The awards ceremonies will bring the licensing industry together to celebrate virtually this year
Max Publishing has decided that amid the restrictions for social gatherings in the UK, the Brand & Lifestyle Licensing Awards and The Licensing Awards will go ahead as evening events, bringing the industry together for fun, celebration and networking as they do every year, but for 2020, the ceremonies will take place digitally.
Both events will retain their original dates, with the winners of the B&LLAs 2020 being unveiled on Monday 9th November, and The Licensing Awards winners gaining their crowns on Wednesday 16th December, with thousands of guests from around the world due to attend.
“While we, and so many from the licensing community, had hoped with all our hearts to be able to meet and celebrate the achievements of all facets of the licensing industry in person at the B&LLAs and The Licensing Awards, the ongoing coronavirus situation means we are precluded from this happening,” commented Ian Hyder, Joint MD of Max Publishing, which owns and organises both sets of awards.
“Despite the inherent challenges the ongoing period has presented, the brand and entertainment licensing industry has done itself proud on the product, retailing and promotional front and as such it is imperative that we honour this excellence – and these virtual extravaganzas provide a safe way of bringing everyone together in celebration,” added Jakki Brown, Joint MD of Max Publishing.
Recognising the unfaltering support from the industry to the change in format, Rob Willis, Director of Max Publishing, added: “We’d like to thank all of our sponsors and the licensing industry as a whole for their continued support, and we look forward to sharing more on how you can get involved shortly – and I can promise you, they will be full of networking fun.”
The B&LLAs were originally due to take place in April at the Hilton, Park Lane, London, and The Licensing Awards earlier this month at Grosvenor House Hotel, London. Both events were moved to November and December dates respectively in the hope that the situation surrounding Coronavirus would have eased. But due to ongoing restrictions on social gatherings imposed by the government due to the pandemic, Max Publishing took the decision to make the move online for 2020 in order to still celebrate the achievements of the industry over the past year.
The finalists of the B&LLAs 2020 can be read by visiting https://www.licensingsource.net/bllas-2020-retail-finalists-are-confirmed/, and the shortlist for The Licensing Awards 2020 will be announced in the next few days.
