Merchandise is big business again for the major music companies. According to its financial filings, Universal Music Group generated €363 million ($429m) from ‘Merch and Other’ in 2021, up 45.4% year-on-year. That bounce reflected a flattering YoY comparison versus the pandemic lockdown-hit 2020, but also reflected Universal’s heavy investment into […]
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Nicholas Goldberg: When bathrooms have naming rights, has branding gone too far?
It took me a few moments standing there outside the bathrooms at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles before I fully grasped that some fundraising genius had actually sold the lavatory naming rights. It seemed inconceivable, but there it was in big letters over the entrance: “Lefton Family Restrooms.” […]