The Top Global Licensors Report 2022

License Global's annual report, The Top Global Licensors, returns, showcasing the most powerful brand licensing programs at retail from 2021.

The Top Global Licensors Report ranks the performance of brands’ licensed consumer products at retail for fiscal year 2021, while highlighting the key strategies, collaborations, and extensions they leveraged to achieve positive growth. This year’s report notes a positive shift as recovery remains at the fore for all businesses as we turn the page on another pandemic year. 

Rank: 1

Retail Sales 2021: $56.2B (E)

As part of

, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing brings beloved brands into the daily lives of families and fans of all ages through innovative products and immersive experiences around the world. Its products and retail experiences span across the company’s iconic brands –

,

,

,

,

,

and

– and are delivered through a variety of channels including the shopDisney e-commerce platform as well as at Disney Parks, local and mass-market retailers and Disney stores globally.

As the world’s largest licensing business, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing works with top brands – including Hasbro, Mattel,

,

, Jay Franco, Kimberly Clark,

and

– on world-class products across multiple categories that appeal to our global consumers.

The business is also one of the world’s largest licensors of games across platforms; and the home of Disney Publishing Worldwide, one of the world’s largest publishing brands.

Rank: 2

Retail Sales 2021: $35.9B

boasts licensing programs for brands like

, Southern Living, The Spruce, Coastal Living and Brides.

Home lines, organization essentials and more bring in retail sales revenue for the company. Other domestic licensed programs include

cookware, pantry ware and spice collection; Cooking Light cookware and cutlery; and

natural cleaning products and floral arrangements.

International partnerships include

products and pop-up stores in Korea.

Rank: 3

Retail Sales 2021: $21.7B

is a leading brand development, marketing, media and entertainment company. Generating more than $21 billion in licensed retail sales in 2021, ABG’s portfolio includes more than 50 global brands and properties and is diversified across the entertainment and life-style sectors.

The company’s entertainment properties include icons

,

and

; living legends

,

, Greg Norman, Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Thalia Sodi and Neil Lane; media properties

, Sports Illustrated Swim, Sports Illustrated Studios, Studio 99; and characters Mini Marilyn, Agent King and Little Shaq.

ABG’s experiences portfolio includes Shaq’s Fun House, SI Sportsbook, SI TIX, Prospects by Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated Circuit Series, The Sports Illustrated Awards, Sports Illustrated’s The Party, Sports Illustrated Swim Search,

Week, Graceland.

ABG also has a number of food and beverage and fashion and lifestyle brands.

Rank: 4

Retail Sales 2021: $15B

Global Brands and Experiences encompasses Warner Bros. Consumer Products,

, Warner Bros. Themed Entertainment and the company’s Franchise Development business units.

The company leverages the creative power of Warner Bros.,

, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, DC and more across the breadth of the company's biggest franchises like

,

,

,

,

,

,

, etc.

Rank: 5

Retail Sales 2021: $8.5B

In 2021, The Pokémon Company International celebrated 25 years of

across the franchise’s entertainment portfolio of video games, apps, the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), animation and merchandise.

Stemming from the brand’s massive 25th anniversary celebration and global campaign, TPCi’s licensing and retail programs experienced significant growth across gaming, toys, apparel and accessories, designer collaborations, tech gear, home décor and more.

Rank: 6

Retail Sales 2021: $8.4B

is a global play and entertainment company committed to making the world a better place for all children, fans and families. Hasbro delivers immersive brand experiences for global audiences through consumer products, including toys and games; entertainment through eOne, its independent studio; and gaming, led by the team at

, an award-winning developer of tabletop and digital games best known for fantasy franchises

and

.

The company's portfolio of approximately 1,500 brands includes Magic: The Gathering,

,

,

,

,

, Baby Alive,

,

,

,

and premier partner brands.

Rank: 7

Retail Sales 2021: $8.3B

In 2021,

continued its alignment and collaboration within the Universal Parks & Resorts (UPR) division – creating significant bench strength as UBD is one of only two media companies that have global theme parks – enabling the division to deepen direct-to-consumer connections with innovative physical and digital products and experiences 365-days-a-year.

With fandom driving the momentum, UBD’s global brands such as Illumination’s

, Universal Pictures’

and

,

and vault properties from the studio’s 100-year-plus history continue to develop into bigger, broader franchises with expanding eco-systems.

Rank: 8

Retail Sales 2021: $7.4B

top licensed properties include

,

,

and

. Mattel is a leading global toy company and owner of one of the strongest catalogs of children’s and family entertainment franchises in the world. Mattel creates innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play.

The company engages consumers through its portfolio of iconic brands, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price,

, Thomas & Friends,

,

,

and MEGA, as well as other popular intellectual properties that it owns or licenses in partnership with global entertainment companies. Offerings include film and television content, gaming and digital experiences, music and live events.

Rank: 9

Retail Sales 2021: $6.5B

The Bluestar Alliance portfolio includes some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including

,

, Elie Tahari,

, Tahari ASL,

,

,

, Catherine Malandrino, Kensie, Kensie Girl, English Laundry, Joan Vass and Limited Too.

Distribution is both international and domestic with revenue being derived from an extensive and comprehensive lifestyle licensing strategy that includes all classifications of product.

Key drivers are sportswear, dresses, active, swimwear, denim, footwear, handbags, accessories, fragrance, eyewear, electronics and home, among others. Each brand is supported by ongoing marketing, social and digital media initiatives to increase brand awareness and market share penetration.

Rank: 10

Retail Sales 2021: $6B

oversees all licensing and merchandising for Paramount Global, a leading media and entertainment company that creates premium content and experiences for audiences worldwide. Licensing programs span across apparel, toys, books, digital and location-based experiences for its properties, such as beloved preschool brands

,

l and

, classic Nickelodeon brands,

,

,

, the

franchise as well as pop culture hits including “Yellowstone” and “Emily in Paris,” among many others.

Paramount Consumer Products and Experiences worked with several retail partners worldwide in 2021, including

,

,

,

,

and many more.