NEW YORK, July 9, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Warner Music
Group's Arts Music division and Warner Chappell Music have entered
into an exclusive global music partnership with Build-A-Bear
Workshop, the popular global brand specializing in customizable
stuffed animals, to launch Build-A-Bear Records. The deal
comes as Build-A-Bear continues to find ways to connect consumers
with its brand, evolving its retail operation into a more diverse
business that includes original digital content.
The Build-A-Bear branded label under Arts Music will
release original albums, singles, and playlists—including
soundtracks from upcoming films, television shows, and digital
shorts—as well as sign and develop artists and their
releases. Warner Chappell Music will represent and administer
publishing rights for all music on the label and collaborate with
Build-A-Bear on opportunities with current WCM songwriters and
catalogs.
"Launching Build-A-Bear Records is another example of Arts
Music's commitment to fun, safe, family-friendly content as we
build upon our foundation in the kids and family space," said
Kevin Gore, President of
Warner Music's Arts Music division.
"The company is making some really interesting moves to expand on
its wildly successful retail offering and we're excited to partner
with them, and our friends at Warner Chappell Music, to bring
Build-A-Bear Records to life."
"Warner Chappell is thrilled to
team up with Arts Music and Build-A-Bear, a company that creates
magical memories for kids, and those who are kids-at-heart," said
Ashley Winton, Senior Vice President
of Creative Services for Warner Chappell Music. "This inventive
project, which our sync and admin teams helped bring to fruition,
is a great example of what we are focused on at Warner Chappell
Music – working together to build opportunities that super-serve
our songwriters."
"Music has been a part of our beloved retail experience for over
a decade, with millions of sound chips added to our furry friends
each year. In addition, music and our popular music videos have
enhanced the story-telling and consumer engagement with key
properties including Honey Girls, reinforcing the value that song
can bring to our portfolio. The simultaneous partnership with
Warner Chappell and Arts Music will
allow us to offer a consistent schedule of new music releases for
family entertainment, which we expect to be extremely complementary
to our strategic initiatives inclusive of our Build-A-Bear Radio
platform which launched late last year and build on the already
high listenership levels of the station," commented Sharon Price John, Build-A-Bear Workshop
president and chief executive officer.
The deal was put together through Foundation Media Partners'
Patrick Hughes and Harvey Russell, who will continue to work with
Arts Music and Warner Chappell on
the operations of the label and music publishing venture.
About Arts Music:
Arts Music is Warner Music Group's
umbrella of labels focused on signing, developing and marketing
artists and projects across under-served genres including
classical, musical theater, jazz, kid's & family music,
soundtracks and film scores. Arts Music is the home of the
Warner Classics and Erato labels for classical music
and Ghostlight Records for musical theater. Arts
Music is also the home for the recently-relaunched Sesame Street
Records.
About Warner Chappell Music:
Warner Chappell Music,
the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, is home
to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of
contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more
than 40 countries, Warner Chappell Music provides deep expertise
across a range of creative services and the most innovative
opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. With a history
dating back more than 200 years, the company currently publishes
and administers music from Steve
Aoki, Beyoncé, Blur, Eric Clapton, The Dream, Gamble
& Huff, Green Day, Lukas
Graham, JAY-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Led
Zeppelin, Little Big Town, Madonna, Alan
Menken, George Michael, Julia Michaels, Lin Manuel
Miranda, Katy Perry, Radiohead, Rihanna, Roc Nation,
Stephen Schwartz, Slash, Stephen Sondheim, Chris
Stapleton, Rod Temperton, Tove Lo, Justin
Tranter, Twenty One Pilots, and Pharrell Williams, among
many others.
About Build-A-Bear®:
Build-A-Bear® is a global
brand kids love and parents trust that seeks to add a little
more heart to life. Build-A-Bear Workshop® has over 450 stores
worldwide where Guests can create customizable furry friends,
including corporately-managed stores in the United States, Canada, China, Denmark, Ireland, Puerto
Rico, and the United
Kingdom, and franchise stores in Africa, Asia,
Australia, Europe, Mexico and the Middle East. Buildabear.com is the online
destination for unique furry-friend gifts,
featuring TheBear-Builder™, a shopping configurator that helps
create customized gift options. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE:
BBW) posted a total revenue of $336.6
million in fiscal 2018.
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SOURCE Build-A-Bear Workshop