Privateer Holdings

From rebel to retail − inside Bob Marley’s posthumous musical and merchandising empire

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

But as a music industry scholar, I wonder if the film is yet another extension of the Marley marketing machine.

Key Points: 
  • But as a music industry scholar, I wonder if the film is yet another extension of the Marley marketing machine.
  • This image, however, is fundamentally at odds with what has happened to Marley’s name and likeness since his death.
  • Now you can buy Bob Marley backpacks, Bob Marley jigsaw puzzles – even Bob Marley flip-flops.

On and off the record

  • According to the publication, Marley earned US$16 million – or rather, his estate did.
  • The commercial power of Bob Marley’s name generates the royalties earned by the estate, though precise percentages are not publicly available.
  • One posthumous musical release, in particular, has been a gold mine: Marley’s “Legend” compilation album.
  • But the material absent from that record speaks volumes.
  • These tracks don’t appear on “Legend.” In fact, none of the tracks from “Survival” do.
  • And so four decades after his death, Bob Marley remains the world’s top reggae artist.

Merchandising a mystic

  • In an era of minuscule music royalties, a large portion of that $16 million in earnings also comes from merchandising, which has further watered down Marley’s revolutionary politics and spiritualism.
  • Thanks to what two writers called “the Disneyfication of all matters Marley,” you can now buy Bob Marley-themed coffee, ice cream and body wash. There’s sustainably sourced, Bob Marley-branded audio equipment, in addition to a line of Bob Marley skateboard decks.
  • It’s funded by the American private equity company Privateer Holdings, which the Marley family had approached to gauge their interest in collaboration for the product’s release.
  • The creators of the Starbucks logo were hired to design the logo for Marley Natural, further underlining the venture’s commercial ties.
  • In 2001, his daughter Cedella, who runs parts of the estate, released a fashion line called Catch a Fire.
  • On it, tracks like “Slave Driver,” “Concrete Jungle” and “400 Years” connect the poverty of the present to the injustices of the past.

The reel situation of ‘One Love’

  • The estate has long portrayed the rampant commercialization of the Marley name and image as an important way to sustain and spread the artist’s ideals.
  • However, I think it’s important to ensure that the artistic and cultural values embedded in his music do not become clouded in a haze of rampant commercialization.
  • And his anti-imperialist messages, as warmongers threaten basic human rights around the world, are perhaps needed now more than ever.


Mike Alleyne does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation Hires Steven Yoo as Chief Financial Officer

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation (TOCC), Texas leading medical cannabis provider, today announced Steven Yoo will join the company as chief financial officer on Oct. 1, 2021.

Key Points: 
  • Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation (TOCC), Texas leading medical cannabis provider, today announced Steven Yoo will join the company as chief financial officer on Oct. 1, 2021.
  • Steven brings a wealth of knowledge from both the cannabis and financial sectors to Texas, said Morris Denton, CEO of TOCC.
  • Texas is the most exciting state in the country for cannabis right now with an unmatched upside in the medical cannabis market, said Yoo.
  • Texas Original Compassionate Cultivation (TOCC) is the leading licensed medical marijuana producer in Texas, working alongside physicians to provide the highest quality cannabis medicine to patients and families seeking relief across the state.

Radiant Canna Receives Exclusive California Rights to Select Marley Natural® Cannabis Products

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 13, 2021

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiant Canna today announced it has secured the exclusive rights to select Marley Natural cannabis products in California.

Key Points: 
  • SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Radiant Canna today announced it has secured the exclusive rights to select Marley Natural cannabis products in California.
  • Radiant's agreement with Docklight Brands, Inc. , marks Marley Natural's return to the California market, and allows Radiant to produce and distribute Marley Natural cannabis flower, concentrate and edible products.
  • "Radiant understands the ethos of Marley Natural and will bring spirited and high-quality products to consumers who love the brand."
  • Radiant Canna and its logistics arm, Radiant Distro, provides manufacturing, distribution and technology solutions to more than a dozen multi-award-winning brands.

Tilray Introduces Its First Cross-brand Product Collaboration and Launches Canadian Craft Cannabis Brand, Broken Coast, in the U.S.

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, June 30, 2021

(Broken Coast), a brand under the Tilray portfolio based in British Columbia and geared toward the premium cannabis market.

Key Points: 
  • (Broken Coast), a brand under the Tilray portfolio based in British Columbia and geared toward the premium cannabis market.
  • Broken Coast BC Lager1 is the first cross-brand product developed in partnership with leading craft brands, SweetWater and Broken Coast, and Tilrays first Canadian cannabis brand introduction into the U.S.
  • Mr. Simon continued, Tilray is transforming the cannabis industry and introducing new brands into mainstream consumer markets.
  • With its mission to nurture the ultimate expression of the cannabis plant, in all its variations, Broken Coast sets the standard for Canadian Craft Cannabis.

Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. Announces Voting Results for its 2021 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders

Retrieved on: 
Monday, June 28, 2021

The Corporation is pleased to announce that Mr. Nitin Kaushal has been appointed the new Chair of the Board effective June 25, 2021.

Key Points: 
  • The Corporation is pleased to announce that Mr. Nitin Kaushal has been appointed the new Chair of the Board effective June 25, 2021.
  • About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.
    Delta 9 Cannabis Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company focused on bringing the highest quality cannabis products to market.
  • The company sells cannabis products through its wholesale and retail sales channels and sells its cannabis grow pods to other businesses.
  • Delta 9 owns and operates a chain of retail stores under the Delta 9 Cannabis Store brand.

Clever Leaves and Ethypharm Announce German Pharmaceutical Cannabis Partnership

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 17, 2021

NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVR, CLVRW) (Clever Leaves or the Company), a leading multi-national operator and licensed producer of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, today announced the signing of a supply agreement with Ethypharm (Ethypharm), a European manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products, for the sale of medical cannabis extracts produced in Clever Leaves EU-GMP certified facilities in Colombia.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: CLVR, CLVRW) (Clever Leaves or the Company), a leading multi-national operator and licensed producer of pharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids, today announced the signing of a supply agreement with Ethypharm (Ethypharm), a European manufacturer and distributor of pharmaceutical products, for the sale of medical cannabis extracts produced in Clever Leaves EU-GMP certified facilities in Colombia.
  • This partnership with Ethypharm, an established European pharmaceutical company, advances our vision of providing market-leading medical cannabis products to patients.
  • Partnering with an established pharmaceutical company like Ethypharm also allows Clever Leaves to more broadly enter the German pharmaceutical market, which is currently considered one of the most important international medical cannabis markets due to its size, pace of growth, and Germanys clinical credibility in terms of paving the way to entering additional European or international pharmaceutical markets.
  • This innovative collaboration on medical cannabis with Clever Leaves is a good example of how Ethypharm has developed new ways to provide patients with the care they need.

Tilray® Receives Approvals to Expand and Commercialize Medical Cannabis Products in New Zealand

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, March 10, 2021

George Polimenakos, General Manager, Tilray Australia, and New Zealand, said, "We are proud to receive the first medical cannabis product approvals according to New Zealand's new Medical Cannabis Scheme.

Key Points: 
  • George Polimenakos, General Manager, Tilray Australia, and New Zealand, said, "We are proud to receive the first medical cannabis product approvals according to New Zealand's new Medical Cannabis Scheme.
  • The rigorous approval process is a testament to the high standards the Ministry of Health upholds for patients and the quality of Tilray's medical cannabis products."
  • Patients looking to use medical cannabis have access to Tilray products by obtaining prescriptions through their General Practitioner or Specialist.
  • Tilray looks forward to expanding its product offering further and supplying more patients in-need with high-quality medical cannabis products.

LYPHE Group imports Northern Green Canada into the U.K. market as supply to the medical cannabis brand, NOIDECS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

The growing range of NOIDECS products is welcome news for the U.K. market, which has historically struggled with consistent supply of flower-based medical cannabis products.

Key Points: 
  • The growing range of NOIDECS products is welcome news for the U.K. market, which has historically struggled with consistent supply of flower-based medical cannabis products.
  • It also adds to the long line of products stocked by LYPHE Group pharmacy, Dispensary Green, which stocks more than 90% of all available brands in the market.
  • Lisa McCormack, CEO, Northern Green Canada said in response: "We are delighted to support LYPHE Group as they build their NOIDECS range into a mainstay of the U.K. and European markets.
  • LYPHE is comprised of the following industry leading companies:
    About Northern Green Canada Inc.
    Northern Green Canada Inc. is a federally licensed, EU GMP-certified producer of medical cannabis, focused on providing cannabis medications for a better quality of life.

LYPHE Group imports Northern Green Canada into the U.K. market as supply to the medical cannabis brand, NOIDECS

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 17, 2021

The growing range of NOIDECS products is welcome news for the U.K. market, which has historically struggled with consistent supply of flower-based medical cannabis products.

Key Points: 
  • The growing range of NOIDECS products is welcome news for the U.K. market, which has historically struggled with consistent supply of flower-based medical cannabis products.
  • It also adds to the long line of products stocked by LYPHE Group pharmacy, Dispensary Green, which stocks more than 90% of all available brands in the market.
  • Lisa McCormack, CEO, Northern Green Canada said in response: "We are delighted to support LYPHE Group as they build their NOIDECS range into a mainstay of the U.K. and European markets.
  • LYPHE is comprised of the following industry leading companies:
    About Northern Green Canada Inc.
    Northern Green Canada Inc. is a federally licensed, EU GMP-certified producer of medical cannabis, focused on providing cannabis medications for a better quality of life.

Report: Legal Cannabis Industry Now Supports 321,000 Full-Time American Jobs, Doubling in Size Since 2018

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 16, 2021

The growth of the cannabis industry echoed record-high support among Americans to legalize cannabis, and five additional states voted to allow medical or adult use sales, bringing the total number of states with legal cannabis sales to 37.

Key Points: 
  • The growth of the cannabis industry echoed record-high support among Americans to legalize cannabis, and five additional states voted to allow medical or adult use sales, bringing the total number of states with legal cannabis sales to 37.
  • Despite record growth in the industry, the 2021 Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report also shows how legal cannabis still faces social equity challenges.
  • Key findings from the 2021 Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report include:
    The speed of legal cannabis job growth exceeds every other American industry -- the number of full-time cannabis jobs has doubled since 2018 and skyrocketed by 161% over the last four years.
  • The 2021 Leafly Cannabis Jobs Report includes detailed state-level data for the top ten states by cannabis job numbers, and can be accessed here .