Artist Legacy Group named as global brand representative by The Dean Martin Family Trust
The Dean Martin Family Trust has appointed Artist Legacy Group, a Sony Music Entertainment joint venture, to act as its global brand representative, it was announced today by ALG CEO Ashley Austin. ALG will collaborate with the Dean Martin Family Trust to create and maintain cohesive licensing and branding strategies, ensuring the integrity of Dean Martin’s singular persona as pop culture’s ultimate “King of Cool.”
On behalf of the Trust, ALG will source licensing opportunities and strategic partnerships for the Dean Martin brand across a variety of categories including–but not limited to–luxury apparel and accessories, food and beverage, fragrance and skin care, home décor and lifestyle goods.
Under the new arrangement, ALG is positioned to foster the growth of Dean Martin’s trademark and personality rights–including his name, likeness and signature–in branded merchandise, endorsements and advertising campaigns.
“ALG will work closely with the Trust to pursue licensing and branding initiatives on behalf of Dean Martin, complementing the projects that the Trust is currently developing,” said Austin. “Our mission is to fully serve Dean’s existing fanbase while simultaneously introducing him to younger generations of fans who will undoubtedly respond to his timeless class and style.”
“The Dean Martin Family Trust is very excited to be working with ALG to continue spreading the excitement and debonair lifestyle of one of the world’s most versatile and beloved entertainers,” said Laura Lizer, Trustee of the Dean Martin Family Trust. “His charisma and masculine style has bridged generations and continues to make him the definitive ‘King of Cool.'”
Sony Music Entertainment (“SME”) and Artist Legacy Group, LLC (“ALG”) entered into a groundbreaking joint venture agreement in October 2015. The venture, which operates under the ALG name, engages in all business aspects of artist brand management including licensing, branding strategy and merchandising. ALG provides artist and estate brand management services to Legacy Recordings and other front line SME labels while remaining open to opportunities outside the SME eco-system.
This new arrangement is the next step in Legacy’s existing relationship with the Dean Martin Family Trust; in January 2014, Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, in partnership with the Dean Martin Family Trust, acquired the singer’s legendary Reprise Records catalog and began remastering titles for a major ongoing reissue project. The Dean Martin Reprise catalog acquisition included all the recordings Dean made during his extraordinary creative tenure (1962-1974) at Rat Pack pal Frank Sinatra’s Reprise Records label. The Nashville Sessions, the album Martin cut for Warner Bros in 1983, was also included.
