Dell Furano, the CEO of Epic Rights, a global retail branding, merchandising and artist services company, will be inducted into the Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) Hall of Fame at an awards ceremony this May at Licensing Expo 2017 in Las Vegas.
Furano has been instrumental in growing retail brand licensing for musicians into a multi-billion dollar a year global business while working with many of the biggest artists. In his 40-plus year career Furano directed the merchandising and licensing on behalf of The Beatles, John Lennon, Madonna, U2, Kiss, AC/DC, Justin Timberlake, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Jackson, Led Zeppelin, Wham!/George Michael and Shakira among others. He also orchestrated concert merchandising programs for many others, including The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Barbra Streisand, Prince, Aerosmith, Tim McGraw and The Who.
“The artist retail branding industry is long overdue to receive recognition for its contributions to the global retail licensing and merchandising business,” said Furano in a statement, “and I am honored that LIMA has selected me to join the licensing industry’s Hall of Fame. It has been a tremendous ride from the beginnings of a strictly concert merchandising business to the multi-billion-dollar global retail business it has become today, and I look forward to continuing to be at the forefront of innovation in artist branding, licensing and merchandising.”
Trending on Billboard
Furano joins a list of merchandiser luminaries inducted into the LIMA Hall of Fame, including Walt Disney, George Lucas, Mark McCormack, Jim Henson, Daniel Romanelli, Debra Joester, Joanne Loria, Howard Roffman, Leigh Anne Brodsky, Charles Schultz and Brad Globe among others.
Furano began his career in 1974 in the Bay area where, after graduating from Stanford, he licensed Grateful Dead apparel and posters for local record stores and head shops. Recognizing the potential of licensing and merchandising musicians, Dell expanded his business by creating major retail branding programs for New Kids on The Block, Britney Spears, Run DMC, Jessica Simpson and Celine Dion. He also created lines for the Osbourne Family reality TV show, Woodstock, John Lennon’s “Imagine” Children’s line, Michael Jackson’s Mystery Drink program, Steve Martin’s “Wild and Crazy” line of merchandise,” Madonna’s “Like a Virgin” brand, Janet Jackson, MC Hammer, The Police, the Lyrics of Lennon & McCartney, and Pink Floyd The Wall.
Epic Rights, with its headquarters in Los Angeles, has become a full-service global branding, merchandising, e-commerce and Artist Services company. It’s services also include retail/branding, merchandising, social media management, VIP ticketing, and fan experiences. It also provides in-house legal resources for trademark consultation and anti-infringement efforts. Epic Rights is headquartered in Los Angeles, California.