Billie Eilish has partnered with Google Maps to guide fans toward eco-friendly choices during her Hit Me Hard and Soft tour. Fans attending the 43-city tour can use Google Maps to find sustainable transportation options like fuel-efficient routes, walking, bike-sharing and public transit. In cities like Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, fans can also explore Eilish’s recommendations for eco-conscious dining to complement the experience, creating a fully sustainable concert-going experience from travel to food.
The collaboration between Billie Eilish’s Hit Me Hard and Soft tour and Google Maps shows how brands can evolve music partnerships into platforms for innovation and change, finding creative ways to improve the audience journey and enhance the fan experience from the moment they leave their homes. Aligning with an artist’s message or values allows brands to go beyond standard ads and events, transforming moments of purposeful engagement into lasting loyalty amongst.
.png)
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has announced its lineup of presenters and performers for the 2024 induction ceremony, featuring stars like Dr. Dre, Dua Lipa and Julia Roberts. The ceremony, now in its 39th year, will take place in Cleveland on Nov. 3. Joining them will be Busta Rhymes, Ella Mai, Jelly Roll and more to honor inductees including Mary J. Blige, Cher and Ozzy Osbourne. The event is set to celebrate the broad influence of rock and roll across genres, highlighting the enduring legacy of this year’s iconic inductees
%2520(1).png)
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is the executive producer of a three-part docuseries called “Evolution of the Black Quarterback,” which premiered on Amazon Prime Video this past Tuesday. The docuseries is meant to honor Vick’s heroes and pay homage to current stars around the country. The series highlights the journey of Black quarterbacks in the NFL like trailblazer James “Shack” Harris (Jaguars) and modern stars like Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles). Vick also reflects on his career, struggles and return to the NFL, offering insights into challenges he’s faced both past and present.
%2520(1).png)
Each of the Kansas City Chiefs’ first three games has set notable TV viewership records through the start of the 2024 season. Most recently, the Chiefs’ 22–17 victory over the Falcons was NBC’s most-watched Week 3 Sunday Night Football game, with 25.1 million viewers, following the Chiefs-Bengals game in Week 2 which generated 27.9 million viewers. In their Week 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens that opened the 2024 NFL season, Kansas City drew a record kickoff game audience of 28.9 million on NBC.
As evidenced by their viewership attraction so far, the Kansas City Chiefs remain steadfast in their standing as one of the most intriguing teams in the NFL following Taylor Swift’s involvement and their recent consecutive Super Bowl wins. However, brands looking to tap into the team’s increased popularity should proceed with caution, given the negative headlines the team encountered surrounding kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial comments this summer and wide receiver Rashee Rice’s street-racing incident in March.
.png)
Kith has teamed up with the NFL for the second time to unveil a limited-edition collection, putting a fresh spin on iconic NFL apparel. This season, Kith focuses on five new teams: the Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, and New York Jets, offering an array of gear that celebrates the classic colorways and logos of each franchise. The collection also highlights collaborations with brands like '47, Mitchell & Ness, Jeff Hamilton, and Riddell, enhancing the lineup’s premium feel.
Brands can leverage the growing intersection of fashion and football by exploring partnerships with the NFL’s collaborating fashion houses, such as Kith, Abercrombie & Fitch and BOSS. Additionally, activating campaigns featuring influencers or athletes styled with branded merchandise and Diageo spirits as the ultimate game-day accessory can seamlessly align the brand with both the sport and the fashion-forward fanbase, establishing it as the perfect pairing for elevated NFL experiences.
.png)
The Pro Rivals Open is a new golf series for athletes featuring past and present pros from basketball, baseball, football and hockey. Over the next year, athletes will compete in sport-specific tournaments to crown the best player from each league. The inaugural Pro Cup, an annual Ryder Cup-style team event, will decide which league comes out on top, taking place at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida December 9-14. Team captains including John Smoltz, Jerome Bettis, Mike Modano, and Vinny Del Negro will lead the three-day match play competition, with additional participants to be announced.
Brands can explore long-term partnerships with the tour or players, as well as activations that enhance their visibility within this space. Additionally, deploying a sports influencer to cover the event - from tournament updates to on-course style - can boost visibility of the brand without extensive investment.
.png)
According to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court, the Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what they’re calling an anticompetitive and unlawful “poaching penalty” that would cost the rebuilding conference more than $40 million for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State. The Pac-12 is challenging poaching fees that were put in place in the Mountain West’s football scheduling agreement for this season with Oregon State and Washington State, the only current Pac-12 members this season. The fee starts at $10 million and increases by $500,000 for every additional school the Pac-12 adds from the Mountain West. With four already on board, the total is $43 million.
.png)
Taco Bell has teamed up with musician Omar Apollo to launch Disha Hot, a new sauce inspired by his family's secret recipe. The smoky, savory sauce will be available in Taco Bell's Disha Hot Discovery Box or sold separately for a limited time starting September 24. This collaboration also includes a limited-edition vinyl of Apollo's album, honoring his heritage and personal connection to the brand through Taco Bell's "Feed the Beat" program.
Taco Bell’s collaboration with Omar Apollo for the Disha Hot sauce goes beyond typical celebrity partnerships by drawing inspiration from Apollo’s family recipe, adding authenticity and cultural significance. This personal connection brings meaning to the partnership, contrasting with more superficial celeb-themed launches. As consumers increasingly seek genuine experiences, these heritage-driven collaborations are setting a new standard in the food and beverage space
.jpeg)
PepsiCo's DRIPS truck is bringing a unique lineup of eight creative beverages inspired by popular PepsiCo products to New York City September 12-29. Highlights include the Tropicana Cotton Candy Lemonade, PEPSI Forever S'mores and DEW Spicy Splash. Operating at locations like Central Park and Domino Park, the truck will serve mocktail-style drinks that blend refreshing flavors with playful toppings like cotton candy and chamoy to spark curiosity about PepsiCo, with potential to expand from pop-ups to more permanent locations.
Off-White™ is the official style and culture curator for the New York Liberty, marking the brand’s first U.S. sports team partnership. They will unveil a custom varsity jacket ahead of the Liberty’s opening playoff game, as well as release exclusive fashion capsules, lead community-focused events, and partner with players for key cultural moments like Women’s History Month and Black History Month.
The WNBA continues to see significant growth in viewership and fan engagement, marking a prime opportunity to tap into the expanding audience and authentically connect with consumers. Brands can continue tapping into the buzz around women’s sports by hosting events or fan experiences around games, like pop-up shops with product sampling or interactive activations at league arenas. During prime game times (kickoff, tournaments, etc), brands can use social channels to create promotions, such as contests or product/merch giveaways that engage fans in real-time. Beyond directly engaging with WNBA players, brands can also utilize influencers who are passionate about women’s sports to reach a wider audience, similar to NBC’s Olympics Creators program
Levi’s teased a potential collaboration with Beyoncé on Instagram, sharing an image of a woman in a cowboy hat riding a horse—a nod to her country album, Cowboy Carter, which includes the song “LEVII’s JEANS.” The brand also tagged the singer in the post, fueling more speculation. Representatives for Levi’s have not directly commented on the presumed collaboration, but brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle have seen a boost in sales as more consumers opt for denim looks with the growing popularity of Western wear, hinting that this partnership could be beneficial for Levi’s revenue.
.png)
This past week, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was No.1 at the Friday box office for the second straight week, only its eighth day in theaters. The film has pulled in $150.8 million since first released in theaters and made history as the second-biggest September opening of all time, behind 2017’s It.
%2520(1).jpeg)
Sabrina Carpenter will produce and star in “A Nonsense Christmas with Sabrina Carpenter,” a holiday variety music special premiering December 6 on Netflix. According to Netflix, the special will feature Carpenter singing songs from her 2023 holiday-themed EP "Fruitcake" as well as other "chart-topping holiday covers." It will also feature comedic guests and other unexpected duets.
Brands should look to leverage Carpenter’s ascending stardom to connect with Gen Z audiences, and with the announcement of this special, the momentum can continue well into the holiday season. On social, teams can utilize lyrics from her latest singles in stories and in-feed posts (like “Taste”), or share cocktail recipes using variations of her favorite Limoncello Spritz or a signature “Espresso” martini.
.jpeg)
President Joe Biden gave the U.N. General Assembly a final address on Tuesday. Biden used his wide-ranging address to speak to a need for a ceasefire in the Middle East conflict and the 17-month-old civil war in Sudan, and to highlight U.S. and Western allies’ support of Kyiv since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He also raised concern over artificial intelligence and its potential to be used for repression. In addition, he warned against U.S. isolationism in global affairs. Biden insisted that despite global conflicts, he remains hopeful for the future of peace.
.jpeg)
Following his arrest on September 16 after a year of ongoing investigations, Sean “Diddy” Combs was indicted on three charges: racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The prosecution also alleges that Combs partook in kidnapping, forced labor, bribery and other crimes. In the indictment, prosecutors allege that Combs manipulated women into engaging in “highly orchestrated performances,” which he called “freak offs.” After pleading not guilty, Combs currently awaits trial where if convicted, he could face a minimum of 15 years to life in prison across the three felony counts.