For this pre-Halloween post, I’m quoting my niece’s PhD husband, Doc. Talbert’s Twitter: “In an age of frustration, anger, and a world on fire, at least some hilarious things happen: Death Row Records Is Now Owned by the Hasbro Toy Company – Complex”
What? That’s right: As of August 22nd, “Death Row Records has changed ownership again. Now, the infamous record label’s catalog has been purchased by popular toy company Hasbro. Home to famous kids toys like Mr. Potato Head, Power Rangers, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, Transformers, the board game Monopoly and many more, Hasbro purchased Entertainment One, a multimedia company which previously owned the label Suge Knight built that pushed the careers of artists like 2Pac, Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.”
Regarding the purchase Hasbro said, “The acquisition of eOne adds beloved story-led global family brands that deliver strong operating returns to Hasbro’s portfolio and provides a pipeline of new brand creation driven by family-oriented storytelling.”
Such acquisitions are financially based, so Hasbro must expect profits. While not all business mergers are made in heaven, one hopes these future products will pass a quality-control board to possess educational and entertainment value for children. Just imagine the future commercials we’ll be seeing.
What was your favorite childhood toy? (At age four, mine was a sparkling whirling spinner I disappeared with into any closet for hours as I depressed the plunger and it made the flint-edged wheel produce sparks). Friends of mine invented an educational Bible board game. My adult college students created some geography teaching games that should be manufactured.
If you designed a children’s toy or game, what would it look like? How would it operate? Tell us about it. Maybe give it a whirl.
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