Flo Rida to Co-Host Opening Night Party at Licensing Expo 2013

LOS ANGELES, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanstar Licensing, organizers of Licensing Expo, and its sponsor The International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA) jointly announce that Flo Rida will be the special guest Co-Host at the Licensing Expo Opening Night Party.  International multi-platinum artist Flo Rida, recently named a Billboard Top 100 Artist for 2013 and the biggest selling digital hip hop artist in the world, knows how to get a party started.  This must-attend networking event for the licensing industry, in association with LIMA and sponsored by Sony Pictures Consumer Products, takes place on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Beach Club from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. PST. Licensing Expo party attendees will get the full Flo Rida experience and DJ Kronik, Flo Rida's official DJ, will play throughout the entire party. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130515/NY14823 )

"We are thrilled to have Flo Rida, a true international music sensation, and DJ Kronik join us to kick off Licensing Expo 2013," said Jessica Blue, vice president, Licensing Expo.  "Each year we find that more entertainers and celebrities are entering the licensing business and attending our event, and we only expect this trend to continue as they develop unique partnerships that resonate with their fan base."    

"We're excited to officially showcase the Flo Rida brand at Licensing Expo, the world's largest and most influential brand, character, entertainment and art licensing event," said Marlo Gold, president, D3M Licensing Group.  "Millions of fans around the world know Flo Rida for his international chart-topping hits, and now they'll get to know his health and lifestyle brand beyond the music."

D3M Licensing Group, global licensing agent for Flo Rida, has come to Licensing Expo to identify strategic partners for the Flo Rida brand to activate new consumers in key categories, including apparel, accessories, health and fitness, consumer electronics, music-related products and more.  The team is also negotiating endorsement deals with brands looking to engage Flo Rida's millions of fans around the world.  D3M Licensing Group will exhibit the Flo Rida brand throughout Licensing Expo at booth number Q191.

Licensing Expo is a trade-only event and only registered attendees to Licensing Expo may purchase tickets for the party.

For more Licensing Expo news, including information on how to register for the Expo, visit www.licensingexpo.com or find them on Twitter (@licensingexpo), on Facebook or via LinkedIn.

About Licensing Expo
Licensing Expo (www.licensingexpo.com) is the licensing industry's largest annual event. A trade show for leveraging properties and brand equity to develop merchandise, Licensing Expo attracts more than 400 exhibitors representing more than 5,000 brands and properties in entertainment; sports; fashion and apparel; publishing; art and design; automotive; animation/anime; home and housewares; and lifestyle. Exhibitors include Fortune 500 consumer brands, film studios, publishing houses and other creative agencies. Attendees from more than 80 countries represent the world's leading retailers, licensees, manufacturers, distributors and licensing agents. Licensing Expo is owned and organized by Advanstar Communications, Inc., is sponsored by the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA), and is affiliated with License! Global magazine and Brand Licensing Europe.

About Advanstar Communications Inc
Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com), producer of Licensing Expo and Brand Licensing Europe, is a leading worldwide media company providing integrated marketing solutions for fashion, life sciences and power sports industries. Advanstar serves business professionals and consumers in these industries with its portfolio of 147 events, 68 publications and directories, 267 electronic products and web sites, as well as educational and direct marketing products and services. Market leading brands and a commitment to delivering innovation, quality products and services enable Advanstar to "connect our customers with theirs". Advanstar has approximately 1,000 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America and Europe.

About Flo Rida
IMG/Poe Boy/Atlantic recording artist Flo Rida is without question one of today's most vibrant and recognizable superstars, a true international icon and history-making hip-hop hero.  The Miami-based rapper burst onto the scene in 2007 with his record-breaking #1 hit, "Low (Feat. T-Pain)," which spent 10 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard "Hot 100."  With worldwide sales exceeding 12 million, "Low" -- found on Flo Rida's acclaimed 2008 debut album, "MAIL ON SUNDAY" – is one of the most successful digital singles of the past decade, making its way into the Guinness Book of World Records as 2008's best-selling download in the United States.

In 2009, Flo Rida broke his own record when "Right Round" made history with more than 636,000 digital sales in its first week of release – still the biggest debut digital sales week for any single ever.  The single proved equally successful around the globe, reaching #1 in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. In addition to guest appearances on such tracks as David Guetta's "Where Them Girls At (Feat. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj)," the iconic rapper has made non-stop worldwide noise with an array of his own international party anthems, including "In The Ayer (Feat. will.i.am)," "Club Can't Handle Me (Feat. David Guetta)," and "Sugar (Feat. Wynter Gordon)."  

In 2012, Flo Rida once again dominated Billboard's "Hot 100" chart. With nearly 4 million digital singles sold worldwide, the sultry smash "Whistle" became Flo Rida's third #1 hit on the "Hot 100". All told, Flo Rida has sold over 75 million singles worldwide.

For more information, please visit www.officialflo.com

About D3M Licensing Group
D3M Licensing Group (D3M) provides end to end solutions for brands and talent looking to break through the clutter and successfully grow their business.  The company's unique 360-degree approach to licensing and endorsements offers clients support through every stage of brand extension, from product development and manufacturing, to marketing and brand building, to securing distribution and facilitating sell-through. 

D3M is managed by an entrepreneurial executive team that brings 20 plus years of experience in all aspects of licensing, from both sides of the aisle.  Their expertise covers wholesaling and manufacturing across toys and video games, apparel and accessories, software and hardware development, and TV production.  D3M principals have successfully developed products and brands for companies such as Hasbro, Mattel, Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, Disney, Marvel Entertainment, Nickelodeon, HSN, QVC and the NFL.

For more information, please visit www.D3Mgroup.com

SOURCE Advanstar Communications Inc.