James Zahn Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny, Us

Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book — The Leading Trade Publication for the Toy Industry.Leading The Toy Book brand — across all media — as the celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024. In my first full year as EIC, The Toy Book achieved record revenue as the publication grew its readership across print and digital, bucking the trend in a constantly evolving media landscape. We strive to provide trade and consumer audiences with the latest news and developments from the toy, game, and entertainment industries.At Adventure Media & Events, I also serve as Senior Editor of The Toy Insider, the leading consumer review site for toys and games; and The Pop Insider, a growing destination for news on must-have licensed merch, collectibles, and more. I appear in National and Regional TV segments representing the toy industry and showing off the latest in new toys and games.

New York, Ny, Us

Deputy Editor of The Toy Book — The Leading Trade Publication for the Toy Industry.

New York, Ny, Us

As Senior Editor of the Toy Book, the Toy Insider, and the Pop Insider I worked to provide the best in trade and consumer coverage — including news, reviews, and special features — to the toy, game, and entertainment industries. Additionally, I worked on our live event side of the business and represented the company and the industry through National, Regional, and Local TV appearances.

New York, Ny, Us

As a member of The Toy Insider's Parent Advisory Board, I (as "The Rock Father") shared my love, passion, and knowledge for toys with parents and gift-givers via the leading consumer publication in the toy industry. In addition to monthly columns, I interacted live with readers by co-hosting twitter parties with other members of The Toy Insider Parent Panel and attending select live events.On the trade side, I have contributed articles on the business end of the toy industry via The Toy Book. As of May 2018, I'm also contributing articles and features for The Pop Insider, a new publication geared toward grown-up pop culture enthusiasts.

Chicago, Il, Us

THE ROCK FATHER™ Magazine: Entertainment, Culture, Lifestyle, and Business for Those Who RockFounded in 2009. Evolved in 2019.The old (pre-2019) pitch: Much like an EW or Rolling Stone geared toward the ENTIRE family (from babies to grownups), my flagship digital magazine is updated multiple times daily with coverage of movies & television, music, toys & games, comics and more, along with lifestyle elements focusing on automotive/car culture (Rock Father Rides), home & garden, food, fashion and more.As "The Rock Father," I have worked as a Brand Ambassador and Guest Contributor for numerous companies and publications and continue to do so as the site and brand grows.-I've worked with The Walt Disney Company as part of the promotional team behind the top two highest-grossing domestic opening weekend films of all time - Lucasfilm's "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" (2015) & Marvel Studios' "Avengers: Infinity War" (2018).Brand Ambassadorships - Select Clients: Mega Construx (Mattel), Nintendo, ZICAM, Lalaloopsy (MGA Entertainment), Life of Dad, The Step2 Company, Star Wars Command (Hasbro), PEANUTS (Iconix), PJ Masks (eOne), WWE, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Kelley Blue Book (KBB), Folgers/Hungry Jack (Smuckers), PBS KIDS.Sponsored Content - Select Clients: The Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, Fandango, Warner Bros., GameStop, Nintendo of America, Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master, Boogie Board, HGTV, Best Buy, The J.M. Smucker Company, General Mills, General Motors, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, KIA Motors America, Hankook Tires, Subaru, Craftsman Tools, gDiapers, Costume Express, Teleflora, International Delight, Rhino Records, ACUVUE, Celestial Seasonings Sleepytime Tea, Hyland's Baby and many more. -Guest Contributor: PopSugar Moms (2016), Sprout Channel (NBC Universal), The Hub Network, gDiapers' "Diaper Therapy," The Good Men Project, TTPM (11/2012), Rockabye Baby (5/2012)

Death Walks the Streets (DWTS) is a multimedia franchise that I have been developing since late 2004. Having spawned a comic book series published by The Scream Factory and later Fangoria, the project is currently entering re-development as a feature film and animated series.Future comic books and literary adventures may be self-published or released under a new publisher entirely.

Artist Manager and Creative Consultant for the American heavy metal band, PRODUCT OF HATE. The band released its full-length debut album, BURIED IN VIOLENCE on Feb. 5, 2016, via NAPALM Records, with distribution in the U.S. by Warner Bros./ADA and Universal Music in Europe. The band's second full-length album, YOU BROUGHT THIS WAR, was released Feb. 5, 2021, on its own POH Metalworks imprint.I've directed nearly all of the band's music videos and have established marketing, distribution, and partnership strategies for the band. On the production side, I've worked to build the POH brand through merchandising and have overseen the partnerships between licensors, manufacturers, and distributors.The band has toured North America with Allegaeon (Metal Blade), The Agonist (Century Media), Mushroomhead (Megaforce/Napalm), Skinlab (Art is War), IKILLYA (Urban Yeti), Hammer Fight (Napalm), Sumo Cyco, Madame Mayhem, and more. Product of Hate has also performed one-off dates and festivals with the likes of Hatebreed, Lamb of God, DevilDriver, Chimaira, Powerman 5000, Butcher Babies, and many more.

Oswego, Il, Us

Responsible for guiding daily operation and creative direction for a mid-level music and pop culture destination. Created editorial and advertorial content while coordinating stories with freelance writing staff on both coasts.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Developed New Media endeavors for the entire brand including FANGORIA.com, FANGORIA MAGAZINE, FANGORIA MUSICK, STARLOG.com and more in an effort to transition an aging print company into the digital realm.-Handled daily operations of the websites and social networks.-Created editorial and advertorial content.-Graphic Design for select projects.-Worked directly with third-party agencies to coordinate ad sales-Turned the flagship site into a money maker that went from nearly $0 ad revenue to over six figures in less than a year.-Leveraged digital properties to drive subscription growth for the print brand.-Live Events: Worked on the promotion and operation of FANGORIA Weekend of Horrors events in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York, as well as the Trinity of Terrors event at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.

FMFE began in 2001 as an independent producer of short films, music videos, commercials, and new media projects. Eventually, the focus shifted to marketing and branding for independent film clients. I initially served as a director and editor for video projects and eventually led the company's digital pop culture publication, FMFE Magazine.

I joined The Musicland Group's Sam Goody Division and led one of the top-volume stores in the company. Located in one of the largest destination malls in the U.S., the store was faced with challenges of competition and shrink — both of which were tackled.I developed an "independent record store-style" pilot program in which I was granted a certain level of autonomy to curate the store selection to better serve the local client base. This included improved selection and in-stock levels, the ability to order from third-party distributors when needed, and increased partnership deals with record labels and reps. In under a year, the store had nearly doubled its sales volume while shrink was reduced to a negligible level.I attended the company's annual meetings at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas for three years prior to leaving to pursue a full-time career in entertainment, media, and publishing.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

I was recruited into the Kmart organization from Walmart to work in the company's then-growing Super Center division. After training as an Assistant Manager, I spent time learning the hardlines and softlines sides of the business and eventually led teams at several stores across Illinois. I led turnaround efforts in underperforming areas of several stores to create award-winning garden centers and seasonal departments. Following a shift in focus to electronics and toys, I developed a pilot program that was approved at the corporate level to increase volume in the company's music business, starting with a return to selling "Parental Advisory" labeled titles — something that Walmart would not do as they were known for selling "edited" or "clean" versions of albums. Working in partnership with The Handleman Corp., we increased assortment and updated the merchandising of select music departments to have the "feel" of a record store. Within a matter of months, the pilot store became the No. 1 music store in the entire Kmart Corp. in terms of both unit sales and total dollars.I eventually joined the store build and cleanup team and spent time at Kmart headquarters in Troy, Michigan, while working on new Super Kmart store builds, remodels, and expansions.

Bentonville, Arkansas, Us

Led a team of hardworking associates to rapidly improve customer experience, grow sales volume, reduce shrink, and turn underperforming departments into award-winning showcases.Represented the South Suburban Chicago District at Walmart Annual Meetings.Developed a specialization in toys and seasonal departments in addition to automotive and grocery.

Davenport, Ia, Us

Contributed reviews, interviews, features, and live event previews to the Quad Cities' premier weekly arts, entertainment, and lifestyle paper.

Contributed reviews, features, and interviews to Slowfish, a regional weekly arts newspaper serving the Quad Cities.

My first job in professional journalism. I contributed reviews, interviews, and features for a regional print music publication serving Iowa and Illinois. Photographed Lollapalooza in Des Moines, Iowa for the publication in 1993

Motion Picture Direction, Writing, Editing.

Communications Media, Journalism

Life Experience Aka "The Hard Way."