Sports & Entertainment Beat

Welcome back to the Spotlight! Shana Tova to those who celebrate Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) was not going to write this week because, well, I am one of those who celebrates.  On Rosh Hashanah, it is traditional to enjoy sweet foods such as apples and honey as symbolism for a sweet year that lies ahead. So, in a world in which there is so much acrid vinegar, I aim to bring you at least a few drops of sweet honey—you know, as long as cringe-inducing humor is your thing…

• • Loti, a Seattle-based startup that aims to protect celebrities from so-called “deepfakes” and fake endorsements closed its seed financing round, with an impressive list of backers including Abraham Lincoln, Christopher Columbus and Joan of Arc.
     
  • Formula One racing and luxury brand conglomerate LVMH enter into a huge 10 year partnership worth…well, if you have to ask, you probably can’t afford it. (OK, fine it’s $1 billion).
     
  • Paying homage takes on a new meaning, as Kevin Durant, Jason Kelce and Rob McElhenney invest in Nostalgia-inspired sports apparel brand Homage, joining the likes of Ryan Reynolds. 
     
  • YouTube users hoping to listen to songs by Adele and others found themselves sitting in silence this week as a continued dispute between performing rights organization SESAC and YouTube’s parent Alphabet led to the music being taken down from the site.  Said one disheartened Adele fan, “I must’ve clicked a thousand times.”

For inquiries and/or unabashed compliments, please feel free to contact me at josh.bloomgarden@foster.com or add me on LinkedIn.