Playboy's Hefner to Focus on Brand Licensing, Report Says

CHICAGO — Hugh Hefner said Playboy’s future growth will rely on licensing the brand and in partnerships.

Hefner told German newspaper Handelsblatt that he plans on increasing revenue from licensing to clubs and casinos for perfumes and movies. He also said the company will target emerging markets like China. 

Hefner, who in March succeeded in taking Playboy private, said the move has afforded more flexibility and “more opportunities to bring a partner on board.”

“I believe this new ownership structure will allow us to further capitalize on the unique and global appeal of the Playboy brand, and I look forward to our future success," Hefner said when the company went private.

Hefner, who is editor-in-chief and chief creative officer of Playboy, said that Playboy Magazine is the “heart of the company” and will “stay for some time.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2026 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Platform Pulse: Inside the Technology and Trends Powering the Direct-to-fan Economy

For a brief, glittering moment, the fan-platform boom felt like a modern-day gold rush. The premise seemed simple: Open an account, post some tantalizing content and watch the subscriptions roll in. OnlyFans became a household name, "selling feet pics" became a cultural punchline and creators poured into the market hoping to claim their share of the action.

FSC Sets Dates, Qualifiers for December Board of Directors Election

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published dates and qualifiers for its upcoming board of directors election.

Orion Expands 'Cotelli Bondage' Line

Orion Wholesale has expanded its Cotelli Bondage collection with five new outfits.

Aylo Wins Preliminary Injunction Against Utah AV Law's VPN Rule

A federal court on Thursday issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state of Utah from enforcing a legal provision that would make adult websites liable if minors in the state circumvent geolocation efforts in order to bypass age verification.

Kheper Releases New 'Adult A...Z' Couples Game

Kheper Games has released its new Adult A...Z party game.

LATAM in Focus: A Look at the Trends Shaping Latin America's Pleasure Products Market

Across Latin America, pleasure shoppers are looking for innovation, but winning their business requires brands to balance aspirational qualities. Consumers are watching every dollar — or peso, Brazilian real, Peruvian sol, etc. — as tariffs, exchange rates and import costs push retail prices upward.

Ofcom Investigates Pornhub's Device-Based UK Age Checks

U.K. media regulator Ofcom has opened an investigation to determine whether Pornhub parent company Aylo’s use of device-based age verification complies with the U.K.’s Online Safety Act.

Nobü Adds to 'Essentials' Collection

Nobü has expanded its Essentials collection with three new vibrators.

Blush Expands 'B Yours' Collection

Blush has introduced a new vibrating plug from its B Yours Collection.

We-Vibe Debuts 'Shared Touch' Vibe

We-Vibe has introduced its new Shared Touch vibrator for couples.

Show More