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Candle Media (Blackstone)

PE · Private equity · Founded 2021 · Los Angeles, CA

A next-generation media holding company founded in 2021 by former Disney executives Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs, seeded with roughly $1B from Blackstone. Owns Moonbug Entertainment (Cocomelon, Blippi, Little Baby Bum), controls Hello Sunshine, and produced Fauda via Faraway Road. Restructured through 2024 as streaming spending cooled.

Founders Kevin Mayer, Tom Staggs
Backed by Blackstone
Tracked channels 3

Channels

  • Cocomelon

    youtube.com/@CoComelon ↗
    PE Kids 2021

    Owned by Moonbug Entertainment, which was acquired in November 2021 for ~$3B by Candle Media, a Blackstone-backed venture led by ex-Disney execs Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs. Moonbug had itself bought the Cocomelon IP in July 2020 for $120M.

  • Blippi

    youtube.com/@Blippi ↗
    PE Kids 2021

    Part of the Moonbug Entertainment portfolio acquired in the November 2021 Candle Media / Blackstone $3B deal. Blippi IP was bought by Moonbug in 2020 from creator Stevin John.

  • Little Baby Bum

    youtube.com/@LittleBabyBumSingalongs ↗
    PE Kids 2021

    Founding property of Moonbug Entertainment. Rolled into the Candle Media / Blackstone portfolio in November 2021.