PLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AENT), the world’s largest distributor of vinyl records and a leading curator of physical entertainment products and collectibles, today announced the appointment of Jeffrey Smith as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Alliance Authentic™, the company’s newly launched premium platform for authenticated, numbered, investment-grade vinyl collectibles. Smith joins Alliance Authentic following a ...

Core Viewpoint - Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation has appointed Jeffrey Smith as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing for its newly launched premium platform, Alliance Authentic, which focuses on authenticated, investment-grade vinyl collectibles [1][8]. Company Overview - Alliance Entertainment is the largest distributor of vinyl records and a key player in the physical entertainment products and collectibles market [1][10]. - The company offers over 340,000 unique in-stock SKUs, including more than 57,300 exclusive titles across various media formats, serving over 35,000 retail locations [10]. Leadership Appointment - Jeffrey Smith joins Alliance Authentic after a successful tenure at Discogs, where he significantly enhanced the platform's marketing and revenue growth [2][4]. - Smith's experience includes founding a marketing agency and leading marketing strategies for major and independent record labels [5]. Strategic Goals for Alliance Authentic - As Senior Vice President, Smith will develop and execute a global growth strategy for Alliance Authentic, focusing on direct-to-consumer sales, peer-to-peer marketplace, and retail partnerships [6]. - The platform aims to create a credible marketplace for authenticated vinyl collectibles, emphasizing authenticity and trust [7][8]. Market Positioning - Alliance Authentic is positioned as a premium collectible platform dedicated to preserving entertainment history through certified and individually numbered collectibles sourced directly from music labels and studios [9].

PLANTATION, Fla., Jan. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AENT), the world’s largest distributor of vinyl records and a leading curator of physical entertainment products and collectibles, today announced the official launch of Alliance Authentic™, a new premium platform built to create authentic, certified, investment-grade vinyl collectibles and a trusted marketplace where collectors can buy, sell, and trade them globally. Alliance Authentic allows fans and co ...

Core Viewpoint - The event features Alliance Entertainment, a company trading on NASDAQ under the ticker AENT, with a presentation led by Executive Chairman Bruce Ogilvie [1]. Group 1 - The presentation is part of an event organized by RedChip Companies, indicating a focus on investor engagement and communication [1]. - The call may include forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which encompasses future financial and operational results [2]. - Management's expressions of future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects are categorized as forward-looking statements, highlighting the company's strategic outlook [3].

Alliance Entertainment Conference Call Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Alliance Entertainment (NasdaqCM:AENT) - **Industry**: Entertainment product distribution, including movies, music, video games, toys, and collectibles - **Key Operations**: Distribution center in Shepherdsville, Kentucky, with over 325,000 SKUs and approximately 871,000 sq ft of warehouse space, generating over $1 billion in revenue annually [4][5] Financial Performance - **Record Quarter**: The company reported a record-breaking quarter, with significant growth across all categories [2] - **Revenue**: Consistent revenue around $1.1 billion for the trailing 12 months [7] - **Earnings Per Share (EPS)**: Increased from $0.09 in fiscal year 2024 to $0.30 in fiscal year 2025, with a trailing 12-month EPS of $0.38 [8] - **Adjusted EBITDA**: Grew significantly, with a margin increase from 11.2% to 14.6% year-over-year, driven by higher gross profit from new product lines [37] Strategic Initiatives - **HubSpot Implementation**: Transitioning to HubSpot to enhance revenue and sales efficiency without increasing headcount [3] - **New Partnerships**: Added Virgin Music Group and secured exclusive agreements with Paramount Pictures and MGM (Amazon) for home entertainment distribution [14][15] - **Collectibles Growth**: Focus on collectibles, particularly vinyl, with plans to enhance offerings through the Alliance Authentic platform [10][42] Market Position and Competitive Landscape - **Key Competitors**: Competed against Warner Home Video and Studio Distribution Services for the MGM contract [34] - **Market Strategy**: Positioned as a leading distributor in the collectibles value chain, with a focus on exclusive distribution and licensing agreements [10][13] Operational Highlights - **Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Sales**: DTC now contributes approximately 37% of net revenue, with plans to maintain similar margins as B2B sales [39] - **Inventory Management**: Anticipated inventory increase ahead of the holiday season, with a historical turnover rate of seven times per year [53] - **Debt Management**: Focus on reducing debt while pursuing acquisitions, leveraging a low-cost line of credit [54][55] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: Aiming for Handmade by Robots to reach $100 million in revenue over the next three years, contributing an estimated $40 million to EBITDA [47] - **Licensing Expansion**: Anticipated additional revenue from new licensing agreements, including a projected $40 million from the Amazon MGM deal [49] - **Technological Advancements**: Introduction of Nstate technology for product authentication to combat counterfeiting, enhancing product value and consumer trust [21][26] Additional Insights - **Employee Ownership**: High insider ownership at approximately 78%, fostering a vested interest in company performance [26] - **Board Composition**: Strong board with independent directors to ensure governance and oversight [29] This summary encapsulates the key points from the Alliance Entertainment conference call, highlighting the company's performance, strategic initiatives, market position, and future outlook.

PLANTATION, Fla., Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: AENT), a premier distributor and omnichannel fulfillment partner to the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, supplying more than 340,000 unique SKUs across music, video, video games, licensed merchandise, and exclusive collectibles to over 35,000 retail and e-commerce storefronts, is pleased to invite investors to a webinar on January 5, 2026, at 4:15 p.m. ET. The exclusive event, hosted b ...

Group 1 - Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (AENT) shares have increased by 14.1% over the past four weeks, closing at $7.6, with a mean price target of $9.67 indicating a potential upside of 27.2% [1] - The average price targets range from a low of $8.00 to a high of $11.00, with a standard deviation of $1.53, suggesting a potential increase of 5.3% to 44.7% from the current price level [2] - Analysts show strong agreement in revising earnings estimates higher, which historically correlates with positive stock price movements [11][12] Group 2 - AENT has a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), placing it in the top 20% of over 4,000 ranked stocks based on earnings estimates, indicating strong potential for upside [13] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has increased by 3.6% over the last 30 days, with no negative revisions, further supporting the positive outlook for the stock [12] - While price targets may not be entirely reliable, the direction they imply appears to be a good guide for potential price movement [14]

Core Insights - Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation has appointed Brian Maggio as Vice President of Sales for its Handmade by Robots™ brand, aiming to accelerate commercial growth following strong performance since joining the Alliance portfolio last year [1][2][3] Company Overview - Alliance Entertainment is a leading distributor and omnichannel fulfillment partner in the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, offering over 340,000 unique SKUs across various categories including music, video, and collectibles [1][5] - The company serves over 35,000 retail and e-commerce storefronts, providing a vast catalog that includes licensed merchandise and exclusive collectibles [5] Brand Development - Handmade by Robots™ is recognized for its unique vinyl figures that resemble knitted and crocheted characters, gaining traction among major retailers and fan communities [2][4] - The brand has established licensing partnerships with iconic entertainment franchises and has a loyal global collector base, positioning it for expanded retail penetration and product innovation [2][3] Leadership and Strategy - Brian Maggio brings extensive experience in sales strategies for licensed products across various channels, which is expected to enhance retail partnerships and support the brand's roadmap of character franchises and new product formats [3][4] - The appointment of Maggio is seen as a strategic move to deepen engagement with licensors and strengthen the brand's market presence [3][4]

Company Overview - Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation (NASDAQ: AENT) is a leading distributor and omnichannel fulfillment partner in the entertainment and pop culture collectibles industry, offering over 340,000 unique SKUs across various categories including music, video, video games, licensed merchandise, and exclusive collectibles [1][4] - The company serves more than 35,000 retail and e-commerce storefronts, providing the largest selection of physical media in the market, including over 57,300 exclusive titles [4] Upcoming Event - Alliance Entertainment's management team will present at the Noble Capital Markets' 21st Annual Emerging Growth Equity Conference on December 2-3, 2025, in Boca Raton, Florida [1][3] - The conference is designed to enhance visibility and engagement for small and mid-cap companies through presentations and one-on-one investor meetings [2] Industry Context - NobleCon is an annual event that gathers public company executives, institutional investors, family offices, and industry leaders, focusing on emerging growth companies and investor access [2]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue grew 11% year over year to $254 million, driven by strong demand across physical media, collectibles, and direct-to-consumer channels [5][13] - Adjusted EBITDA increased to $12.2 million from $3.4 million a year ago, a 259% improvement, with a margin of 4.8% [5][14] - Gross margin expanded 340 basis points to 14.6%, up from 11.2% in the prior year [5][14] - Net income rose to $4.9 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, compared to $0.4 million or $0.01 per share in the prior year [14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Handmade by Robots brand continues to scale rapidly, contributing to the collectibles strategy [6] - The collectibles segment is seeing exceptional sell-through and expanded retail placement [5] - Direct-to-consumer sales now contribute 37% of total net revenue, highlighting the growth in this channel [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 59% year-over-year increase in physical movie sales in the first quarter, largely attributed to the Paramount licensing agreement [23] - Vinyl sales are experiencing strong demand, driven by new releases and reissues from popular artists [44] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its exclusive content base and creating long-term value for shareholders [7] - Strategic M&A priorities remain active, with a focus on opportunities that extend licensing relationships and enhance e-commerce capabilities [25] - The company is advancing its AI-powered sales transformation to improve efficiency and lead prioritization [6][57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in sustaining strong margin performance, citing operational investments and a dedicated team [66] - The company is optimistic about the holiday season, anticipating strong consumer demand across various product categories [59] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with $3.2 million in cash, inventory of $121.7 million, and debt of $66 million, reflecting improved financial flexibility [9] - A new five-year, $120 million senior secured revolving credit facility was established, reducing borrowing costs and enhancing liquidity [9] Q&A Session Summary Question: Could physical media outperform this holiday season? - Management noted strong sales across entertainment categories, with collectors excited about their collections [29] Question: How did Taylor Swift's album perform compared to her last? - Management indicated that while they fulfilled a lot for the album, it was not booked in the reported quarter, but overall demand for vinyl remains strong [30][31] Question: What are the thoughts on exclusive deals with other studios? - Management is actively pursuing new opportunities with various studios to maximize physical media sales [35] Question: Will Handmade by Robots have a significant impact in the near term? - Management expects Handmade by Robots to ramp up but does not anticipate a major financial impact until fiscal 2027 or 2028 [42] Question: What factors are driving vinyl sales? - Continuous consumer demand and new releases from popular artists are contributing to strong vinyl sales [44] Question: How significant is the Paramount licensing agreement? - The Paramount agreement has been a key driver of growth, with strong sales in collectible formats like Steelbook [48]