Welcome back to the Spotlight! Last week you may have celebrated the Fourth of July with hot dogs on the grill (70.5 of them, if you’re Joey Chestnut), your favorite beverage of choice in hand and fireworks. This week, you may be celebrating the Eleventh of July (or 7/11) with hot dogs (or at least I think they’re hot dogs) on those rotating rollers, a Slurpee in hand and (depending on the jurisdiction you live in) fireworks—though all bets are off as to whether you have a hand with which to hold the Slurpee after using said fireworks. In any event, if you’re looking for the latest in the sports and entertainment business mixed with humor, like the convenience store, the Spotlight is always open.
- Many were shocked to learn this week that viral indie band The Velvet Sundown turns out to be completely AI-generated, albeit with some human direction involved. Frankly, not all that surprising given that the band’s hospitality rider included a request for chips and GPUs.
- Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW) strikes back at major record labels in a bid to defend against copyright infringement claims arising from the alleged unauthorized use of hundreds of songs on DSW’s social media accounts. I’m no litigator, but I would like my odds arguing “if the shoe does not fit, you must acquit.”
- Desperately in search of a laugh (not unlike my writing), former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama join forces with Larry David to produce a sketch comedy show regarding American history. The financial details of the deal are not publicly known, though there will be a jar on set for the Obamas to put a dollar into every time they address Mr. David as “Bernie” or “Senator.”
- Beverage brand Liquid Death continues its streak of cutting edge (and edgy) marketing, selling autographed DNA (saliva) samples on empty cans of their products drank by endorsement partner and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. In announcing the promotion, Osbourne encouraged fans to clone him, though I would caution that there’s probably at least a 50/50 chance a fan ends up with a cloned vampire bat instead.
Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships & Investments
Celebrity Brands: Why Fame Alone Isn’t Enough to Keep Them Afloat Anymore
July 9, 2025 via InterAksyon
The Hip-Hop Icon Building A Whiskey Brand For Everyone
July 8, 2025 via Taste Radio
Kevin Sherrington: With $55 Million NIL Haul, Texas Tech Has a Front Row Seat for College Athletics’ New Era
July 8, 2025 via The Dallas Morning News
Roger Federer is Now a Billionaire, but He’s Made More Money Investing in this One Company than Winning 20 Grand Slams
July 8, 2025 via Fortune
U.S. Soccer Star Catarina Macario Scores 10-Year, $10 Million Sponsor Deal From Nike
July 8, 2025 via Forbes
Celebrity Brands on Amazon: Jennifer Aniston, John Legend, Scarlett Johansson, and More
July 7, 2025 via People
LeBron James, Maverick Carter Lead Matthew Berry's Fantasy Life Raise
July 7, 2025 via MSN
How Brands Are Taking Back Social Media From Influencers
July 6, 2025 via New York Times
Kim Kardashian & Ryan Reynolds: The Power of Celebrity Brands
July 6, 2025 via Archynewsy
Meghan Markle Warned As Ever Customers 'Will Walk Away' After 'Careless' Move
July 5, 2025 via Daily Express
Top Celebrity Investors of 2025: Who is Ahead of the Game?
July 5, 2025 via Digital Journal
'Clone Me': Could Ozzy Osbourne Live on Thanks to Liquid Death DNA Deal?
July 5, 2025 via The Columbus Dispatch
Sophie Cunningham Lands Very Fitting New Endorsement Deal
July 4, 2025 via Larry Brown Sports
Sports
Rich Lowry: The Joy of Banana Ball
July 9, 2025 via Las Vegas Review Journal
NWSL’s Utah Royals Valued at $100M in Miller’s $580M Soccer Buy
July 8, 2025 via Sportico
CNBC's Most Valuable Sports Empires 2025: Kroenke Sports & Entertainment Tops List
July 8, 2025 via NBC News
Breanna Stewart Ready for ‘Spicy’ Labor Talks After Insulting Counter Proposal From League
July 6, 2025 via New York Post
Shaquille O'Neal Wants $50 Million From Lakers Following $10 Billion Sale
July 5, 2025 via Benzinga
College Sports Has a Soft Salary Cap Now. How Does it Work?
July 5, 2025 via The Oakland Press
What's Next in Wisconsin's Tampering Lawsuit Against Miami? Sports Law Experts Weigh In
July 1, 2025 via Badger Extra
Music Biz
Justin Bieber to Release Seventh Album on Friday
July 10, 2025 via Hollywood Reporter
After Being Sued by Warner for Copyright Infringement, DSW Files Lawsuit Against UMG, Sony and BMG Seeking Court Protection Over Music Usage in TikTok, Instagram Posts
July 10, 2025 via Music Business Worldwide
AI Band Shocks the World: The Velvet Sundown’s Viral Rise
July 8, 2025 via Geeky Gadgets
AI Controversy Hits Indie Band The Velvet Sundown
July 6, 2025 via Web Prone News
Film & TV
Larry David Teaming with the Obamas for First Show Since 'Curb Your Enthusiasm'
July 10, 2025 via USA Today
‘Scrubs’ Revival Nabs Series Order at ABC, Donald Faison and Sarah Chalke Returning
July 10, 2025 via Hollywood Reporter
Brad Pitt Effect: Apple Wants Formula 1 TV Rights After Box Office Success
July 9, 2025 via Benzinga
‘Big Bang Theory’ Spinoff ‘Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’ Ordered to Series at HBO Max
July 9, 2025 via Variety
Emerging Sports
Esports World Cup Foundation Announces Partnership with IMG to Launch Flagship Broadcast Series
July 9, 2025 via GuruFocus
‘Rematch’ Video Game Bends Genres, Earns Millions for French Studio
July 8, 2025 via Sportico
