Allen Iverson Shouts out Post Malone for Spotify Billions Boost
Post Malone has found himself on the Spotify Billions list yet again. The rapper‘s breakout hit “White Iverson” off 2016’s Stoney clocked in over the billion listen count this week. To celebrate, the song’s inspiration recorded a bespoke message. The streaming giant tapped Allen Iverson to congratulate Posty with a video recording as part of its “Billions Club: The Series Featuring Post Malone.” Iverson said, “The whole world loves this song and I’m honored to be a part of it. Keep that same form, Post.” Previously, Malone’s hits “Sunflower” and “Circles” hauled in the honor, logging more than 2 billion streams at this time.
Chicago Cubs, Sky Owner Assembles Group to Purchase NWSL's Red Stars
The Chicago Red Stars are nearing the end of their hunt for a new owner. Majority owner Arnim Whisler put the team up for sale last year after the team was fined $1.5 million as a result of a formal investigation which found evidence of discrimination and abuse across the league. Sources report that the club is nearing a deal with Laura Ricketts, who agreed to purchase the the team for $35.5 million. Ricketts, who also serves as an owner of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Sky, led a group of 12 additional investors, which notably includes 10 women. In a statement, Ricketts said, “Our respective backgrounds in professional sports, finance, turnaround management, commercial real estate, marketing and advertising, paired with our deep community ties, make for a powerful combination that will serve us well in reaching our ultimate goal: building a championship organization on and off the pitch.” The sale is subject to NWSL approval.
LeBron James, Ja'Marr Chase & Joe Burrow Among Investors in Fundraising Round for Matthew Berry’s Newest Venture
Matthew Berry is doubling down on his new chapter. The former ESPN fantasy football analyst announced that he successfully completed a $2 million funding round for FantasyLife. The round attracted the likes of Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, and LeBron James and Maverick Carter‘s LRMR Ventures. Berry, who now works for NBC, started the company as a newsletter and will use the funding round to expand the platform. Additionally, Carter, Casey Wasserman, and YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley will join the advisory board to help guide the strategic future of the business.
Linear TV Accounts for Less Than 50% of Viewership for First Time in History
Cord cutting has reached a new milestone this month. According to Nielsen data, less than one-half of television was viewed via broadcast and cable (49.6%). Streaming services accounted for the biggest portion of viewing efforts, with 38.7% of the market share. Suits and Stranger Things each accounted for 18 billion streaming minutes during the month of July. YouTube logged the highest proportion of viewers with 9.2%, with Netflix in second place at 8.5%.
Issa Rae Unveils Inaugural Find Your People Cohort
Issa Rae has already made an indelible impact on the entertainment industry. The Insecure creator and star announced on Tuesday that her management and production company, ColorCreative, launched its first-ever cohort program dedicated to developing the skills of emerging creators from seven different film professions. The 28-person cohort includes writers, editors, and costume designers. The program was first announced in February and yielded more than 1,500 applications.
On Running’s Sales Surge, Stock Drops 13% Upon Earnings Report Release
On Running‘s sales continue to surge, and Roger Federer continues to stack his checks. Its parent company, On Holding posted its sixth consecutive quarter demonstrating a massive uptick in sales, the company revealed during its quarterly earnings report call on Tuesday. Second-quarter sales eclipsed $500 million, resulting in a 52% year-over-year increase. However, the stock dipped dramatically after the results were revealed, but shares are still up more than 70% as compared to the price at this time last year.