UMG’s Bravado Strikes Merchandise Deal with Disney’s Searchlight Pictures

Universal Music Group’s merchandising arm, Bravado, is entering a partnership with Disney’s Searchlight Pictures.

Why it matters:

• The deal marks Bravado’s first partnership with a film studio, as it seeks to work with more clients outside of music.

• It comes nine months after Dan Goldberg was appointed SVP of Strategy & New Ventures at Bravado, where he’s tasked with finding new verticals for the company beyond its regular music partnerships.

• Bravado’s other non-music clients include Harley-Davidson and Channel 199, Travis Pastrana’s action sports platform.

• The company also handles branding and merchandise for acts such as the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, Post Malone, Guns N’Roses and A$AP Rocky, among many others.

Partnership launch:

• The companies’ first partnership is on merch for the movie Wild Horse Nine, the new film from writer-director Martin McDonagh.

• The line includes T-shirts, a bowling bag, signet rings, a scarf, passport holder, keychain, vinyl of the film’s soundtrack, and more.

What they said:

• Dan Goldberg: “Searchlight has built an incredible catalog of films that people have real connections to and we’re thrilled to be working with them as our first partner in film and entertainment. Great films create lasting fandom, and we see a real opportunity to build on that through products and experiences that extend those stories beyond the screen.”