Jim L. Wagner

Private equity firms are buying up brands again. Authentic Brands Group (ABG) recently purchased parts of Collective Licensing International, LLC — Airwalk, Hind, Vision Street Wear, and Above the Rim. While they had owned some of these properties in limited ways, ABG has fully acquired each brand bringing with them all of their licensees. I believe more private equity firms should move into the licensing space. Shifting consumer dollars are signaling that younger generations are open to both brand new and forgotten legacy brands. Licensing is a high-profit margin business model, which should be very attractive for private equity firms. Licensing has a greater range of possibilities currently and private equity might be able to scoop up properties poised to be the next trend. https://lnkd.in/eqVSjbmN #licensing #license #brands #deals

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Can I have your attention please? Actually, who cares — because while attention metrics have gotten, well, a lot of attention over the past few years, the link to actual business results remains elusive. Recent research from the ARF and Kroger Precision Marketing at 84.51˚ affirms that there’s little to no correlation between attention metrics and sales lift or #brand performance. While attention may feel intuitively important (viewability, strictly speaking, is table stakes for ad impact), it doesn’t necessarily drive the outcomes that matter most. At EDO, we’ve helped brands and publishers link #TV ads to real-world outcomes for years, and we’ve long known that attention alone is not consistently linked to actual business results. Part of why marketers love TV is that attention is consistently high. We watch the ads to get to our shows!  Obvious metrics like attention may make for good headlines, but consumer engagement actually helps move the needle. Jack Neff writes another good one for Ad Age. https://lnkd.in/eWzAHVgr

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Results are in. Acast’s latest financial figures for Q3 2024 show year on year revenue growth 📈 as we hit another profitability milestone with a positive EBITDA margin of 3% for the quarter.💥 Thanks to my co-host Emily Villatte for joining me to share our latest numbers with the world. It’s been a great few months, with our full-year EBITDA profitability goal officially in sight. Thank you to our Acasters around the world for your continued hard work and support. Without you, truly, we would not be where we are today. And – of course – to our creators, advertisers and partners for continuing to believe in Acast. The industry is evolving, and we at Acast are at the center, supporting creators and advertisers and expanding cross-platform. This IS the time for the business of podcasting. Here’s to the future. 🚀 - 💰 Our net sales grew 12%, with 14% being organic growth - 📈 Our gross margin remained high at 40% - 💸 EBITDA of SEK16m, reflecting an EBITDA margin of 3% in the quarter (-6% in Q3 2023), and we remain on track for full-year EBITDA profitability - 🎙️ Our platform hosts more than 135,000 podcasts and 2,700 advertisers globally - 🎧 Our listens landed at more than 1 billion for the quarter - 🤗 We’ve now paid out more than $410 million to our creators since launching - 🌱 We are seeing growth in demand of omnichannel campaigns, as podcasters continue to expand their audiences across audio, video, social media, live events and more, and advertisers look to reach these audiences across these platforms. You can read our full report at investors.acast.com, or listen back to our presentation (in podcast form) shortly here: https://lnkd.in/eQbNWZnx.

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Is your brand in a pickle? Maybe it's time to look at pickleball. Yes, Pickleball is still the fastest growing sport out there and the licensing opportunities are barely being explored. Sports companies have been the major early adopters and they rushed to develop rackets and other equipment as fast as their factories could glue them together. Remember when Nike almost folded in the 80's because it ignored aerobics as a fad? Well, Nike is not looking to repeat that mistake. Neither is adidas, ASICS, Wilson Sporting Goods Co., Skechers, or a dozen other smaller shoe companies. Already estimated at over $500 million dollars, Pickleball is set to predicted to continue its dominance for years to come. My question, when are the non-sports brands going to jump in and start licensing? https://lnkd.in/eq8-Kmvy #licensing #license #brands #deals

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Loan outs! I know most productions are still honoring them. We have been successful using Bellar Pilukas Consulting as our loan out. However, many non production corporate partners are really causing issues for small companies that have been running this way for years (I am looking at you of the capital D). What have you run into? How has this affected your business and do you think this bill will help? #entertainment #loanout #smallbusiness #womeninfilm #icvfx #losangeleslocal #savethecaliforniafilmindustry

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🏈 Ready to Amp Up Your NCAA Playoff Engagements? 🏈 The NCAA playoffs are around the corner, and there’s no better time to engage fans with unforgettable digital experiences! From AR selfies with team mascots to real-time score predictions and live trivia challenges, MoZeus specializes in turning fan energy into lasting memories and social buzz. We help brands create custom, interactive experiences that drive excitement and deepen fan connections—whether it's on-site, online, or both. With our suite of digital tools, fans are more engaged, and brands are better positioned to amplify their reach across social channels. 💡 Want to bring your brand to the forefront of NCAA playoffs? Let’s Chat! #NCAAPlayoffs #FanEngagement #MoZeus #DigitalMarketing #ExperientialMarketing #FanExperience

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🎙️ Just had an incredible day at our headquarters with my good friend, Eric Meyer, MIM We sat down for a conversation that will kick off our new podcast series, and let me tell you—it was one for the books. Eric, with 20 years of experience working with billion-dollar global brands, delivered some of the most thoughtful, powerful insights I’ve ever heard on marketing, advertising, and branding. But the question that left us all leaning forward was this: What would you do if you could start from scratch, rebooting a company’s entire approach to marketing and advertising? His response? Mind-blowing. Imagine transforming your entire salesforce, your team—every employee—into an extension of your marketing department. Integrating them directly into your content, communication platforms, and systems to create a unified, authentic brand voice. This isn’t just marketing, it’s a paradigm shift in how we think about business growth from the inside out. Eric’s insight is a game-changer for any business, whether you’re focused on external expansion or internal alignment. A huge thank you to Eric for his time and these invaluable nuggets of wisdom. This is just the beginning—stay tuned for more!

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We are interviewing in a new way among companies with a total value of $86 billion. For those who have worked with us or seen our work, you know we are consistent and strategic. We deliver value to the clients and shareholders. We win consistently and often. We are showing them a future with a new approach. Ai Sales creates demand. What’s 15 minutes worth? What could 15 minutes cost you? #3rigs #1innovator #digitalsolutions

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Two big news items in this conversation with Jeff Baumgartner in Light Reading (link to story below) First, we are excited to launch with our newest partner, Ziply Fiber, who is investing a tremendous amount of capital to bring fiber to hundreds of thousands of homes in the Pacific Northwest. Our suite of tools is here to help them drive acquisition and fill up that fiber with happy customers! Speaking of suite of tools, we’re also thrilled to announce the launch of our next big product. The MyBundle Mobile App is now available to all consumers on iOS and Android, and it’s co-branded for our 100s of broadband partners. We all spend way too much time flipping around on our TV, going app to app, looking for something to watch when all we want to do is sit back and relax. And while the many different TV devices out there are trying to make discovery easier - it still doesn’t feel right. I can’t be the only one who gets “just pick something already!!!” from their significant other. We believe the phone in your pocket (or what you’re reading this on) is the solution. Not only is it a lot easier to navigate, type, etc., but it’s always with us on the go! I don’t know about you, but sitting in front of the TV at 11 o’clock at night is not when my friends tell me about the latest show they watched; it’s more likely at dinner, a BBQ, etc. Big thanks to Scott Barton, Danny Cohen, Sara H. and the entire team for putting this all together and tackling the many problems facing consumers in the new streaming age. Here are just a few features/uses: 1. Quickly discover what to watch next across all your services in one place BEFORE turning on the TV and create multiple watchlists anytime, for different moods or people you watch with. 2. Stream on your phone or tablet? The MyBundle app can be your content hub to jump into playback across any of your streaming apps. 3. Share and receive recommendations for shows and movies from your friends and family. 4. Easily track all your streaming services and costs in one place. Of course, the free MyBundle app not only helps consumers but also supports our broadband and streaming partners, who are more focused than ever on customer delight and retention. And, like everything else we do at MyBundle, there is a lot more to come! Don't forget to head over to the app store and download the MyBundle app today. https://lnkd.in/eqUzaNWJ

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IFYKYK Part 4. The latest from the MAGNA 2024 US Ad Markets Summer Update. On a national basis, the Spectrum TV app is at the same tier as Amazon Prime Video and Hulu. Yes, I said national. Once again….This is how we harness chaos for brands and agencies. And it’s why we are far and away the #1 multiscreen video provider in our markets. Spectrum Reach #builtforwhatsnowandwhatsnext

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“We continue to see strong momentum in our podcast business” - Bob Pittman during the iHeartMedia earnings call this morning. Podcast revenue was $105m for Q2, up 8%, and overall revenue was $929m, up 1%, beating estimates. Unsurprisingly, radio revenue continues to decline while podcasting continues to be the highest growth opportunity for iHeart and other more traditional audio companies. Over the last two years, radio revenue has declined 4.3%, while podcasting revenue has grown 8.5%… and it’s not slowing down. The story here is pretty straightforward. Podcasting is the future of audio. Let’s start investing in it. I’ll summarize what we learned in Q2 in my letter to investors in the next week or so. Feel free to sign up: https://lnkd.in/e63PbEh7 https://lnkd.in/er6VKGQc #podcasting #audio #iheartmedia #investing

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The days of “cash grabs” are over.    I get so frustrated when I see campaigns with endorsers embracing products we all know there is no way they actually use.    Consumers are more educated now than ever before. At Improbable Media, we believe in partnering with brands that genuinely align with our lifestyle. In a recent convo with Judy, I discussed how our approach mirrors the discipline needed in the New York Stock Exchange: strategic, intentional, and focused on long-term value.    As a father, husband, and entrepreneur, I trust CocoaVia to support my cognitive health and to help keep me sharp every day.    And for the record, I used this product before my partnership and will continue to do it after.    #CocoaViapartner #strategicpartnerships #health #strategy #wellness #NYSE #partner #cognitivehealth #parents #leadership #entrepreneurship

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Are you a licensee of brands? Try this, it's brilliant. Are you a licensor of your own brands and dont have a 'fully fledged, highly staffed, licensing department?' Then try this, it's brilliant. Loads of brands joining all the time and as a licensee you'll spot a brand that others won't even know was available to license... #brands #negosh #licensing

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These two books are musts if you are in the business of golf.

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All Hands on Deck: Or Turning Headwinds into Opportunities Last night, I was catching up with an old friend who gave me my first real job in “Promo.” Inevitably, our conversation turned to the industry, our careers, and the next 10 years. Where is everything headed? Where are WE headed? And most importantly, how do we deal with these massive headwinds hitting us in the face? Then a metaphor came to mind. A few years ago, I took up sailing. I was awful at it. One weekend, while out on open water, the weather suddenly changed. The gentle breeze at my back turned into massive headwinds. The sail was billowing, the boat was stalled, and I felt completely out of control. Then I tacked slightly, and everything changed. This simple adjustment turned those headwinds into accelerators, propelling me forward. Here’s the metaphor: Everyone thinks tailwinds are ideal. I disagree. Sure, they are easier—you do less work and ride the wind. However, they can also be unstable. If the wind changes direction and you aren’t paying attention, you could end up overboard. Have you fallen overboard? So have all of us at some point. Looking to tack? Here's how to "shift your wind." 1. Angle Your Approach What makes you innately YOU? Find it. You are more than the product you create. Take stock of the work you've done, find the common themes, and understand how to repackage yourself. Identify the growing areas of our industry (yes, they do exist), explore the areas that excite you, and align your skills accordingly. 2. Diversify Yourself Don’t have all the skills needed? No problem. Build them. Don’t look for the same role that is contracting. You’ll be in the exact same place in 5 years—and 5 years older. Identify your gap based on your curiosity (point 1) and fill it. Learn new technologies, take up side projects, or explore different aspects of your industry. You’ve done this countless times over the course of your career. It’s time to do it again. 3. Leverage Your Network Find those people in your network who are the experts in what you want to do and reach out. Not for a job—for advice. This does NOT mean cold-calling. No one likes a cold-call, neither you nor the person you’re calling. However, reaching out to get opinions on where the industry is headed or what trends they’re seeing can be a great ice breaker. And if you’re on the receiving side? Please, take the call. No one is THAT busy. So, what’s the point of all this? Headwinds will make you stronger. It’s not about reversing direction to get the wind at your back. It only takes a slight adjustment of your sails to catch the wind again and get you back on course. At The Next [Next] Group, we’re here to help you navigate these waters. Let’s chart a course together towards your next big opportunity. Interested in diving in? DM me for our free upcoming workshop. #CareerReboot #StrategicThinking #Innovation #EntertainmentIndustry #ProfessionalGrowth #angularity #AgencyLife #MyNextNext

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IFYKYK Part 3. This is how we harness chaos for brands and agencies. And it’s why we are the #1 multiscreen video provider in our markets. Spectrum Reach #builtforwhatsnowandwhatsnext

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