Love Stories, Legacy Records and Live Tour Drama

07.02.26 07.02.26

Musician with orange dreadlocks and face tattoos performing with a microphone on stage.

Welcome back to a star-spangled edition of the Spotlight! On Saturday, the United States is turning 250 years old. Based on the U.S. Men’s National Team’s performance in the FIFA World Cup so far, you might say that even at a ripe old age, she’s alive and kicking. Seems like they’re the only “Yankees” around here that are winning these days. Here’s hoping that they can keep it going against an imposing potential upcoming slate of opponents. Up next is Belgium, who defeated the US in the 2014 World Cup. We can fulfill our patriotic duties from now until that matchup by swearing off of Belgian chocolate, waffles, fries, mussels and perhaps most difficult of all: brussels sprouts. If the US team, fueled by our culinary boycott, can advance, they may be matched up against Spain, France and eventually Argentina—against each of whom the US would be heavy underdogs (and for whom we would need to make some more painful dietary choices). But then again, the American colonists were supposedly underdogs against the Brits in the Revolutionary War, and we all know how that turned out. If we can stand up to King George, surely the likes of Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi should be light work. Regardless of how many more games the US can win, it does seem as if the World Cup has been a success for the US, the rest of North America and their various host cities. TV ratings and sponsorships are through the roof, and the tournament has been extremely entertaining, marked by nail-biters and star-powered performances. In any event, whether you’re celebrating the Fourth of July, watching the World Cup, or attending a fairy tale wedding in the heart of Manhattan – all eyes will be on America this weekend. Stay safe, hydrate and wear sunscreen.

A castle is reportedly being built inside Madison Square Garden to house Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s not-so-secret 1,000 guest wedding celebration this weekend, but with all due respect to the happy couple, the proper king of that castle is Jalen Brunson.
The Michael Jackson biopic, “Michael” is now the highest grossing biopic in history, overtaking Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Though it’s fair to wonder whether that would still be the case if Robert Oppenheimer were a better dancer.
Rapper Lil Wayne was forced to apologize to fans after the opening night of his “20 Years of Carter Classics” tour was conspicuously missing a small but important element…(::checks notes::)… Lil Wayne.

Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships & Investments

World Cup Money: The Winners and Losers So Far
July 2, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter

Firebird Launches $750M Catalog Buying Fund Backed by Ares and Raine Group
June 30, 2026 via Music Business Worldwide

The New Playbook: Inside Pat Connaughton’s $600 Million Real Estate Business
June 30, 2026 via Boardroom

Glen Powell And Rob Mac Among Investors In Premier Lacrosse League’s $100M Funding Round
June 30, 2026 via Deadline

Under Armour Ends Partnership with WNBA
June 29, 2026 via SGB Online

Frank McCourt’s Equestrian League Sells First Franchise for $50M
June 29, 2026 via Sportico