Dolphin Entertainment Issues Letter to Shareholders

Rhea-AI Summary

Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN) announced the formation of their 'Super Group' following the successful acquisition of Special Projects in Q4 2023. The company anticipates accelerated synergies and cross-selling in their core businesses, expecting top-line revenue growth and an impact on their bottom line. They also plan to strategically scale into new verticals and receive equity stakes in products, content, and events they are marketing. The company believes these ventures will have a positive impact on their valuation, leading to sustained long-term growth and increased shareholder value.

Insights

Market Research Analyst

The integration of Special Projects into Dolphin Entertainment's 'Super Group' and the announcement of equity stakes in marketed assets represent strategic moves with potential to influence the company's market position and valuation. The focus on synergies and cross-selling within core businesses could lead to enhanced revenue streams and bottom-line growth. Expansion into influencer marketing and new verticals like skin care/cosmetics/beauty, coupled with the targeting of the Young Adult demographic, indicates a diversification strategy aimed at capitalizing on high-growth market segments. These developments suggest a proactive approach to organic growth and market penetration.

Moreover, the anticipated premiere of the 'Blue Angels' documentary and the launch of celebrity-partnered products, alongside owned or co-owned live events, are unique value propositions that could impact valuation. These ventures, which do not require cash investment by Dolphin, could contribute to a self-sustaining business model. The company's ability to source and select upside opportunities while maintaining steady core business growth may enhance long-term shareholder value and provide a competitive edge in the entertainment marketing industry.

Financial Analyst

Dolphin Entertainment's strategy to receive equity stakes in content, consumer products and live events it markets is a significant financial development. This approach aligns with a long-term investment strategy that could generate additional revenue streams and potentially increase the company's asset base without necessitating direct cash outlays. The anticipated inclusion of these equity stakes in the company's valuation suggests a potential uplift in market capitalization, assuming successful execution and market reception of these ventures.

It's important to note that the success of such equity-based ventures is contingent on the market's response to the content and products, which carries inherent risks. However, if successful, these ventures could provide non-linear growth potential and a differentiated revenue model compared to traditional service-based income. Stakeholders should monitor the performance of the 'Blue Angels' documentary and other initiatives, as these will serve as early indicators of the efficacy of Dolphin's strategic pivot.

Entertainment Industry Analyst

Dolphin Entertainment's strategic initiatives reflect a nuanced understanding of the entertainment industry's current trends. The company's focus on influencer marketing and its entry into the skin care/cosmetics/beauty vertical aligns with the broader industry's shift towards digital and influencer-led campaigns. Furthermore, the emphasis on securing equity stakes in various entertainment-related assets is indicative of a broader industry trend where companies look to leverage their marketing expertise to gain a more direct stake in the success of the products and content they help promote.

The company's claim of a 'Super Group' of elite agencies in earned media suggests a comprehensive service offering that could appeal to a wide range of clients in the entertainment sector. This integrated approach could provide Dolphin with a competitive advantage in securing high-value clients and projects. The success of these initiatives, particularly Dolphin's owned or co-owned live events, could serve as a bellwether for the company's ability to innovate within the industry and generate new revenue streams.

MIAMI, FL / ACCESSWIRE / January 11, 2024 / Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN) today issued a letter to shareholders from Chief Executive Officer, Bill O'Dowd:

Dear Fellow Shareholders,

Good morning. The formation of our "Super Group" is now complete following the successful acquisition of Special Projects in Q4 2023. We are excited to enter the next phase in our company's history. To that end, I am excited to provide significant updates on our strategic initiatives and upcoming catalysts that promise to shape the trajectory of Dolphin Entertainment for years to come.

Core Business Growth
In our core businesses, we anticipate accelerated synergies and cross-selling, which we believe will spur top-line revenue growth and positively impact our bottom line. We expect this to include even more non-traditional entertainment clients that seek access to their consumers through pop culture. Our focus on expanding our client base and capitalizing on emerging market trends reflects the strategic decisions made over the past few quarters and positions us as a company capable of traversing the business landscape with confidence, providing for stability and creating opportunities for organic growth.

The Digital Dept. is expected to be one of our growth engines for several years, fueled by continued expansion in the fast-growing influencer marketing segment. We plan to strategically scale into new verticals with significant potential, including the highly lucrative skin care/cosmetics/beauty vertical, which has a long history of branding and co-marketing partnerships with the entertainment industry. Additionally, broadening our talent pool across platforms like TikTok and YouTube will allow us to offer brand partners premium access to the coveted Young Adult segment. These are sizable addressable markets that add another dimension to our growth strategy. We believe they present promising avenues for further diversification and expansion.

Receiving Equity Stakes in Products, Content and Events We are Marketing
Receiving equity stakes in some of the assets we are marketing is the long-term strategy we have espoused from the very beginning - ever since we started the Super Group by bringing 42West into the family and uplisting to NASDAQ in 2017. It is the reason we put this group of market-leading agencies together.

Dolphin was assembled to harness the power of earned media in culture -- quite possibly the most powerful and cost-effective way to reach the U.S. consumer. The search for and evaluation of opportunities to receive equity stakes in assets we are marketing includes all three asset categories wherein entertainment marketing has traditionally influenced the success of the venture - content, consumer products and live events.

We expect 2024 to witness:

• The premiere in theaters of the first of our content investments, the "Blue Angels" documentary in partnership with IMAX.
• The launch of the first product ideated by Dolphin that is in partnership with one of the A-list celebrities on our talent rosters.
• The announcement of the first of Dolphin's owned or co-owned live events, to occur in late 2024 or in 2025.

Portfolio Power: Positive Impact on Valuation
We believe each of these ventures provides great upside potential for Dolphin. We also believe that in time, and with some success, our company's valuation will include the perceived value of our slate of these ownership stakes, the majority of which we believe will not require any cash investment by Dolphin.

These ventures are integral to our broader strategy because they serve as upside catalysts for Dolphin. The "better mousetrap" we believe we have built comes from pairing our ability to source and select these upside opportunities with a self-sustaining core business that experiences steady growth in both the top and bottom lines through the ability to cross-sell services across market-leading agencies. We believe this combination provides the foundation for sustained long-term growth and increased shareholder value.

Thus, Dolphin is at the next stage of its journey. We announced our intentions to assemble this group for this purpose seven years ago. We have built the first entertainment marketing Super Group of elite agencies in earned media (public relations, influencer marketing and experiential marketing).

We have our Dream Team. Our eight acquisitions represent our very first choice of companies for each part of the vision. We never had to settle for a second choice. We are extremely blessed to be able to make that statement.

We believe in what we've built, and in what we plan to do next.

It's time to play some offense.

All the best,

Bill O'Dowd

CEO

About Dolphin Entertainment, Inc.
Dolphin Entertainment is a prominent independent entertainment marketing and production company. Through its subsidiaries, 42West, The Door, and Shore Fire Media, the company offers expert strategic marketing and publicity services to top brands in the film, television, music, gaming, and hospitality industries. All three PR firms have consistently ranked among the top 50 PR firms in the United States. Viewpoint Creative and The Digital Dept. complement these efforts with complete creative branding and production capabilities, as well as social media and influencer marketing services. Dolphin's most recent acquisition, Special Projects, provides talent booking services and event production for high-end clients in the media, entertainment, and fashion industries. Dolphin's legacy content production business, founded by Emmy-nominated CEO Bill O'Dowd, has produced multiple feature films and award-winning digital series. Dolphin has also entered into a multi-year agreement with IMAX to co-produce feature documentaries. To learn more, visit: https://www.dolphinentertainment.com.

This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, Dolphin Entertainment Inc.'s offering of common stock as well as expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying its expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by the use of words such as "will," "would," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," "designed," "plan," or "intend," the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These views involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, accordingly, Dolphin Entertainment's actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in its forward-looking statements. Dolphin Entertainment's forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this press release. Factors or events Dolphin Entertainment cannot predict, including those described in the risk factors contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause its actual results to differ from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Although Dolphin Entertainment believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved, and Dolphin Entertainment undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

CONTACT:
Hayden IR
James Carbonara
(646)-755-7412
james@haydenir.com

SOURCE: Dolphin Entertainment, Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com

FAQ

What is the 'Super Group' formed by Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN)?

The 'Super Group' was formed following the successful acquisition of Special Projects in Q4 2023.

What are the strategic initiatives and upcoming catalysts mentioned in the letter to shareholders from CEO Bill O'Dowd?

The company anticipates accelerated synergies and cross-selling in their core businesses, expects top-line revenue growth, and plans to strategically scale into new verticals. They also plan to receive equity stakes in products, content, and events they are marketing.

How does Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN) plan to grow its Digital Dept.?

The company plans to expand in the fast-growing influencer marketing segment and scale into new verticals with significant potential, including the skin care/cosmetics/beauty and talent pool across platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

What is Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN) expecting in 2024?

The company expects the premiere of the 'Blue Angels' documentary in theaters, the launch of the first product in partnership with an A-list celebrity on their talent rosters, and the announcement of their owned or co-owned live events.

How does Dolphin Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ:DLPN) believe these ventures will impact their valuation?

The company believes these ventures will provide great upside potential and serve as catalysts for sustained long-term growth and increased shareholder value.