggest entertainment platform in the world.
Read the gaming issue here: https://www.licenseglobal.com/magazine/april-2021#1
5/3/2021 • 12 minutes, 2 seconds
S2 E7: Inclusivity, Fandom and Retail with Redbubble
Eric Morse of direct-to-consumer retailer Redbubble joins Patricia DeLuca of License Global to discuss how brands and retailers can truly cater to fans everywhere.
4/19/2021 • 20 minutes, 58 seconds
S2 E6: The Top 5 Takeaways from License Global's Kids Issue
To mark the launch of License Global's first themed issue, Ben Roberts takes a deep dive into The Kids Issue, looking at our Top 5 takeaways, exclusives, and insights from the stories themselves.
4/5/2021 • 11 minutes, 15 seconds
S2 E5: "League of Legends" and Brand Extensions with CAA-GBG
Robert Schwartz of CAA-GBG talks to Patricia DeLuca and Ben Roberts of License Global to explore the depths of the "League of Legends" universe, how gaming is facing a meteoric rise in terms of fandom, and what exactly Brand Extension means for the future of retail and consumer engagement.
3/22/2021 • 23 minutes, 4 seconds
S2 E4: Kids Industries on Kids Fandom and the Importance of Play
Ben Roberts speaks to Kids Industries for an in-depth insight into how the psychology of fandom works, why nostalgia isn't a big enough word for what we share with our kids and what family brands need to do in order to stand out in 2021.
3/8/2021 • 31 minutes, 16 seconds
License Global x Bioworld - Episode 1 - Powering Fandom
Bioworld's Jennifer Staley and Beth Taylor join License Global's Bibi Wardak and McKenna Morgan for an in-depth discussion on fandom, the creativity it fuels and how Bioworld has become a fan-favourite from gaming to movies, anime and beyond.
2/22/2021 • 26 minutes, 2 seconds
S2 E2: Going Green with Products of Change
Founder of Products of Change, Helena Mansell-Stopher, joins Ben Roberts to discuss the organisation's sustainable goals, the industry leaps underway across brands and licensing and the small steps brands can take to make a big impact today.
2/8/2021 • 25 minutes, 12 seconds
S2 E1: Rugby League World Cup on Strategy, Sport & Social Impact
Jonathan Neill, commercial director, Rugby League World Cup 2021 joins Ben Roberts to discuss the resilience of sport, how to engage fans on and off the pitch and how to build the biggest event to be held in the U.K. this year.
1/24/2021 • 24 minutes, 51 seconds
The Licensing Mixtape Season 2 Announcement
The Licensing Mixtape is back with a brand-new season on January 25, 2021.
Hear how the Rugby League World Cup is engaging fans at home ahead of the UK’s biggest sporting event. Find out how the psychology of fandom is driving success in lockdown with Kids Industries and where inclusive retail fits into the world as we know it with Redbubble. All this and much more, coming Jan. 25.
1/14/2021 • 1 minute, 53 seconds
S1 E17: The Biggest Brands of the Decade with License Global
The License Global Team breaks down their top picks of 2020 edition of The Influentials report, as the December issue gives us chance to look back at the brands that broke the decade as well as those to keep a close eye on over the next ten years.
12/13/2020 • 39 minutes, 10 seconds
S1 E16: The Smiley Company's Feel-Good Retrospective of 2020
Matt Winton, global head, partnerships, The Smiley Company, shines a much-needed positive light on the stories and people of 2020, discusses the importance of emotional intelligence and the green shoots of 2021 for purposeful brand growth.
11/30/2020 • 32 minutes, 55 seconds
S1 E15: The Art of Character Creation with Sanrio
Silvia Figini, COO, EMEA (Global, Mr. Men), Sanrio joins us on the Licensing Mixtape to discuss the art of creating iconic characters, how kawaii culture works on an emotional level and what Sanrio is planning for the future of Hello Kitty and Mr. Men & Little Miss.
11/15/2020 • 24 minutes
S1 E14: Opsec Security on How COVID-19 Impacted Licensing
License Global sits down with Opsec to dig into to new reports on the impact COVID-19 has had on the broader supply chain and retail spaces.
11/10/2020 • 32 minutes, 12 seconds
S1 E13: How Barbie Turned into A Cultural Icon
Robert Best, senior design director, Mattel, shares how inclusivity and imaginative play has kept Barbie in the cultural zeitgeist for over 60 years.
11/1/2020 • 27 minutes, 40 seconds
S1 E12: New Kids On The Block’s Danny Wood Gets Candid About Music Licensing
From an early ‘90s kinetic whirlwind to a perfect well-oiled machine, the licensing program of pop megagroup New Kids On The Block has evolved today into an ideal blueprint for music licensing. NKOTB’s Danny Wood tells License Global editor Bibi Wardak about going from merch mayhem to merch mastery.
10/21/2020 • 27 minutes, 11 seconds
S1 E11: Crafting Creative Engagement with Crayola
Ben Roberts and Amanda Cioletti of License Global speak with April Heeren, general manager, domestic licensing, Crayola to discuss the company's incredible origin story and what the future holds for one of the world's biggest family brands.
10/18/2020 • 23 minutes, 41 seconds
S1 E10: Funimation on the Power of Streaming Anime
Mitchel Berger, senior vice president of global commerce, Funimation, highlights the impact that streaming media has had on growing anime’s global footprint.
10/12/2020 • 25 minutes, 44 seconds
S1 E9: Bioworld's Fan First Approach to Licensing
Bioworld Merchandising’s Jennifer Staley and Beth Taylor highlight how the company’s “Fandom Forever” approach has redefined the licensing business in this special Festival of Licensing episode.
10/5/2020 • 28 minutes, 24 seconds
S1 E8: Lessons from the World of Licensing with Sid Kaufman, UTA
Licensing icon Sid Kaufman, UTA speaks with Steven Ekstract about his early days building brand programs for "Alf" and a lesser-known Dinosaur movie called "Jurassic Park", all the way to his work with modern social media influencers. Learn about the evolution of licensing, retail and consumers here on the Licensing Mixtape.
9/27/2020 • 33 minutes, 3 seconds
S1 E7: The Trends Behind the Top 150 Global Licensors Report
License Global Editors Bibi Wardak and Patricia DeLuca break down the latest Top 150 Global Licensors and Top 25 Agents Report to find out what trends sit behind the ranks of the biggest names in licensing.
9/16/2020 • 32 minutes, 51 seconds
S1 E6: The Biggest Gaming & Movie Titles (and why they work) with Difuzed
Ben Roberts & James Dohnert speak with Difuzed to figure out what new video game and movie titles licensees need to look out for in 2021 and what makes us fans so invested in big ticket properties like "Animal Crossing" or "Doom: Eternal".
9/13/2020 • 28 minutes, 9 seconds
S1 E5: How to Build a Brand Licensing Programme in Japan
John Parker, principal, Patencio Development speaks to Steven Ekstract about the long-standing impact of Anime on global fan culture and how to license brands in Japan.
8/30/2020 • 29 minutes, 38 seconds
S1 E4: How Digital Brands are Redefining Home with BuzzFeed
Eric Karp, senior vice president, global brand licensing, BuzzFeed, speaks to Ben Roberts & James Dohnert about the data-driven power of digital brands and bringing consumer goods to the market in the right way.
8/17/2020 • 19 minutes, 24 seconds
S1 E3: The Essentials of Video Game Licensing with Ubisoft
Sarah Buzby, vice president, consumer products, Ubisoft, speaks with Steven Ekstract to discuss the rapid rise of big ticket gaming titles like "Assassin's Creed: Valhalla" and how the power of fandom is changing gaming like never before.
7/27/2020 • 34 minutes, 14 seconds
S1 E2: The Modern Movie Business with The Numbers
Ben Roberts & James Dohnert talk to movie analyst Bruce Nash, The Numbers about lockdown's affect on big ticket picture releases and what production backlogs mean for the movie business.
7/24/2020 • 33 minutes, 41 seconds
The Licensing Mixtape Trailer
Welcome to the Licensing Mixtape, a podcast by License Global. Where we look at the products that stand out above the rest, thanks to a little thing called brand licensing. Now available via SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify and Stitcher.
7/23/2020 • 1 minute, 41 seconds
S1 E1: Brand Licensing Today with The Global Licensing Group
Steven Ekstract, brand director, Global Licensing Group speaks to Ben Roberts and James Dohnert to highlight how brand licensing, retail and consumer products have evolved against the backdrop of global pandemics and rapidly shifting trends.
