Entertainment Tie-ins / Licensing

Los Angeles -- Guitar Center will open a flagship in Manhattan’s Times Square on Aug. 7.

The store is located in the original New York Times building. Designed by Eight Inc., the space will offer a high-energy, hands-on environment in which customers are encouraged to interact with the wide selection of instruments and staff.  

In the lead-up to the 2014 Budweiser Made in America Festival, the beer company has launched a web series to find an act to add to the festival’s lineup in Los Angeles.  
 
The MADE Underground series — produced by Vice’s music arm, Noisey —follows a Brooklyn band, X Ambassadors, and London street musician, Jamie N. Commons, as they look in cities like St. Louis, Seattle, Rio de Janeiro and Athens.

Brooklyn, N.Y. - Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), owner and developer of Westchester’s Ridge Hill, will host DreamPlace, an interactive Santa adventure. DreamWorks Animation has chosen Westchester’s Ridge Hill as one of just seven locations around the country, and the only one in the Northeast during the 2014 holiday season.

For the third consecutive year, Office Depot has enlisted the aid of actor, comedian and America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon to help execute an innovate back-to-school program.
 

DreamWorks Animation makes its official foray into the retail space with the launch of DreamPlace, a state-of-the-art reimagining of the holiday retail experience slated to be unveiled at select GGP and Forest malls this holiday season.

DreamPlace is a 2,000-sq.-ft. holiday cottage and combines the latest technology with magical storytelling from creative minds behind such hit franchises as Shrek, Madagascar and How to Train Your Dragon. DreamPlace reimagines one of the signature moments of childhood – meeting Santa Claus.

Pop singer Cody Simpson has become the latest artist to join the American Rag “All Access” campaign, which kicks off July 28 and continues through November. American Rag, available only at Macy’s, launched the program in February, and features exclusive music, videos, online sweepstakes and in-store appearances from some of today’s “rising stars.”

Toilet paper company Scott is offering two customers the opportunity to win $25,000 bathroom makeovers. The company’s “Pic to Win” sweepstakes is also the brand’s first time partnering with AJ Allmendinger, who drives Scott’s number 47 car for NASCAR.
 
Contestants enter the sweepstakes by taking a photo of their bathroom that needs a makeover and uploading it to Scott’s contest picture gallery. Eight contestants who don’t win the grand prizes will win pit-level tickets to see a NASCAR race
 

Model, actress and television presenter Kelly Brook has signed on with Skechers to appear globally in the footwear company’s multiplatform marketing and social media campaigns through 2015.

"It doesn’t get any bigger than Skechers when it comes to lifestyle footwear so I’m thrilled to be working with this amazing brand,” said Brook. “Skechers has brilliantly comfortable shoes in so many colors and looks. I love it and can’t wait to get started with this campaign!”