Whalerock Industries

Whalerock Industries is an American media and technology company. Based in West Hollywood, Whalerock partners with public figures and brands to create, build and operate direct-to-consumer multi-media apps which integrate music, video, live streaming, e-commerce, and gaming. Whalerock's partners include Sirius XM, Howard Stern, Warner Bros., Pottermore, MTV, Comedy Central, CMT, MSN, Microsoft, the Kardashian/Jenner sisters, and Tyler the Creator. The multi-media apps were described by Wired as "promising a new kind of interaction—one with more control (and money) for celebrities and more content (and exclusive allure) for super fans."[1][2]

Whalerock Industries
TypePrivate
IndustryMedia
Technology
PredecessorBermanBraun (2007–2014)
Founded2014 (2014)
FounderLloyd Braun
Headquarters
West Hollywood, California
,
United States
Key people
Lloyd Braun
Websitewww.whalerockindustries.com

Whalerock also produces and develops content for film, television, and stage, and develops and operates emoji keyboards for Kim Kardashian (Kimoji), the Los Angeles Lakers, (Showtime! Stickers), Ellen DeGeneres (Emoji Exploji), and the NFL Players Association (Any Given Emoji).[3][4]

History

Whalerock Industries was founded in January 2014 by Lloyd Braun, previously the president of Brillstein-Grey Entertainment, the chairman of the ABC Entertainment Group, and the head of the Yahoo! Media Group. In 2005, he predicted that celebrities would become "more directly in contact with their fans, and that "instead of watching them through a cable box, you could see them on the Web and interact with them more." The Street wrote in 2015 that Braun was doing "exactly" that, "but using mobile and over-the-top distribution over the Internet without traditional networks, cable TV, or even major social networking sites."[5][6][7]

Braun founded Whalerock Industries following his buyout of BermanBraun, a media production company he co-founded with Gail Berman. In 2015, the investment firm GF Capital acquired a minority stake in the company, MGM renewed its existing TV and film deal with Whalerock, and launched the direct-to-consumer over-the- top media hubs were launched.[8][9] In 2016, the investment company Insight Venture Partners acquired a minority stake in the company.[10][2][11]

In September 2018, RockYou acquired Mom.me and Purple Clover from Whalerock Industries for an undisclosed amount.[12]

Properties

Film and television

Digital
  • Wonderwall
  • Tested
  • Golf Media by Tyler, the Creator
  • Khloe Kardashian
  • Kylie Jenner
  • Howard Stern
  • Sirius Satellite Radio
  • Kimoji
  • Lakers Showtime! Stickers
  • Ellen's Emoji Exploji
  • Any Given Emoji with National Football League Players Association
  • Mom.me

References
  1. Greenberg, Julia (September 22, 2015). "Like It or Not, Kylie Jenner Is the Celebrity of the Future". Wired. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  2. Barnes, Brooks (February 18, 2015). "Coming Soon: Celebrity Web Networks From the Media Company Whalerock". New York Times. Retrieved 11 October 2015.
  3. McHugh, Molly (June 1, 2016). "The Kingdom of Crying Kim Kardashian". The Ringer. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. Fisher, Eric (September 1, 2016). "Face Time". Sports Business Daily. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  5. Jackson, Eric (September 15, 2015). "Should Twitter and Facebook Be Worried About the Kardashians?". The Street. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  6. Littleton, Cynthia (February 28, 2014). "BermanBraun Relaunches as Whalerock Industries". Variety. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (June 18, 2013). "MGM & BermanBraun Sign TV Production Deal, First-Look Feature Pact". Deadline. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
  8. Spangler, Todd (February 18, 2015). "Whalerock to Launch Digital 'Hubs' for Celebs Including Kardashians, Howard Stern". Variety.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (February 18, 2015). "Lloyd Braun's Whalerock Industries Re-Ups TV & Film Deals With MGM". Deadline. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  10. McHugh, Molly (June 1, 2016). "The Kingdom of Crying Kim Kardashian". The Ringer. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  11. "Whalerock Industries". insightpartners.com. Insight Venture Partners. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  12. "RockYou Media Buys Mom.me From Whalerock Industries as Part of Roll-Up Strategy". 24 September 2018.
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