Beyoncé Partners with Moët Hennessy to Launch New Whisky, SirDavis
The success of COWBOY CARTER has driven Sony to a massive musical quarter. Now, Beyoncé is riding its success and diversifying her portfolio by teaming up with Moët Hennessy to launch a new whisky brand, SirDavis. The partnership between Beyoncé and Moët Hennessy “was years in the making,” according to the press release debuting the product. The name SirDavis is inspired by Davis Hogue, Beyoncé’s paternal great-grandfather, a farmer and a moonshiner in the American South during Prohibition. The new drink will be available for purchase next month after secretly making the rounds at spirit competitions prior to its release.
Live Nation Lawsuit Up to 40 States After DOJ Re-files
The US Department of Justice’s amended anti-trust lawsuit against Live Nation now includes 40 states, as well as the District of Columbia, after adding 10 states — Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Utah, and Vermont — in a re-filing on Monday. The lawsuit has long sought to break up Live Nation, which merged with Ticketmaster in 2010, alleging the two companies acted as a monopoly via illegal ticketing tactics. Live Nation claims there is “nothing new in the Amended Complaint,” and it looks forward to “sharing more facts as the case progresses.”
Edgar Bronfman Jr. Submits $4.3B Bid for Paramount, Skydance Deal in Question
A new player has emerged for the acquisition of Paramount Global. A month after Paramount agreed to a deal with Skydance Media, longtime media executive Edgar Bronfman Jr. has decided to throw his name into the ring with a reported $4.3 billion bid. Bronfman’s proposal comes just two days before a 45-day “go-shop” period from Paramount’s agreement was set to expire. Bronfman claims he has the better offer as “it would not involve a second step of the transaction in which Paramount would acquire Skydance,” per Reuters. Of Bronfman’s $4.3 billion, $2.4 billion will go to Shari Redstone for her family holding National Amusements, while $1.5 billion would help pay off debts. The rest would go toward the $400 million breakup fee with Skydance. A special Paramount committee will meet Wednesday to discuss the viability of the offer, as well as potentially extending the “go-shop” period.
NFL Taps Anitta for Eagles-Packers Halftime in Brazil
The NFL is heading to Brazil for the first time during the regular season, where it’ll be welcomed by one internationally recognized local. Brazilian music superstar Anitta will perform during halftime of the inaugural NFL matchup in São Paulo between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers on Sept. 6. “It’s really a dream come true to be a part of this moment,” the Grammy nominee said in a statement. Additionally, an exclusive NFL x Anitta collaboration is set to launch on Sept. 1 to celebrate her “unique style and expression through fashion.”
Alicia Keys’ Broadway Sensation Hell’s Kitchen Teams Up with US Open, ESPN for Signature Song
Ahead of the US Open, the tournament and its broadcast partner, ESPN, have partnered with Broadway musical Hell’s Kitchen, which is built on the music and lyrics of Alicia Keys. As part of the partnership in conjunction with the USTA, music from the hit show will be featured across both ESPN and US Open platforms over the three weeks of play. Additionally, the show’s hit song “Kaleidoscope” will be featured in the US Open Manifesto Video, which will premiere on Aug. 26 on ESPN, live at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and in broadcasts in over 200 countries worldwide.
Tommy Richman, Tinashe Among TikTok’s Top Summer Singles
TikTok released its songs of the summer on Tuesday, and in probably the least surprising news to anyone on social media, Tommy Richman and Tinashe claimed the top two spots. The catchy beats and lyrics from Richman’s “MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS)” and Tinashe’s “Nasty” have been featured heavily in social media posts around the world over the last three months. Rounding out the top five were Blood Orange‘s “Champagne Coast,” ian‘s “Magic Johnson,” and Billie Eilish‘s “BIRDS OF A FEATHER.” You can find the rest of TikTok’s US Top 10 here.
Alex Cooper, Call Her Daddy Strike Massive New Deal with SiriusXM
After closing out her three-year, $60 million deal with Spotify, host Alex Cooper is taking her podcast Call Her Daddy to SiriusXM in a move worth up to $125 million. With the new deal, SiriusXM will have “exclusive rights for advertising, distribution, content, events and more for Cooper’s flagship Call Her Daddy podcast, as well as the lineup of shows from her Unwell Audio Network,” per Variety. The show will still be available to stream on Spotify.
USA Football Makes Oakley its Official Eyewear Sponsor
In a push to raise awareness ahead of the 2028 Olympics, USA Football has decided to make Oakley its official eyewear sponsor in a deal that will last through the Summer Games in Los Angeles. Oakley boasts a sizable presence in the NFL, including partnerships with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Jefferson. With flag football set to make its Olympic debut in 2028, the new partnership makes the deal a logical move for USA Football.
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