So if you ever wanted an indication of how the market works nowadays, look no further than Guitar Hero. The EPM Licensing Letter yesterday reported that Activision is disbanding the game and ceasing development because sales are (horrors!) declining. Now I suspect that even those declining sales would “wow” any of us in art licensing, however they are going in the wrong direction so - out with it.
Kind of feels like a Target sku…
This is life on the cutting edge of the industry. The next, newest, coolest …thing…will always be nipping at your heels, and the minute your concept falters they start looking past it. I once jotted down a quote in a conference, don’t remember whose, that sums it up nicely:
“The media, and hence the world, is interested in what is new, not necessarily what is better.”
Stay nimble, stay new, and stay in play.
So very true ~ If we don't stay on top of current trends and be aware of new and upcoming trends, we will be obsolete before we even introduce our art to manufacturers!!
ReplyDeleteI'm always paying attention to the Pantone Color Trends when they come out, and any and all forecasts of what kind of subject matter and styles are considered to be the new thing or staying strong in the marketplace.