Entertainment: Built for the World’s Biggest Stories

From billion-dollar openings to sold-out theaters, entertainment is one of the world’s most consistent engines of consumer demand.

Entertainment isn’t just what you watch.

Audiences spend billions on film, streaming, and Broadway,and even more on the licensed toys, plushies, and apparel that prove identity and belonging. Fans left Inside Out 2 screenings clutching plushies that sold out in days, while audiences of Wicked and Hamilton took playbills home as proof they belonged to something bigger.

This isn’t just film or Broadway: streaming giants now drive cultural moments too, with Netflix closing 2024 at 302M memberships and tie-in merchandise scaling globally. In total, licensed consumer products reached $369.6B in 2024 (License Global), fueled by franchises like Disney (Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar), Universal (Minions, Jurassic, Wicked), andWarner Bros. Discovery (DC, Harry Potter).

Headline stat: Broadway grosses reached $1.89B in 2024–25, with 14.7M attendees (Reuters); yet, official merchandise captured only a fraction of that spend, with millions lost annually to resale and counterfeits (illustrative).

Takeaway: Fanlayer ensures that entertainment merchandise continues to earn revenue long after the curtain falls or the credits roll.

Why It Matters

Fans do not just buy souvenirs, they buy identity in the worlds they love. Openings, season drops, and stage runs create cultural moments, but most merchandise spikes briefly and then drifts into counterfeit and gray markets, stripping value and visibility. Studios, streamers, and productions require authenticated lifecycles that extend beyond the premiere, the finale, and the curtain call.
Fanlayer keeps value alive by tying film, series, and stage collectibles to UID-backed authenticity, verified resale, and ongoing digital recognition between releases.

  • $369.6 in global licensed consumer products in 2024. The scale of this opportunity is clear. Yet, much of the lifetime value is lost to untracked resale and fakes.

  • Film, streaming, and stage all exhibit short demand windows; UID extends lifecycles with post-release triggers and portfolio-level control.

  • Retrofit costs typically range from $1.50 to $3.00 per unit for existing plushies, props, apparel, and playbills, enabling quick and low-risk pilots.

  • Verified resale royalties return value to rights holders and reduce counterfeit drag while preserving premium pricing.

  • Portfolio standardization across franchises compounds revenue as authenticated SKUs become the default across releases and touring productions.

Because in entertainment, belonging should not end when the credits roll. The story should keep paying back.

Fan Behavior Proves Demand

Entertainment fans don’t just watch, they buy to prove identity. From billion-dollar box office titles to sold-out Broadway plushies and licensed streaming tie-ins, audiences have proven they’ll spend far beyond tickets for physical proof of belonging.

  • Box office: Inside Out 2 ($1.70B), Deadpool & Wolverine ($1.34B), Moana 2 ($1.06B), Wicked ($0.76B).

  • Streaming: Netflix 302M members (2024); expanding consumer products via Stranger Things (Jazwares) and Squid Game (Puma, Crocs).

  • Broadway: 2024–25 season set records at $1.89B grosses and 14.7M attendances; lifetime merch pull — Lion King $2.10B, Wicked $1.78B, Hamilton $1.07B.

  • Flagship IP: Disney (Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar), Universal (Minions, Jurassic), WBD (DC, Harry Potter).

  • SKU proof: Plushies, pins, and apparel consistently sell out; counterfeits show unmet demand for verified goods.

“When I left Inside Out 2, I bought the plush right away, it wasn’t just merch, it was proof I was part of that moment.” (illustrative fan quote)

Fans already pay premiums for licensed goods across film, streaming, and Broadway. Fanlayer ensures those SKUs stay authenticated, monetized, and royalty-bearing long after the premiere or curtain call.

Revenue at a Glance (Illustrative Only)

Entertainment is one of the most lucrative licensing engines, spanning film, streaming, and Broadway. From billion-dollar box office hits to record-setting stage productions, fan demand is proven — but most SKUs peak at release and fade quickly. Fanlayer extends that value by tying every T-shirt, plushie, and collectible to ongoing royalties.

Pilot uplift (existing SKUs, illustrative only):

  • $35 T-shirt × 1M units = $35M baseline → $3.5–$5.25M uplift (+10–15%).

  • $40 plush × 500K units = $20M baseline → $2–$3M uplift.

New Fanlayer Categories Made Possible:

  • Box Office tie-ins: Smart charms @ $39 × 5–10% adoption ≈ $20–40M annually.

  • Streaming franchises: AI fan hubs @ $299 × 10–20% adoption of 10M fans ≈ $300–$600M gross (requires bundling + studio push).

  • Broadway/Stage: UID-enabled playbills, plushies, and apparel continue to earn post-curtain royalties through resale.

Takeaway: Even 2–3% adoption covers integration in Year One. Mid-case adoption, driven by new releases or revivals, unlocks nine-figure upside per franchise (illustrative only).

Next Step: Secure Your Pilot Path

All models and scenarios are illustrative; actual outcomes depend on license scope, OEM schedules, and adoption rates.

What You Receive in a Free ROI Assessment (Pre-Launch)

Before a studio, streamer, or stage operator commits, we provide a structured modeling pack showing how Fanlayer would work across your SKUs. Within 72 hours, your team will see a tailored preview of the ROI tied to your franchises.

  • SKU scan & baseline sizing — we map your key categories (T-shirts, plush, collectibles, playbills) against attendance, subscriber, or box office volumes.

  • Attach-rate scenarios — conservative, mid, and stretch adoption models across films, shows, and streaming fan bases (illustrative).

  • Royalty logic overview — how UID + POS-gated lifecycles govern resale and post-purchase events (illustrative).

  • Pilot outline — a 1–2 SKU starter path linked to a franchise release or show run.

Note: The output is non-binding and illustrative, intended for planning purposes only.

The Trusted Standard

Like the invisible standards in audio or wireless, Fanlayer is built to be the indispensable licensing layer.

Every product authenticated through Fanlayer ties into a patent-pending UID lifecycle system that enables royalties and ongoing engagement.

“I built Fanlayer because products shouldn’t stop connecting, or earning, the moment they’re sold.” — Brian Wilson, Founder.

Fanlayer helps every product live longer, earn more, and stay connected to the fans and artists who bring them to life.

Revenue Potential (Illustrative Only)

Entertainment merchandise has always been about proving you were part of a story — a wand, a T-shirt, a playbill. Fanlayer ensures these products don’t just prove attendance, they remain alive through authenticated engagement and enforceable royalties.

  • +10–15% uplift on existing bestsellers (shirts, plushies, playbills).

  • New Fanlayer categories: Smart Charms, Wearables, AI Hubs, UID-authenticated Collectibles.
    Adoption scenarios (illustrative only):

  • Conservative (5–10% adoption): steady multi-million categories tied to film, streaming, and Broadway IP.

  • Mid-case (20% adoption with studio/streamer push): nine-figure upside and entirely new SKU formats.

Uplift extends today’s lines, but exclusives open new categories with nine-figure potential.

Proof Point: Star Wars lifetime merchandise sales ($29B+) demonstrate the scale of film IP monetization (illustrative only; no endorsement implied).

Industry Proof Points

Across film, streaming, and Broadway, fans spend billions to prove they were part of the story. From box office hits to record-breaking stage runs, merchandise spikes fast but fades just as quickly. Fanlayer captures this energy, extending it through authenticated SKUs that generate enforceable royalties beyond opening weekends or curtain calls.

  • Film: Disney, Universal, WBD anchor a $369.6B licensed-goods market (2024). Star Wars lifetime merchandise sales exceed $29B. Inside Out 2 grossed $1.7B worldwide (2024).

  • Streaming: Netflix closed 2024 with 302M memberships. Stranger Things expanded into master toy deals; Squid Game tied in with Puma, Crocs, and Johnnie Walker.

  • Broadway: 2024–25 broke records with 14.7M attendees, $1.89B grosses. The Lion King ($2.1B lifetime), Wicked ($1.78B), and Hamilton ($1.07B) prove souvenirs scale for decades.

Taken together, these proof points represent hundreds of billions of dollars in annual spending across film, streaming, and stage. Fanlayer ensures this spend doesn’t vanish post-release; it flows back to studios, streamers, and producers through authenticated SKUs with enforceable royalties. Illustrative only. No endorsement or affiliation is implied.

  • Benchmarks are based on conservative attach rates and validated fan behavior. Even modest adoption can offset integration costs; higher attach rates scale quickly across film, streaming, and Broadway, where fans already spend billions proving identity.

    Integration Costs at a Glance (Licensee Facing)

    • Retrofit of Existing SKUs: $1.50–$3.00 per unit all-in (UID tag, encasement, registry, dashboard slice). T-shirts, plushies, and playbills become royalty-bearing.

    • Single New SKU Build: $250K–$800K upfront + per-unit costs ($10–$25 charms, $65–$140 hubs). Entry-level path for premiere or series SKUs.

    • Multi-SKU Ecosystem Build: $1M–$2M+ upfront + per-unit costs. Full suite of charms, wearables, and hubs across franchises.

    • Ongoing Licensing: Royalties and enforcement layered on top of per-unit pricing.

    Portfolio Scenarios (Illustrative)

    • Broadway hit (~15M annual attendances, 2024–25 season):
      • Smart Charm ($39): 5% adoption (750K units) ≈ $29M gross; 20% ≈ $117M gross.
      • AI Hub ($299): 5% adoption (750K units) ≈ $224M gross; 20% ≈ $896M gross.

    • Single franchise (Marvel/DC-scale, ~100M global fans): $100–250M annually (conservative) / $500M+ mid-case.

    • Multi-franchise portfolio: $500M–$1B over 3 years (conservative) / $2–3B+ mid-case.

    3-Year Portfolio Scenarios (Illustrative)

    • Single Broadway hit: $5–10M conservative / $25–40M mid-case.

    • Single global franchise: $100–250M conservative / $500M+ mid-case.

    • Multi-franchise portfolio: $500M–$1B conservative / $2–3B+ mid-case.

    Even 5% adoption funds integration. At 20% adoption, upside scales into nine- and ten-figure categories, making UID-authenticated SKUs the new licensing standard.

Easy to Integrate

Fanlayer is structured for fast deployment without disrupting existing workflows. Studios or Shows don’t need to reinvent supply chains; the system layers in seamlessly, making adoption practical and low-risk.

Retrofit costs as little as $1.50 to $3.00 per unit. T-shirts, plushies, or playbills can be retrofitted quickly, proving ROI within a single release window.

  • No core factory changes are typically required.

  • OEM integration modeled at ~8–16 weeks (feasibility window, not a build guarantee)

  • UID tags remain inert until point-of-sale activation confirms purchase

  • Fanlayer handoff kit includes API access, dashboard slice, and provisioning docs

  • Full support for new SKUs, including blueprint kits, manufacturing guidance, and introductions to pre-vetted OEM pathways (under NDA)

  • This workflow reflects industry-standard supply chains, supported by feasibility studies, and is structured to keep agency integration simple and low-lift.

    SKU Selection & UID Provisioning

    • Studio or producer selects product SKUs (e.g., T-shirts, plushies, playbills, collectibles).

    • Fanlayer provisions unique IDs (UIDs), registered in the Fanlayer cloud to support authenticity and lifecycle tracking.

    OEM Encoding & Embedding

    • OEM vendors (e.g., Avery Dennison, NXP partners) encase UID components in labels, tags, or accessories.

    • Components ship to existing manufacturing partners for incorporation during production.

    • Typical OEM cycle: 8–16 weeks (illustrative).
      (Exploratory discussions held with Avery Dennison; no endorsement or affiliation implied.)

    Fanlayer Handoff Package

    • Access to Verify API / SDK slice for UID scans and ownership checks.

    • Agency dashboard visibility into rewards, resale royalties, and lifecycle events.

    • Provisioning documentation to guide QA and supply chain teams.

    Integration Options

    • Drop Fanlayer’s SDK into an app (or use a white-label scanner if preferred).

    • Simple bulk upload options if third-party platforms (e.g., Weverse, Bubble) don’t allow direct integration.

    • Intended to align with existing fan apps with no major engineering required.

    Activation & Oversight

    • Products activate upon first verified scan.

    • Dashboard provides real-time visibility into UID activity, resale royalties, and engagement.

    • Enforcement features (duplicate UID flags, revocation controls) support brand protection.

    Accordion: What “8–16 weeks” means during the provisional phase

    • Integration modeling pack: UID specs, POS-gating flow, dashboard mockups (non-production).

    • OEM readiness brief: compatibility checklist + reference options.

    • Prototype plan: off-the-shelf tag paths + activation demo support.

    • Legal note: provisional filed; non-provisional in progress with Sterne Kessler.

    (Illustrative only; timing depends on licensee adoption and OEM schedules.)

Prototypes shown are conceptual. We have held exploratory calls with Avery Dennison about UID components, encasement options across form factors, indicative lead times, and potential OEM introductions. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Imagine the New Era of Merchandise

Film premieres, Broadway openings, and streaming drops generate billion-dollar fan pools, but the value fades as soon as the credits roll. Fanlayer ensures that merch, souvenirs, and collectibles don’t just mark the moment; they stay alive long after. With 302M Netflix members, 14.7M Broadway attendees in 2024–25, and multiple billion-dollar films in 2024 (Inside Out 2, Deadpool & Wolverine, Moana 2), the scale of opportunity is undeniable.

New Fanlayer Categories (Illustrative)

Franchise fanbase (~10M engaged fans):

  • Smart Charms, $39: 5% = $19.5M, 10% = $39M, 20% = $78M

  • Wearables, $129: 5% = $64.5M, 10% = $129M, 20% = $258M

  • AI Hubs, $299: 5% = $149.5M, 10% = $299M, 20% ≈ $598M

At Home & Everyday

  • A wearable glows during a new season drop, keeping engagement alive between episodes.

  • An AI hub replays iconic soundtracks or voice lines, triggered on anniversaries or milestones.

  • Smart charms unlock behind-the-scenes extras tied to franchises like Marvel or Harry Potter.

  • UID-authenticated collectibles (props, posters, toys) carry resale royalties, ensuring studios capture the secondary market value.

At Venue

  • A Broadway playbill relights on your anniversary with a cast message or highlight reel.

  • UID tickets and wristbands prove premier attendance and unlock encore perks.

  • Event-linked wearables pulse at curtain call or during a finale, creating shared recognition.

Studios, streamers, and producers already spend billions to spark moments. Fanlayer ensures that every product generates royalties beyond the release, transforming souvenirs and merchandise into ongoing revenue engines.

The Fanlayer Solution

Fanlayer operationalizes UID lifecycles across entire portfolios. Point-of-sale activation confirms purchase, and authenticity persists across all owners; resale events are intended to be tied into a patent-pending system that can support royalty distribution.

Unlike DIY tags that stop at basic verification, Fanlayer is built for portfolio-scale trust and monetization. Just as Dolby defines audio and Qualcomm defines wireless, Fanlayer positions itself as the framework for authenticated merchandise at operational scale.

brian@fanlayer.io | Secure Your Pilot Path (LOIs open now)

All models and scenarios are illustrative; actual outcomes depend on license scope, OEM schedules, and adoption rates.

The Retention Loop

Loyalty isn’t built in a single moment; it’s built through recognition that lasts. With Fanlayer, every scan turns fleeting interactions into compounding revenue. UID-authenticated goods carry recognition across owners, maintaining their value throughout the purchase and verified resale process.

  • Verified Actions → Revenue: Each scan confirms authenticity and can unlock a purchase, upgrade, or resale royalty.

  • Automated Recognition: Alerts drive new transactions; royalties can be administered automatically (subject to license terms).

  • Proof of Belonging: Fans and families carry lasting recognition, not just a souvenir that fades.

Every interaction creates incremental value, both in aggregated, non-identifying data and in new revenue, as well as royalties that extend far beyond the moment.

Always-On Fandom

Movies may open on Fridays, shows may close their runs, but fandom lives every day. Fanlayer keeps studios, streamers, and theaters connected year-round, turning milestones into recognition and revenue.

Three Always-On Pillars

  • Franchise moments: sequels, anniversaries, spin-offs, and streaming season launches.

  • Fan milestones: birthdays, subscriptions, streaks, or ticket anniversaries.

  • Community energy: watch parties, fan clubs, conventions, livestreams, and global collaborations where collectibles or wearables can respond in real-time.

Fans have already proven this behavior: Stranger Things collaborations, Squid Game tie-ins, and Broadway souvenir streaks show that millions will engage daily for recognition. Even a 5% monthly scan rate compounds into repeat sales, verified resales, and royalties, ensuring loyalty lives between premieres and productions.

Start Small, Scale Fast

Adoption doesn’t require a massive rollout. Fanlayer is designed for progressive adoption: start small, prove uplift quickly, then scale into nine-figure opportunities.

  • Retrofit Existing SKUs: As little as $1.50–$3.00 per unit. Example: a $50 plushie retrofitted at $1.50 can deliver a +10–15% uplift in Year One, roughly a $1.50 input returning $5–$7.50.

  • Add 1–2 New Categories: Smart charms, wearables, or hubs. Entry launches cost far less than multi-million-dollar pilots yet prove a premium upside.

  • Scale to Portfolios: A single Broadway hit can generate immediate seven-figure returns, while a flagship film or franchise (e.g., Marvel-scale fanbases) can unlock nine-figure engines.

Once UID-enabled products become the standard, portfolios scale automatically, and rivals who delay will struggle to catch up.

Headline Scenarios (Illustrative)

  • Rookie debut (~3M fans): Smart charms @ 5% ≈ $5.8M gross.

  • Top group (~20M fans): Wearables @ 10% ≈ $258M gross.

  • Portfolio (3–5 groups): $200M+ annually, scaling toward billion-dollar upside if adoption becomes standard across agencies.

This is the Dolby/Qualcomm path for fandom: once UID-based products become the default, portfolios scale automatically, with royalties and revenue compounding year after year.

  • Assumptions used across examples:

    Smart Charm $39, Wearable $129, AI Home Hub $299. Adoption bands: conservative 5%, push 20%. “Audience” refers to engaged viewers, ticket buyers, or subscribers with purchasing power.

    Near-term pilots (tied to revenue):

    • Tentpole film, audience 10,000,000 → Charms at 5% = 500,000 × $39 = $19.5M; at 20% = 2,000,000 × $39 = $78M.

    • Streaming hit, audience 20,000,000 → Wearables at 5% = 1,000,000 × $129 = $129M; at 20% = 4,000,000 × $129 = $516M.

    • Broadway/West End run, audience 1,000,000 → Charms at 10% = 100,000 × $39 = $3.9M; Wearables at 5% = 50,000 × $129 = $6.45M.

    • Franchise at-home, audience 10,000,000 → Hubs at 5% = 500,000 × $299 = $149.5M (requires bundling).

    3-year portfolio ranges:

    • Single flagship IP: $50–$150M conservative, $300M+ mid-case.

    • Multi-franchise studio or streamer: $300–$800M conservative, $1.5B+ mid-case.

    • Major portfolio across studios/streamers: $1–$2B conservative, $5B+ mid-case.

    Openings fade fast; verified SKUs keep earning between releases. All figures are illustrative only; no endorsement implied; royalties and enforcement subject to license terms.

The Future of Fan Engagement

The way fans expect to interact with their favorite groups is evolving fast, and K-pop is at the forefront.

Market Forces (Global Data)

  • Phygital adoption is mainstream, with 13.7M NFC-tagged garments expected in 2024, achieving 42% engagement (Market Reports World, 2024).

  • Identity-driven licensing is booming: $307.9B in 2024, up 10% YoY (License Global 2025).

  • Always-on participation is expected: “Audiences now want to participate in the worlds they love actively” (License Global 2025).

Entertainment Proof

Audiences already treat plushies, T-shirts, and playbills as proof of identity, and pay resale premiums for rare collectibles. Star Wars alone has generated $29B+ in lifetime merchandise sales; Stranger Things is expanding into complete toy ecosystems; and Wicked bridges both Broadway and film with billion-dollar momentum.

What this means: fans now expect SKUs to carry authenticity, engagement, and resale value, not just a logo. Fanlayer provides the licensing system that enables this shift to be scalable and portfolio-ready.

Why Fanlayer Works for Entertainment Leaders

For studios, streamers, and producers, two questions matter most: will it pay back quickly, and can it scale safely? Fanlayer is structured to answer both.

Fast Payback (Pilot-Proven)

  • +10–15% uplift on existing SKUs in Year One, with resale royalties layered in.

  • ROI anchor: a $1.50 retrofit can unlock $3.50–$5.25 in incremental value per unit.

Scalable & Defensible

  • New categories (charms, UID playbills, AI hubs) carry nine-figure upside per flagship franchise.

  • Patent pending: provisional filed April 2025; non-provisional in progress.

  • Plug-and-play adoption: OEM kit + schematics reduce barriers.

  • POS-gated activation: designed to return royalties at resale events.

  • Competitive benchmarks: early adopters may set portfolio standards that are difficult for rivals to replicate.

Cultural Fit

Fans already prove loyalty with merch and souvenirs; Fanlayer verifies and monetizes that behavior without disrupting brand design or fan relationships.

The story doesn’t end at the credits; with Fanlayer, it becomes a franchise-long revenue engine.

In plain terms: entertainment already operates in an economy where identity = revenue. Fanlayer ensures recognition is no longer fleeting; it becomes a recurring value across franchises.

Partner With Us

Fanlayer is building the trusted technology layer behind entertainment, unlocking new revenue, protecting studios and producers, and deepening audience relationships.

brian@fanlayer.io | Secure Your Pilot Path (LOIs open now)

All models and scenarios are illustrative; actual outcomes depend on license scope, OEM schedules, and adoption rates.

Early adopters who signal intent now through non-binding LOIs may secure first-mover exclusivity once licensing begins (illustrative only).

After the credits roll or the curtain falls, Fanlayer keeps official merchandise authenticated, engaging, and royalty-bearing.

Next Step: Secure Your Pilot Path

Non-binding LOIs are open now.

  • Reserve first-mover exclusivity while Fanlayer’s non-provisional patent is in progress.

  • Receive a free ROI assessment pack (SKU scan, attach-rate models, integration brief) tailored to your fandom SKUs.

  • Position your label or group as an early standard-setter in authenticated fan merchandise.

All models and scenarios are illustrative; actual outcomes depend on license scope, OEM schedules, and adoption rates.

brian@fanlayer.io | Request Your ROI Pack

Pilot Roadmap (Illustrative Only)

  • Now – Non-provisional patent in progress with Sterne Kessler.

  • Q4 2025 – Licensee onboarding discussions under NDA.

  • 2026 – First exclusive pilot SKUs expected to launch (lightsticks, plushies, charms, apparel).

  • Beyond – Scale into multi-group portfolios and global rollouts.

(Illustrative only; timing depends on studio or producer adoption and OEM schedules.)