SANTA MONICA, Calif., Dec. 12, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- License Global magazine, the leading news publication for the licensed consumer product industry, today released the 2019 edition of “The Influentials” report, which highlights the top 40 people and companies that have forever changed the business of brand extensions, not only fundamentally, but across categories and industries as well. They are the players who have broken the mold, shifted the paradigm, and even broken the rules to positively impact the foundation of how deals are made, business is secured or even shifted the very notion of what is possible. This year, License Global pays tribute to Betty Boop, “Star Wars,” Funko’s Brian Mariotti, Michael Jordan, Netflix, The Coca-Cola Company, Sesame Workshop, MGA Entertainment’s Isaac Larian, and many more. To read the full feature, please visit here. 

Global retail sales of licensed merchandise and services grew to $280.3 billion in 2018, a 3.2 percent increase over the $271.6 billion generated in 2017, according the Licensing International Global Licensing Survey. “This year’s report recognizes those that have played an integral role in building this multi-billion-dollar industry,” said Amanda Cioletti, content director, License Global. “We are proud to honor the trailblazers that laid the foundation for those in the business of brand licensing and product extensions, as well as appreciate today’s leaders that continue to shape this evolving landscape.”

The top 40 Disruptors of 2019 include:

Historical

• Activision Blizzard
• Alan Dorfman
• Beatrix Potter
• Betty Boop
• Bobby Margolis
• Dell Furano
• Hasbro
• Michael Jordan
• Mickey Mouse
• Perfetti Van Melle
• Rovio
• Ruth Handler
• Sanrio
• Sesame Workshop
• “Star Wars”
• Steven Ekstract
• The Coca-Cola Company
• “The Simpsons”
• Toei Animation
• WWE

Modern

• Activision Blizzard
• Brian Mariotti
• BuzzFeed
• Drake Sutton-Shearer
• Fanatics
• Isaac Larian
• Line Friends
• Marco Hüsges
• Maxine Lister
• Michelle Phan
• Naz Amarchi-Cuevas
• Netflix
• NFLPA and REP Worldwide
• Pocket.watch
• Priya Mukhedkar
• Rachel Shechtman
• Striker Entertainment
• The Museum of Modern Art
• Vince Klaseus
• Will Stewart

Many of the companies represented in the third annual “The Influentials” report are also exhibitors at the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets’ events, which includes Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo, Licensing Expo China, Licensing Expo Japan, and Licensing Leadership Summit.

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Media Contacts:
Audrey Uchimoto, (310) 496-9423, IMSPR@ubm.com
Lauren Lloyd, (310) 266-4792, LicensingPR@ubm.com
Tam Nguyen, (424) 410-9797, IMSPR@ubm.com

About License Global
License Global magazine, published by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets, is the leading news source for the brand licensing industry, delivering award-winning editorial content including news, trends, analysis, and special reports about the global consumer product and retail marketplace. Through its print edition, website, daily e-newsletter, and event publications, License Global reaches more than 150,000 executives and professionals in all major markets. The magazine also serves as the official publication for the sector’s trade events, which includes Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, and The Licensing Leadership Summit. 

About Global Licensing Group 
The Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets is the licensing industry’s leading tradeshow organizer and media partner. Its mission is to provide licensing opportunities around the world by bringing brands and products together. The following events and information products are produced for the licensing industry by the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets: Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo Japan, Licensing Expo China, The Licensing Leadership Summit, License Global magazine, and License Global Daily E-News. Global Licensing Group events are sponsored by Licensing International (LI).

The Global Licensing Group is organized by Informa Markets, which recently acquired UBM to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B events and exhibitions organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.informa.com.