New York, NY (Top40 Charts) 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.
