Nostalgia and Business Beyond the Game
Welcome back to the Spotlight! The recent news of some professional athletes returning to college to avail themselves of an additional year of eligibility has inspired me to return to my alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. So I am writing this piece from 30,000 feet en route to Madison for a football game. Unfortunately for me, I was informed that my 5’7” frame is still considered “undesirable” and “a liability” for the gridiron. As such, I will be relegated to the bleachers to cheer on the team and the closest thing I will come to NIL is the NostaLgIa of being back in what in my biased opinion is the best college town in these 50 United States. It will take me a few orders of some of Wisconsin’s finest fried cheese curds and beer to help me cope, but I think I’ll be OK—I know my role is to operate the Spotlight, not to be under it. On, Wisconsin!
- NBA Champion New York Knicks (still surreal to write those words) point guard Jalen Brunson and several family members launch a management company to oversee his off-the-court business opportunities and guide other athletes and executives through sponsorships, philanthropic opportunities and brand partnerships. As a special service, OG Anunoby may even provide some tips.
- Pop/Alt Rock band, Panic! At the Disco takes legal action against counterfeit merch dealers, ostensibly after having a panic at their lost revenue.
- NBA All-Star LeBron James adds another food and beverage company to his investment portfolio: Mike’s Red Tacos. The move comes years after a viral video in which James championed Taco Tuesday in his household. So now James both likes Mike and is like Mike.
Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships and Investments
What is Polymarket and How It Works Amid LeBron James’ Reported $15M Deal
September 17, 2026 via Yahoo! Sports
Miami Signing 10-Year Sponsorship, Apparel Deal With Nike Worth Over $200M
September 16, 2026 via On3
Jalen Brunson Gets Into the Brand Management Business With New Family Venture
September 16, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter
LeBron James Commits Capital, Provides “Signal” to Mike’s Red Tacos
September 15, 2026 via Franchise Times
Sol De Janeiro Taps Washington Spirit and U.S. Women’s National Team Players Trinity Rodman and Tara Rudd as Brand Ambassadors
September 15, 2026 via PR Newswire
Tommy Hilfiger Freedom: New Fragrance Launch With Camila Cabello as Global Brand Ambassador
September 15, 2026 via Business Wire
ENGWE Names Football Legend Robin Van Persie as Brand Ambassador Ahead of Car-Free Day
September 15, 2026 via PR Newswire
Ziff Davis CEO: If OpenAI Can Find $750 Billion for Data Centers, It Can Find Money for Publishers, Too
September 14, 2026 via Yahoo! News
Dockers Puts Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh Through the Ringer in New Campaign
September 14, 2026 via Women’s Wear Daily
Barefoot Wine Taps Donna Kelce to Reach New NFL Fans
September 14, 2026 via Sports Business Journal
The House of Suntory’s Haku Vodka Introduces First Campaign, “Made to Shine,” Featuring Rina Sawayama as Inaugural Brand Ambassador
September 14, 2026 via Northeast Mississippi Journal
Zoom Got It Done: Company’s New Ad Campaign Featuring Kate McKinnon Shows How Zoom Turns Conversations Into Completed Work
September 14, 2026 via GlobeNewswire
Kristin Juszczyk’s New Off Season NFL Line Features More Teams Than Ever Before
September 11, 2026 via New York Post
Sports
Price Tag of NBA Las Vegas & Seattle Expansion Teams Revealed by Insider
September 15, 2026 via BasketNews.com
NBA Las Vegas Expansion: Adam Silver Talks Sphere Inspired Arena
September 15, 2026 via Fox 5 Las Vegas
Texas QB Arch Manning Apologizes to ESPN Reporter Holly Rowe for Laughing About Fake Video of Slap
September 15, 2026 via WPBF
A Sweeping College Sports Overhaul Bill Clears Early Hurdle in Senate Vote
September 15, 2026 via King 5
New York Named World’s Top Sport City as London Trails in Fourth Place
September 15, 2026 via City AM
This Is What Sports Media Looks Like When Athletes Have the Right Technology
September 14, 2026 via AdExchanger
Justice Department Reportedly Investigating Clippers’ Deals Involving Kawhi Leonard
September 11, 2026 via The Athletic
Music Biz
Stem Co-Founder Tim Luckow Raises $5M for Royalty Platform Notes.fm; Zach Bryan, Benny Blanco and Ari Emanuel Among the Backers
September 17, 2026 via Music Business Worldwide
All 58 Taylor Swift Music Videos Land on Spotify, Seven Months After ‘Opalite’ Skipped YouTube for Two Days
September 17, 2026 via Music Business Worldwide
Music Distribution, Explained: And Why It Matters More Than Ever for Independent Artists
September 16, 2026 via Variety
Panic! at the Disco Company Sues Online Sellers Over Counterfeit Merch
September 15, 2026 via Music Business Worldwide
Universal Music Group Sues DistroKid for Deceptive Trade Practices and Building an ‘AI-Slop Pipeline’
September 15, 2026 via Variety
Robert Kraft, Gillette Stadium Boot Macklemore From Ed Sheeran Tour Over ‘Free Palestine’ Rant
September 14, 2026 via Fox News
Samsung Asks Judge to Dismiss Dua Lipa’s $15 Million Lawsuit Over Unauthorized Image Usage
September 11, 2026 via Rolling Stone
Film & TV
Disney Inks Content and Development Deal With Kids Creator Brand ‘Like Nastya’
September 17, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter
Wyatt Russell Joins Asa Butterfield, Mark Strong in John Carroll Lynch Comedy ‘Happy’
September 17, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter
Lewis Hamilton’s Dawn Apollo Studios Inks First-Look Deal With Skydance Sports
September 16, 2026 via Hollywood Reporter
Protect College Sports Act Revised to Include Provisions Protecting Existing TV Deals
September 15, 2026 via Awful Announcing
NFL’s Down Under Opener Confirms Streamers Are Still Lagging TV
September 15, 2026 via Sportico
Prime Video Expresses Interest in World Cup Media Rights
September 11, 2026 via Awful Announcing
