Alliance Authentic, part of Alliance Entertainment (NASDAQ: AENT), expanded its preservation platform beyond vinyl for the first time on June 29, 2026, launching preserved Funko and Handmade by Robots collectibles. The company is creating a new category of permanently preserved collectibles, verified and tracked through every ownership change. This expansion aims to secure the identity and value of high-demand items for collectors by carrying each item's verified identity to every subsequent owner.

The launch occurs on a rebuilt Alliance Authentic platform, redesigned to improve how collectors discover, preserve, and transfer ownership of their items. Every preserved release meets five standards: curated, numbered, limited, certified uncirculated, and NFC-secured. Each collectible is encapsulated in its original, uncirculated condition, individually numbered, and given an NFC-secured identity that travels to whoever owns it next. For vinyl, each preserved run is fixed and final, never added to.

"Every collector has a record that means everything to them," said Jeffrey Smith, SVP of Sales and Marketing at Alliance Authentic. "We built a preservation system for exactly that, to keep a record in the moment it's verified, certified, uncirculated, and treat it as the work of art it already is. Opening this preservation system up to all of it, that's what I'm excited about. A fan is a fan of what they love, and we're here to protect it."

In addition to the new collectibles, Alliance Authentic highlighted newly preserved vinyl from several artists. The list includes releases from Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, Zara Larsson, Charli xcx, Karol G, Hayley Williams, and Angine de Poitrine.

Newly Preserved Collectibles

The expansion introduces preserved figures from two major toy and collectible brands:

Alliance Entertainment is the largest distributor of physical media in the U.S. The move to include Funko and Handmade by Robots signals a strategic broadening of its preservation services beyond records.

Alliance Entertainment Holding Corporation has been ranked among the top three U.S. disc retailers by Media Play News, a recognition that underscores the company's growing presence across independent retail channels. The report highlights how e-commerce, collector behavior, and merchandising strategies are driving growth in the home entertainment retail market. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Walker emphasized that online retail has become a primary discovery and purchase channel, aligning naturally with how fans engage and build their collections.

The company, which consistently generates over $1 billion in annual revenue, showcased its direct-to-consumer platforms, including Movies Unlimited, DeepDiscount.com, and Critics' Choice Video. These platforms extend Alliance Entertainment's distribution reach to collectors and enthusiasts across physical media categories. Walker noted momentum across both physical retail and e-commerce channels, with net revenues growing 21% year over year in the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2026.

Walker stressed that physical retail remains essential, offering an immediacy and delight of discovery that digital channels cannot replicate. He also cited rising demand for premium physical media formats, such as 4K UHD and Steelbooks, which Alliance distributes directly. These buyers are described as highly intentional collectors who value craftsmanship, presentation, and owning definitive versions of titles.

Alliance Entertainment operates an integrated business model, bridging digital and physical channels to combine online accessibility with the merchandising strengths of brick-and-mortar retail. The company's distribution network includes Alliance Home Entertainment, the exclusive licensed distributor for Paramount Pictures and Amazon MGM Studios in North America. This model supports its collector-focused e-commerce platforms and broad retail footprint.