The new report from License Global identifies the world’s top IP owners which drove the CP business forward during 2020.
The Top Global Licensors 2021 report – which identifies the world’s top IP owners which drove the consumer products business forward in 2020 – has been revealed by License Global.
The annual report – which showcases the world’s most powerful brands based on prior-year sales of licensed merchandise – is once again topped by The Walt Disney Company, which reported $54 billion in retail sales worldwide of licensed and direct to consumer products, slightly less than the $54.7 billion the company reported in 2019.
The latest report also includes a number of newcomers such as the United States Postal Service at No. 63 with $200 million in retail sales of licensed consumer products.
Unlike previous editions of the report, the 2021 report hones in on 75 companies to ensure all retail sales listed are accurately reported and estimated in a systematic and accountable way.
“This year’s report may look different; however, it is arguably the most important one yet,” said Amanda Cioletti, content director at License Global. “As the year presented forced retail closures and brand consolidation, the latest report not only highlights trends that surfaced from the chaos of 2020, but the companies that have been able to find success in weathering such storms.”
There are two new entrants in the top ten. The Pokémon Company International comes in at number eight with $5.1 billion in retail sales in 2020, a $900 million increase year on year. In addition, Bluestar Alliance also saw strong gains, reporting $4.5 billion in retail sales of licensed consumer products, a $1 billion increase from 2019, helping it to the number nine position.
The Top Ten Global Licensors are:
- The Walt Disney Company – $54 billion
- Meredith Corporation – $30.1 billion
- Authentic Brands Group – $13.8 billion
- WarnerMedia – $11 billion
- Hasbro – $7.8 billion
- NBCUniversal/Universal Brand Development – $7.5 billion
- ViacomCBS – $5.8 billion
- The Pokémon Company International – $5.1 billion
- Bluestar Alliance – $4.5 billion
- Sanrio – $3.9 billion
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