Welcome back! School is back in session and so too is this Sports and Entertainment business classroom we like to call the “Spotlight.” Here, the sharpness of your pencils will be matched only by that of my wit, the sardonic humor flows free like a hallway water fountain and that rectangular, cafeteria pizza is almost as cheesy as my jokes. Heck, you might even learn something along the way. Without further ado, please take your seats and have a look at your assigned reading below.
- Everything is coming up Travis Kelce, as the All-Pro Kansas City Chiefs Tight End scores a partnership with American Eagle, while Garage Beer, the company in which he and his brother Jason are major investors, closes a funding round valuing it at $200M (a 10x increase in just about a year’s time). Oh, also his newly betrothed happens to be a billionaire singer-songwriter.
- Rapper and producer Lil Jon wins third place at the 2025 Muscle Beach fitness competition in Venice, CA. In recognition of the achievement, he received a bronze medal and will henceforth be referred to as “Jon."
- A British man named Oliver McCann (professionally known as “imoliver”) makes (AI-generated) waves in the music industry, garnering a record deal from indie label Hallwood Media for his creation of AI-generated music. Certainly not the first time someone with minimal music talent has gotten a record deal and it won’t be the last. One thing is for certain: clearing the rights to the music must be a nightmare.
Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships & Investments
Michael Jordan’s Cincoro Is the Latest Tequila to Face a Lawsuit Claiming It’s Not Made From 100% Agave
September 5, 2025 via Robb Report
Kawhi Leonard, Clippers Used Endorsement Deal to 'Circumvent' NBA Salary Cap
September 3, 2025 via Athletic
McLaren Racing F1 Stake Sold at $5 Billion Valuation
September 2, 2025 via Sportico
Abercrombie’s Sports Play Is the Natural Next Step in Its Reinvention
September 2, 2025 via Boardroom
Beyoncé Turns Haircare Into Big Business With Cécred
September 1, 2025 via Forbes
American Eagle Scores Win With Travis Kelce Collaboration, Timed Perfectly To Swift Proposal
August 31, 2025 via Forbes
Why this CMU Professor Says NIL has Created More Parity in College Football
August 30, 2025 via Lancaster Online
Celsius Unveils 2025 NIL Roster to Promote Brand Campaign
August 29, 2025 via SmartBrief
Exclusive-Meta Created Flirty Chatbots of Taylor Swift, Other Celebrities Without Permission
August 29, 2025 via KFGO
Sports
Caitlin Clark Sitting Out Rest Of WNBA Season After Multiple Injuries
September 5, 2025 via Deadline
Roger Goodell Says Taylor Swift a ‘Maybe’ for Super Bowl LX
September 3, 2025 via Front Office Sports
Billionaire Booster to Run Ads Calling for Congress to Allow National College Sports TV Package
August 29, 2025 via Awful Announcing
Music Biz
Billions in Royalties Lost to Bad Data — It’s About Time You ‘Know Your Artists’
September 4, 2025 via Digital Music News
Vinyl Records and CDs Spared from New US Import Tariffs
September 2, 2025 via Music Business Worldwide
‘The Largest IP Theft in Human History’: Breaking Down The Years-Long Investigation Into How AI Firms Are Stealing Music
September 2, 2025 via Billboard
Sting to Face Fresh Legal Battle with The Police over ‘Every Breath You Take’
September 2, 2025 via Business Matters Magazine
First 'AI Music Creator' Signed by Record Label. More Ahead, or Just a Copyright Quandry?
September 1, 2025 via Slash Dot
Will Smith’s AI-Enhanced Tour Video Sparks Backlash Over Deception
August 31, 2025 via Web Prone News
The Success of AI Music Creators Sparks Debate on Future of Music Industry
August 31, 2025 via Economic Times
Rapper LaRussell has Made Millions by Allowing his Fans to Set the Prices
August 30, 2025 via NBC News
Film & TV
Warner Bros. Discovery Sues Midjourney In Latest Copyright Lawsuit Over Use Of Studio Content In AI
September 4, 2025 via Deadline
‘Bluey’ Movie Gets August 2027 Release Date
September 4, 2025 via Variety
Tom Holland Scoured the Internet to “Understand” What “Fans Want” in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’
September 4, 2025 via Hollywood Reporter
Will Smith And Westbrook Set Multi-Picture Deal At Paramount Pictures
September 3, 2025 via Deadline
