About

In 2022,  we launched X Tracks Licensing Forums as a way to reconnect the licensing business post-pandemic through high level education and networking events. We began in November 2022 with our premier X Tracks Licensing Summit in Los Angeles focused on digital entertainment, anime and gaming. In September 2023, we shifted the event to NYC and grew the content to include, Web 3, Anime, Videogame, DEI , Toys and Metaverse. in Sept 2024 we shifted X Tracks back to L.A. with a major emphasis on how AI is changing licensing and a look at future growth categories in licensing: food & beverages: anime in fashion: Experiential: Selling Merch through Videogames: Short Form Digital Entertainment; neurodiversity in the workplace. What Walmart look for in licensed IP and so much more.

We’re very excited about our next X Tracks Licensing Summit coming to Bentonville, AR in June 2025. Stay tuned for more details, sponsorship opportunities and first come, first serve VIP tickets.

History

In February 1998, Steven Ekstract co founded the World's leading business publication and news source for the $340 billion a year Global Consumer Products Licensing business, License! magazine. In 2008, observing the globalization of the licensing business, Ekstract merged License! magazine and License! Europe to create one global information product for the industry. In 2018, Ekstract took on the Brand Director role for the Global Licensing Group at Informa Markets with new Expo launches in China and Japan.

In his role as Group Publisher of License Global, Ekstract was instrumental in the growth of the global licensing industry by creating the leading source of information that assisted the burgeoning licensing business to triple its growth in two decades. Additionally he partnered with and provided business development to the leading Global Consumer Products Licensing Trade Fairs & Conferences including: Licensing Expo; Brand Licensing Expo; Licensing Expo Japan; Licensing Expo China. Founder and Organizer of NYC Summit: The Business of brand Licensing-an annual C-Level Executive Conference for the Global Licensing industry helping to grow the business globally from $100 billion in 1998 to $300 billion in 2020.

Ekstract is consulted regularly by Intellectual Property owners, manufacturers, news media and VC's seeking expert information and analysis on licensing industry. ( See Media section of profile)

With the founding of Global Licensing Advisors, individual companies now benefit from Ekstract's Global licensing expertise and connections.

Specialties

Content driving Commerce, Branding and identity, licensing and retail, Pop Culture and International markets

Steven Ekstract is well known and respected as the founder and former Publisher (20 years) of License Global the leading trade publication for the global licensing industry. He is also a successful Licensing Event Organizer having been instrumental in developing all the major industry trade events around the globe including Licensing Expo, Brand Licensing Europe, Licensing Expo China, and Licensing Expo Japan and launching the NYC Licensing Summit. Ekstract and his partner Sharon Weisman, have the support of key global licensees and licensors to develop a series of small, curated licensing summits that bring to market under indexed properties that have significant retail potential.