Candle Media

What Candle Media does

Candle Media, founded in 2021 by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs with private equity backing from Blackstone, is a next-generation media holding company that acquires and scales creator-driven content brands and franchises. Its portfolio encompasses six major brand groups: Moonbug Entertainment (children's IP including CoComelon and Blippi, generating 4+ billion monthly YouTube views), Hello Sunshine (Reese Witherspoon's women-centric media company producing Daisy Jones & The Six and Tiny Beautiful Things), Faraway Road Productions (international drama, including FAUDA), Exile Content Studio (Latin urban music content), Candle True Stories (nonfiction/true crime led by James Goldston), and ATTN: (social media creative company, now minority-held after a 2026 majority stake sale back to founders). Approximately $4 billion in acquisition capital has been deployed across these brands since founding.

The company's core operating model is a content-community-commerce flywheel that monetizes IP across multiple formats — streaming licensing, advertising, merchandise, podcasts, theatrical film, and consumer products. Content is distributed across every major platform — Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Hulu, MAX, The CW, Showtime, Paramount+/Nickelodeon, YouTube, Roku, SiriusXM, and Disney+ (CoComelon rights from 2027) — through wholesale enterprise licensing arrangements negotiated individually with each platform. The portfolio is semi-autonomous: brands retain creative and operational independence while sharing corporate infrastructure for distribution, finance, and legal functions.

Revenue is generated primarily through content licensing and royalties to streaming platforms, supplemented by YouTube advertising (particularly from Moonbug franchises), brand and merchandise licensing, theatrical box-office (CoComelon: The Movie, scheduled February 2027), audio/podcast sponsorship (Wiggle to Wind Down, Moonbug Radio), and creator-driven commercial partnerships (Cameo Kids, Lingokids, Headspace). By early 2026, strategic posture shifted away from an integrated company exit toward individual brand sales or IPOs, with ATTN: divested back to founders and management indicating Moonbug and Hello Sunshine as candidate next exits.

Name

Candle Media

Legal name

Candle Media, LLC

Website

https://candlemedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Candle Media is a Blackstone-backed media holding company that acquires and scales creator-driven content brands including Moonbug, Hello Sunshine, and Faraway Road, distributing premium video IP across major global streaming platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Media & Entertainment IP Holding

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Content Syndication, Distribution & Rights Management Platforms (BPAMAJAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

Live Streaming Aggregators & Multi-Platform Restreaming/Distribution Platforms (MPACACAM)

Keywords

• Media holding company
• Content licensing
• Kids entertainment IP
• Creator-driven franchises
• Streaming distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Others, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Content Licensing & SVOD/AVOD Distribution: Candle Media licenses its IP portfolio across global streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV+, MAX, The CW, and Showtime. Content spans scripted drama (Daisy Jones & The Six, Fauda, Tiny Beautiful Things), kids entertainment (CoComelon Season 9, Blippi), unscripted/true crime (Crime Nation, The Morning Show), and international series. Licensing deals generate recurring revenue from platform subscribers and ad-supported tiers.
2. Theatrical Film Revenue: CoComelon: The Movie, scheduled for February 2027 release through a partnership with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures, represents Candle Media's entry into theatrical distribution for its IP franchise.
3. Brand & Advertising Revenue: ATTN: functions as a social media creative company and brand services provider, generating revenue through social video content creation and brand partnerships. Moonbug generates advertising revenue from YouTube and streaming platforms. The company's content consistently drives high engagement metrics (CoComelon: 4+ billion monthly views; Bluey: 25 billion streamed minutes) supporting ad revenue.
4. Merchandise & Consumer Products: Candle Media's IP franchises (CoComelon, Blippi, VeeFriends) extend into merchandise, consumer products, and experiences. Moonbug's brands generate merchandise revenue through licensing of characters and franchises to consumer product partners.
5. Podcast & Audio Content: Moonbug Entertainment and CoComelon have expanded into audio content, including the 'Wiggle to Wind Down' podcast developed with Headspace for bedtime routines, and SiriusXM's CoComelon Radio channel, generating audio streaming and sponsorship revenue.
6. IP Holding & Franchise Monetization: Moonbug's IP portfolio (CoComelon, Blippi, Cocomelon) serves as a franchise holding company generating revenue across multiple formats — streaming, YouTube, merchandise, podcasts, theatrical films, and educational content partnerships — with potential for further expansion through IPO or strategic acquisition.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels12 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Candle Media is a next-generation media holding company that acquires, scales, and operates creator-driven content brands and franchises — including Moonbug (kids entertainment, home to CoComelon and Blippi), Hello Sunshine (women-centric scripted content), Faraway Road Productions (international drama such as Fauda), ATTN: (social-first content and brand services), Exile Content Studio (Latin urban content), and Candle True Stories (true crime and nonfiction). It licenses its IP to global streaming platforms (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, Hulu, MAX, The CW, Disney+, Roku), distributes on YouTube and SiriusXM, and extends franchises into theatrical release, podcasts, merchandise, and consumer products via a content-community-commerce flywheel.

Product overview

Candle Media is a next-generation media company that operates as a portfolio of creator-driven brands and franchises. The company aggregates multiple acquired media brands including Moonbug (children's entertainment with CoComelon and Blippi), Hello Sunshine (Reese Witherspoon's women-centric content company), Faraway Road Productions (international action/thriller series), ATTN: (social media creative company), Exile Content Studio (Latin entertainment), and Candle True Stories (nonfiction/true crime). These brands operate with autonomy while benefiting from Candle's unified distribution, commerce, and audience development support. The company employs a content-community-commerce flywheel model, delivering premium content across streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Apple TV+, MAX, Showtime, The CW, and Roku, with additional monetization through live experiences and consumer products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moonbug: Children's entertainment company owning CoComelon and Blippi franchises
• Hello Sunshine
• Faraway Road Productions
• Candle True Stories
• ATTN:
• Exile Content Studio

Products and services

• Moonbug (CoComelon, Blippi) Kids entertainment brand and IP holding company under Candle Media, owning the CoComelon and Blippi franchises; CoComelon generates over 4 billion monthly views across YouTube channels and accumulated 45 billion minutes of viewing on Netflix in 2024, distributed globally on Netflix, YouTube, Disney+ (from 2027), and audio platforms.
• Hello Sunshine Women-centric storytelling media company founded by Reese Witherspoon producing premium scripted series and films including Emmy-nominated Daisy Jones & The Six (Amazon Prime Video), Emmy-nominated Tiny Beautiful Things (Hulu), The Morning Show Season 3 (Apple TV+), and the Roku Original film Meet Me In Rome.
• Faraway Road Productions International drama production company founded by Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff, creators of the global Netflix hit FAUDA (Seasons 1–4) and HIT & RUN, producing geopolitical and action-thriller series including the four-part spy drama Ghosts of Beirut for Showtime/MAX.
• ATTN: Social media creative company and production studio offering best-in-class storytelling, audience insights, and social video for brand advertisers; also co-produces animated series including Well Versed with Nickelodeon and Paramount+ and operates the Cameo Kids personalized-video partnership.
• Candle True Stories Nonfiction and true crime content studio under Candle Media, producing premium unscripted anthology programming including Crime Nation, a true-crime and justice series that premiered February 20 on The CW covering the Delphi murders, the Lori Vallow Daybell case, the Gabby Petito murder, and the Gilgo Beach murders.
• Exile Content Studio Latin-focused content studio producing comedy thrillers and urban music-themed programming, including Vgly (MAX's most successful Mexican original) and I Don't Expect Anyone to Believe Me (Netflix).
• CoComelon & Headspace Wiggle to Wind Down Podcast Bedtime-routine podcast co-created by CoComelon (Moonbug Entertainment / Candle Media) and Headspace, blending gentle stretches, calming stories, and mindfulness content hosted alongside CoComelon character JJ as part of the 'CoComelon Can Help' campaign.
• VeeFriends Animated Series Animated kids series produced by Moonbug Entertainment (Candle Media) and VaynerWatt based on Gary Vaynerchuk's VeeFriends franchise, featuring 20 three-minute episodes targeting children aged 6-11 that blend action storytelling with life lessons.
• CoComelon: The Movie Theatrical animated feature film based on the CoComelon franchise, produced by Moonbug Entertainment (Candle Media) with DreamWorks Animation and released by Universal Pictures, extending the CoComelon kids IP into the theatrical window.

Quantifiable outcome

• CoComelon generates over 4 billion monthly views across YouTube channels
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ATTN: Co-Founders (Matthew Segal, Jarrett Moreno) with new investor groupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 February 2026Candle Media sold a majority stake in ATTN: back to its co-founders Matthew Segal and Jarrett Moreno alongside a new investor group including Shari Redstone, Tom Werner, Paul Wachter, and Andrew Hauptman. Candle Media retains a minority stake. The deal marks a strategic shift — Candle Media now intends to sell or take public individual brands rather than pursuing an integrated company exit. ATTN: was originally acquired by Candle Media in 2022 for approximately $150 million.
• James GoldstoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCandle Media partnered with James Goldston (former president of ABC News) to launch Candle True Stories, a new nonfiction and true-crime studio. Goldston leads the studio as a brand within Candle Media's portfolio, producing premium unscripted content including Crime Nation for The CW. Goldston's hire represents a strategic talent acquisition to build Candle Media's true crime and documentary capabilities.
• VeeFriends / VaynerWattcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoonbug Entertainment (part of Candle Media) partnered with VaynerWatt (Gary Vaynerchuk's media arm) to co-create an animated series based on the VeeFriends franchise. The partnership leverages Moonbug's kids entertainment expertise and VaynerWatt's creator ecosystem, producing 20 three-minute animated episodes targeting children aged 6-11, blending action and life-lessons storytelling.
• Nickelodeon / Paramount+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerATTN: co-produced 'Well Versed,' an animated series teaching children civics through short-form music videos, in partnership with Nickelodeon. The show is available on Nick Jr. and Paramount+. The curriculum is guided by iCivics, a nonprofit civic education provider. This partnership expands ATTN:'s social-first content expertise into educational kids programming on linear and streaming platforms.
• The CWcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCandle True Stories (Candle Media's nonfiction studio led by James Goldston) partnered with The CW to premiere 'Crime Nation,' a true-crime and justice anthology series. The partnership marks The CW's latest venture into unscripted programming, covering high-profile cases including the Delphi murders, Lori Vallow Daybell, Gabby Petito, and Gilgo Beach murders.
• DreamWorks Animation / Universal PicturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoonbug Entertainment (Candle Media) partnered with DreamWorks Animation and Universal Pictures to produce 'CoComelon: The Movie,' scheduled for theatrical release in February 2027. This marks Candle Media's entry into theatrical film distribution for its CoComelon IP franchise, leveraging DreamWorks Animation's animation production expertise and Universal Pictures' global theatrical distribution network.
• CameominorGTM or Marketing PartnerCameo launched 'Cameo Kids,' a personalized video product for children, in partnership with Candle Media. The collaboration brings Candle Media's brand IP into personalized video experiences for kids, expanding the commercial applications of its content franchises.
• HeadspaceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCoComelon (Moonbug Entertainment / Candle Media) partnered with Headspace to launch 'Wiggle to Wind Down,' a podcast designed to help parents manage bedtime routines for young children. The 20-minute episodes feature mindfulness content hosted alongside the CoComelon character JJ, developed with input from Headspace's Medical Director, as part of CoComelon's 'CoComelon Can Help' campaign.
• SiriusXMminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoonbug Entertainment (Candle Media) partnered with SiriusXM to launch 'Moonbug Radio,' a dedicated audio channel featuring CoComelon content. The partnership extends Moonbug's kids IP into the audio streaming category, providing a new monetization channel for its franchises and reaching parents and children through SiriusXM's audio platform.
• LingokidsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoonbug Entertainment (Candle Media) partnered with Lingokids to launch interactive games featuring Blippi, Meekah, and D.Bo characters on Lingokids' platform. The content surpassed 200 million plays in under a year, ranking among the fastest-growing third-party IP integrations on Lingokids' platform, which targets children's developmental skills through gamified learning.
• HYBEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKevin Mayer, Co-CEO of Candle Media, former TikTok CEO, and Disney veteran, was appointed to the Board of Directors of HYBE (the South Korean entertainment company behind BTS) to advise on its westward expansion strategy. The appointment reflects cross-industry talent sharing and strategic alignment between two entertainment companies targeting global audiences.
• iCivicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerATTN:'s 'Well Versed' animated civics series curriculum is guided by iCivics, a nonprofit civic education provider, partnering with Nickelodeon and Paramount+ for distribution. iCivics provides the educational framework, while ATTN: handles production and creative content, and Nickelodeon provides the distribution platform.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Legendary Entertainment: Legendary Entertainment is a PE-backed (Apollo) film and TV production company similar in structure to Candle Media, operating a portfolio of content IP with global distribution across streaming and theatrical. Both are private-equity-owned media holding vehicles pursuing premium content franchises.
• Pocket.watch: Pocket.watch is a kids digital media company that owns and monetizes YouTube-native IP franchises with distribution across streaming, consumer products, and gaming — directly comparable to Candle Media's Moonbug business (CoComelon, Blippi) and its kids content flywheel.
• The Chernin Group: The Chernin Group is a media holding company founded by Peter Chernin (former Fox president) that acquires and operates content businesses — structurally analogous to Candle Media's PE-backed, ex-studio-executive-led approach to aggregating creator-driven media assets.
• Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment: Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment is a publicly traded media roll-up that acquires and operates streaming, production, and content assets — directly comparable to Candle Media's Blackstone-backed acquisition-and-scale strategy across multiple content verticals.
• Participant Media: Participant Media is a content production and distribution company with a portfolio model focused on premium scripted and documentary content distributed across streaming platforms — comparable to Candle Media's Hello Sunshine and Candle True Stories verticals.

Broad incumbents

• Lionsgate: Lionsgate is an independent studio with a diversified IP portfolio spanning film, TV, and Starz streaming — a broader incumbent operating in the same content-production and distribution space as Candle Media but at larger scale and across more verticals.
• Endeavor: Endeavor (parent of WME, IMG, and UFC) is a diversified talent and entertainment company representing creators and producing content — broadly comparable to Candle Media's creator-driven model, though Endeavor operates across talent representation, events, and broader media.
• Fremantle: Fremantle is one of the largest global production companies, producing drama, unscripted, and entertainment content distributed across platforms worldwide — comparable in scale and international-distribution model to Candle Media's Faraway Road and Exile Content operations.

Emerging players

• A24: A24 is an independent entertainment company producing and distributing premium film and television — an emerging player with overlapping distribution relationships on Amazon, Apple, and Netflix, comparable to Candle Media's Hello Sunshine premium scripted slate.

Regional players

• CJ ENM: CJ ENM is a Korean entertainment conglomerate producing premium scripted, film, and unscripted content (including K-dramas) distributed globally via streaming — a regional player whose international scripted ambitions parallel Candle Media's Faraway Road Productions strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/candlemedia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/candlemedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/candlemedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Candle Media