Naomi Osaka Makes History with Victoria’s Secret
Naomi Osaka is serving something new at Victoria’s Secret. The four-time Grand Slam winner and mother-to-be is an active fashion designer for brands such as Nike and Levi’s. She’s added another proper partner to her laundry list of carefully curated collaborators. Osaka looks to lead Victoria’s Secret — a 45-year-old institution worth over $3 billion — into a new era. She designed a sleepwear collection exclusively for the company, making her the first collaborator that the legacy brand has tapped for such an opportunity.
Read more about the historic collab from Boardroom’s Ian Stonebrook.
Giannis and Hasan Minhaj Team up for WhatsApp
Fresh off their All-Star Weekend performances, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Hasan Minhaj are teaming up for WhatsApp. The comedian and the All-Star released a new digital short, “The Game of Adetokunbo,” with the app. In the spot, the two put a fresh take on the classic game of “HORSE,” using Giannis’ Yoruba name — Adetokunbo — to determine the winner instead. Antetokounmpo said in a statement, “I know that many, like Hasan and I, have similar relationships with their names, and we’re proud to bring to light this real story about culture that billions of people around the world can relate to.”
Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins Take Center for Netflix Docuseries “Quarterbacks”
Netflix and the NFL have announced a deal to launch its first joint creative project. Inspired by the success of F1’s Drive to Survive and the 2008 U.S. Olympic Men’s Basketball Team documentary The Redeem Team, the new series will get viewers up close and personal with three NFL quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota will front the new feature, which will take viewers both on and off the field. It is set to premiere in Summer 2023.
Nicki Minaj Teases “Queen Radio” Return
The Queen is back. Nicki Minaj has laid comparatively low since the release of her chart-topping hit “Super Freaky Girl.” Now the artist announced that her show Queen Radio is heading back to Apple Music after a brief detour to Amazon Music. The show is set to premiere on March 3.
Adidas Expands Partnership with MLS
The Three Stripes and MLS are doubling down on their long-term relationship. Adidas is making a massive investment in the US soccer league. According to CNBC, the extension will run through 2030 and is worth $830 million. Adidas will continue to supply the league’s kits, cleats, and official game balls. It tops off a huge offseason for the MLS, which also brokered a major deal with Apple TV for its broadcasting rights.
OpenAI Fuels New DJ Function for Spotify
Spotify‘s algorithm is already scary good. The app features user-predicted playlists such as Discover Weekly and Release Radar, curating what streamers may like each week. But the company is taking its algorithm and personalization abilities to the next level by introducing its AI DJ to Premium users in the United States and Canada on Wednesday. The new feature — currently in beta — utilizes Spotify’s algorithmic learnings to deliver a curated music lineup. In addition to a playlist, the feature includes detailed commentary that an AI DJ thinks you’ll love. The DJ uses a realistic voice modeled after Xavier “X” Jernigan, Spotify’s head of cultural partnerships.
Read more about the new feature from Boardroom’s Shlomo Sprung.
Jordan Brand Inks First High School NIL Athlete
Nearly four months after signing its first-ever NIL athlete, Jordan Brand has now expanded into the high school ranks. Maryland-born Kiyomi McMiller, who now plays out of Life Center Academy in New Jersey, has officially signed a NIL deal with Jordan. She became becoming the first high school athlete to do so, McMiller announced in partnership the brand on Wednesday. The 5-foot-8 point guard in the Class of 2024 is renowned for her skilled ball-handling and scoring ability. “It’s a dream come true being with the brand that stands for the same passion that I have for the game,” McMiller said of joining Jordan.
Read more about McMiller and Jordan from Boardroom’s Vinciane Ngomsi.