One of the most dynamic areas in children’s book publishing worldwide right now is licensed publishing. According to the Licensing Letter, global retail sales of licensed products saw an increase of 2% in 2014, to $158.8 billion. Studios and publishers are eager to be a part of that growth and are meeting the challenge with innovative formats and content. The Global Kids Connect conference will be featuring some of the smartest professionals doing business in this area internationally.

Led by Publishers Weekly’s own Karen Raugust, the “Global Trends in Licensed Publishing” panel will feature Michael Kelly of Hasbro and Peter Yoder of Cartoon Network discussing the tried-and-true approaches for licensed publishing worldwide, as well as some fairly new and unique formats.

A recent article by Karen, who covers licensing for PW, addressed the rapidly changing world of licensed publishing, noting some of the more intriguing and “outside the box” approaches to licensed publishing. Some of the more creative ideas include taking a fictitious game into the real world; book tie-ins that revolve around breakout characters from TV shows; publications featuring character-inspired fan art; and books that have been sized to accommodate core toy figures.

Another trend? Licensees investing in multichannel strategies, where web-based content, social media, feature films, and TV series are launched simultaneously in multiple markets.

All of these elements and more will be covered in the “Global Trends in Licensed Publishing” panel, offering important information on how publishers both large and small can make the most of this rapidly evolving area. The session will explore how licensed digital and print formats coexist and complement each other; the role of fan engagement, including user-generated content; and how to balance global brand management with the needs of local markets.

Click here for more information and to register today. Hurry! The early-bird discount ends September 30th.

Sincerely,

Kat Meyer
Director, Audience Development
Publishers Weekly
kmeyer@publishersweekly.com