Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships & Investments

San Diego State Football Team Receives Sponsorship From College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving

November 2, 2021 via 24-7 Press Release

College HUNKS Hauling Junk and Moving, an industry leader in stress-free solutions for moving and junk-hauling needs, recently announced an endorsement deal with the San Diego State football team.

17-Year Old Mikey Williams Signs a Historic Endorsement Deal With Puma

November 2, 2021 via EBONY

17-year-old basketball phenom Mikey Williams has signed a multiyear footwear and apparel deal with Puma, making him the first American high school basketball player to sign an endorsement deal with a global footwear company, ESPN reported.

Utopia Music Acquires Lyric Financial Amid Surge of Investment in Independent Music

November 1, 2021 via Billboard

The business of providing cash advances to independent artists has become more lucrative – and predictable – in the streaming era.

Beckham Brands Partner GBG International Close to Administration

November 1, 2021 via Sky News – Business

David Beckham’s consumer products licensing joint venture partner is close to financial collapse – a move which could hasten the former Manchester United midfielder gaining full control of the business.

Stars Cash in With Coca-Cola’s $8 Billion BodyArmor Purchase

November 1, 2021 via Sportico – Business (Subscription may be required)

Over the past decade, there has been a surge in the number of athletes forgoing cash in exchange for equity in endorsement deals with startup companies.

Epoch Lacrosse Signs University of North Carolina Star Jamie Ortega to Sponsorship Deal

November 1, 2021 via Forbes – SportsMoney (subscription may be required)

When Jamie Ortega heard about the NCAA creating an interim policy this summer that allowed college athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness, she found the concept intriguing.

Street League Skateboarding Strengthens Partner Roster

October 28, 2021 via Shop Eat Surf Industry Releases

Street League Skateboarding announced two new additions to its stable of 2021 SLS Championship Tour partners.

Matt Damon Stars in Crypto.com Ad—the Latest Celebrity to Endorse Cryptocurrency

October 28, 2021 via Ad Age

Crypto.com, a crypto currency platform, kicked off a new global ad campaign today starring Matt Damon.

11 Celebrities Cashing in on Cannabis

October 27, 2021 via LA Weekly

As cannabis becomes a go-to source for a myriad of health benefits, celebrity endorsements are normalizing the herb more than ever.

Sports

Alex Rodriguez, Serie A and FaZe Clan: This Week’s Most Interesting Sports Business Stories

October 28, 2021 via Forbes – Business (subscription may be required)

In last week’s SportsMoney Playbook: the billion-dollar esports company, the NHL’s highest-paid players and an MLB bat maker ready to expand.

NFL Faces Public Backlash and Unresolved Media Deals at League’s 2021 Fall Meetings

October 28, 2021 via CNBC – Business News

The NFL held its first in-person owners meeting in over 600 days to discuss the latest issues surrounding the league.

NILs, Surrogate Markets and the Future of College Sports

October 27, 2021 via Forbes – Business (subscription may be required)

Big changes are underway that will change the face of college sports in the United States.

Jamie Ortega’s Epoch NIL Deal Marks One of the First Major Brand Deals for a Female Lacrosse Athlete

November 1, 2021 via Forbes (subscription may be required)

Epoch Lacrosse, a design and technology company specializing in lacrosse, has signed UNC senior attacker Jamie Ortega to help promote its brand.

Film & TV

Sony Renews Media Rights Deal With UEFA for Three Years

October 30, 2021 via BrandEquity (Economic Times) – Recent Stories

Sony Pictures Networks India will have exclusive TV and digital rights for UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Youth League, UEFA Super Cup and the newly launched UEFA Europa Conference League.

Scott Evans Expands Relationship With NBCUniversal, Inks Talent and Development Deal

October 27, 2021 via Greenwich Time

Mónica Marie Zorrilla provided by Emmy-nominated entertainment journalist and USA Network’s “America’s Big Deal” host Scott Evans will expand his existing NBCUniversal relationship with an overall talent and development deal with the network.

The Office Star BJ Novak’s Face Accidentally Ended up in Public Domain, so He’s Being Used to Sell Random Products Across the World

October 27, 2021 via Metro

Celebrities’ faces are often slapped on perfumes, herbal aids and even cryptocurrency without their endorsement or knowledge, leading to customer confusion and often legal action from the star in question.

Media Rights Value Set to Soar and Digital, New Franchises Could be Game Changers

October 27, 2021 via Money Control

From a larger focus on digital rights to sports being a key genre for TV, analysts point to different facets that will drive up the value of the media rights.

Music Biz

Dr. Dre, Will.I.Am, Issa Rae Give Early ‘Yes’ to Proposed School Arts Initiative

November 2, 2021 via Los Angeles Times – Education News

Depleted public schools arts programs would get a huge boost under a proposed statewide ballot initiative with A-list endorsements from entertainment and music industry figures including Dr. Dre, Jimmy Iovine, Will.I.Am, and Issa Rae.

Devo Don’t Know if Would-Be Reagan Assassin Got Royalties for ‘I Desire,’ But it’s Also Not Their Problem

October 27, 2021 via Register Citizen

John Hinckley Jr. recently claimed on Twitter he hasn’t seen a cent for the song, which incorporates and interpolates a poem he wrote for Jodie Foster.

Swedish House Mafia x IKEA: a Partnership Made in Heaven

October 29, 2021 via CelebrityAccess

In a brand pairing that’s at the same time obvious and unusual, IKEA is teaming up with electronic music’s Swedish House Mafia to explore music and creativity at home.

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)

Deadmau5, Gregory Siff Merge Digital and Physical Art With Solana NFT Drop

November 2, 2021 via CoinDesk – Top Stories

Electronic music staple Deadmau5 is tapping Looks Rare, a new metaverse studio, to launch NFTs on the Solana blockchain.

Warner Bros Launches ‘Matrix’ NFTs

November 2, 2021 via Benzinga

Warner Bros, an entertainment brand owned by AT&T Inc., intends to launch NFTs featuring its “Matrix” franchise.

Tebow NFT Company to Debut ’08 Gators Art as Colleges Join Craze

November 2, 2021 via Sportico – Business

At the intersection of evolving NIL policies and explosive NFT growth, Tim Tebow-founded Campus Legends will put out its first set of school and athlete-licensed college sports digital collectibles starting this week.

Our Lady Peace to Release Canada’s First-Ever NFT Album

October 28, 2021 via BNN Bloomberg Canada

Archive Award-winning rock band Our Lady Peace is releasing their latest album as an NFT, becoming the first artists in Canadian history ever to do so.

GigLabs Raises $4.5 Million Seed Round Led By Dapper Labs and Panoramic Ventures to Help Brands Launch NFTs

October 28, 2021 via Latest VC & PE News

Leading brands have relied on GigLabs to launch NFT projects on Flow blockchain including CNN, Turner Sports, Speedway Motorsports, and University of Miami.

Quentin Tarantino to Offer Seven Uncut Scenes From ‘Pulp Fiction’ as NFTs

November 2, 2021 via CNBC

The award-winning director and writer is auctioning off seven uncut scenes from “Pulp Fiction” as NFTs, also including original handwritten scripts from the film and exclusive audio commentary from Tarantino himself.