The SpringHill Company is working on multiple projects, starting with a ‘More Than A Vote’ themed feature.
The ever-expanding catalog of entertainment created by LeBron James and Maverick Carter’s The SpringHill Company is embarking on a new endeavor: spoken word programming, through a multi-project deal with audiobook giant Audible.
Audible and The SpringHill Company announced the partnership this week, which will kick off with a nod to another LeBron and Maverick project, the voting rights coalition ‘More Than A Vote,’ with a program called More Than A Vote: Our Voices. Our Vote, hosted by Tiffany D. Cross and Wesley Lowery. It will also feature a collection of athletes, artists, and others, including LeBron himself.
Leon Bridges, Grammy-winning Artist
LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter
Andra Day, Grammy-nominated Artist
Addisu Demissie, Executive Director, More Than A Vote
Rutha Mae Harris, Freedom Singer and Civil Rights Legend
LeBron James, Co-Founder, More Than A Vote
Martha S. Jones, Professor History, Johns Hopkins University
Desmond Meade, President, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
Jalen Rose, ESPN Analyst and More Than A Vote Member
Amanda Seales, Actress and Comedian
Tommie Smith, Olympic Athlete
Octavia Spencer, Oscar-winning Actress
Maria Taylor, ESPN Analyst and More Than A Vote Member
The ‘More Than A Vote’ special will premiere on Audible on October 28. According to the press release, there are two other SpringHill Projects already in development.
While minority owners are looking to sell their piece of the pie, it may be possible that Snyder joins and looks for a sole buyer.
With news surfacing that three minority owners in Washington are looking to sell their shares of the team, it puts Dan Snyder in a tough position. While his family still holds onto approximately 60% of the shares, it might be hard to find anyone who wishes to take on the potential PR nightmare of getting in business with Snyder and his team. The easiest route forward would be to find someone who wishes to own the entire piece of the pie, but that would mean Snyder has to give up what might be his favorite piece of property.
This is something that ESPN’s Michael Wilbon could see happening.
“I don’t know that [Snyder will sell] but would I be surprised? No,” Wilbon said Monday morning via NBC Sports Washington. “I wouldn’t be surprised at all because I don’t believe he’s going along with this.”
According to Forbes, Washington’s football team is worth $3.1 billion, which is ranked as the 14th most expensive sports team in North America. There may be a number of right people who would pay that number to take over the team, but it may cost more than that in order to get Snyder to even consider giving them up.
“I just thought that while there’s all this reporting on cooperation and collaboration, I don’t believe a word of that stuff. I believe Snyder wants to fight this every step of the way,” Wilbon said. “I don’t believe he’s going along with this. I believe Snyder is sulking and pouting and raging and I don’t buy that he’s sitting around and saying, ‘Okay how about this name?’ I just don’t buy it.”
An interesting idea was floated over the weekend that Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos may pop up in the bidding for the team, as he has reportedly wanted to get into the NFL ownership circles for a while now. While it may not seem likely that he would become a part-owner with Snyder, he undoubtedly has the money to offer enough to buy the team outright from the current owner. If Bezos offered $4 billion or more to take Washington off of Snyder’s hands, would he say no?
With a big stake of Washington likely up for sale in the near future, Bezos’s desire to own an NFL team could bring interesting storylines.
If you’re looking for rich billionaires who might be interested in purchasing a stake in an NFL team — if not the entire team — you should look no further than Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos.
Amidst the news that three minority owners in Washington are looking to sell their shares, everyone has been delving into the bidding market and trying to figure out who might be some viable suitors. We even posited a few #HTTR celebrities here who might have an interest in becoming a minority owner. However, with 40% of the team likely up for grabs, which would total approximated $1.36 billion, you’re going to need some big-time money to take that on…
Enter Bezos.
“Jeff Bezos is gonna be the first name that pops up,” Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said, via NBC Sports Washington. “It’s well known that he wants in and it’s well known that the owners of the other NFL teams wouldn’t mind having him in given that he runs Amazon and it’d be a hell of a lot easier to work out deals for the streaming rights to games if one of the guys that they’re a partner with is also the guy that runs Amazon.”
A story ran last year that Bezos was interested in getting into the NFL ownership circle, but it was likely to be hard to crack that group given the competition to get in and the low rate at which people leave once they’ve got an invite to the party. Now, with nearly half of Washington’s ownership potentially up for grabs, it seems like an ideal time for the man who is on track to become the world’s first trillionaire in the near future.
“He may just want to buy the full 100 percent,” Florio said. “I never understood why anybody with sufficient means would want to not hold the full equity. If you’ve got the money, why do you even want to have to deal with minority partners? What’s the point? If you’ve got the funds to buy the whole thing, and truly Bezos does, just give me the full 100 percent and everyone else can stand down.”
Of course, there is zero indication that Dan Snyder wishes to sell the whole team away from his family, despite a litany of fans’ t-shirts that would urge him to do so. But if Bezos is serious about this, and he makes a big enough offer? Who knows what could happen.
Amazon is sponsoring a virtual relief concert to benefit COVID-19 funds, and Seahawks’ Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson are participating.
On June 10 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. PT, a virtual COVID-19 relief concert will be broadcast on KING 5 in Seattle, featuring a litany of iconic musicians and local celebrities including Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and head coach Pete Carroll.
All in WA, a nonprofit started by Washington Governor Jay Inslee, is spearheading the event, which has already raised $20 million of their stated goal of $65 million, which will be spread among 42 different funds and causes across the state.
— Jake Whittenberg 🎥 (@jwhittenbergK5) May 27, 2020
The event is sponsored by Amazon, with founder and CEO JEff Bezos revealing he will match individual donations to All in WA causes, with a max total of $25 million dollars.
Wilson’s wife, R&B singer Ciara, is known to be participating as well, along with a large collection of Seattle-area musicians, including:
Allen Stone
Ben Gibbard
Brandi Carlile
Dave Matthews
Joel McHale
Mary Lambert
Macklemore
Pearl Jam
Sir Mix-A-Lot
The Black Tones
No word on what Carroll and Wilson have planned for their respective performances – but let’s hope we get to hear some crooning, or maybe even a duet.
The global coronavirus pandemic has drastically changed life in America over the past few months, and in many cases, it’s increased the general population’s reliance on Amazon — and other e-commerce providers — for shopping needs.
So, what did 11 local news stations across the country do? They ran the same Amazon-scripted segment that praised the e-commerce giant’s proactive approach to safety during the pandemic. Courier Newsroom put together a supercut of the segments, and, yeah, it was a sight to behold.
According to Courier Newsroom, these stations ran the segment:
WTVJ-NBC, Miami, FL
WPLG-ABC, Miami, FL
WKRN-ABC, Nashville, TN
WLEX-NBC, Lexington, KY (ran twice)
WVVA-NBC, Bluefield, WV
WTVM-ABC, Columbus, GA (ran twice)
KMIR-NBC, Palm Springs, CA (ran three times)
WBTW-CBS, Myrtle Beach, SC
WOAY-ABC, Bluefield, WV (ran twice)
WGXA-ABC, Macon, GA
Other reporters received the PR pitch from Amazon and decided to pass on what was essentially free advertising for the company.
Just got an email from Amazon’s PR team with a pre-edited news story and script to run in our shows. They are selling this as giving our viewers an “inside look” at the company’s response to COVID-19.
Amazon told Courier Newsroom that the script was published to Business Wire, which provides press releases and company-produced content to media organizations. That doesn’t make the segment any less weird, though.
Baltimore Ravens MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson contends Amazon is selling goods with his likeness and catchphrases without permission
[jwplayer 4wOzKEfW-ThvAeFxT]
Lawyers for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson filed a lawsuit against Amazon, claiming the business is unfairly profiting off products that bare his likeness and catchphrases, according to Childs Walker of The Baltimore Sun.
In the complaint, filed in federal court in Florida, Jackson contends that Amazon has sold the offending products without his permission. He’s seeking compensation and damages as well as asking Amazon to remove any unlicensed products with his image or unique phrases off their storefront. The complaint calls out phrases like “LaMarvelous,” “Action Jackson” and “Not bad for a running back” as the names and slogans associated with Jackson’s brand, Era 8 Apparel.
Jackson became the NFL’s second unanimous MVP last season after throwing for more than 3,100 yards, leading the league in touchdown passes (36) and rushing for over 1,200 yards with another seven rushing touchdowns.
Almost one week later, a handful of Super Bowl spots have really pulled away from the pack, with view counts reaching into the astonishing. With the help of AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive, we’re able to see what ads submitted to USA Today’s Ad Meter …
Almost one week later, a handful of Super Bowl spots have really pulled away from the pack, with view counts reaching into the astonishing. With the help of AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive, we’re able to see what ads submitted to USA Today’s Ad Meter have taken Most Viewed honors in the various categories.
Joining in on the award season fun…
Envelopes, please.
Most Viewed in the Comedy category:
Most-viewed of all Ad Meter ads (so far), Amazon’s spot, “Before Alexa,” has been quite the hit. The 60-second ad featuring Ellen and Portia takes a comical look through history, focusing on what people did before the virtual assistant existed.
Most Viewed in the Dramatic category:
Heinz made four different ads in one creative, compacted 30-second spot. The ad, directed by Roman Coppola, has surpassed all the other adds by a few million views.
Most Viewed in the Inspirational category:
Microsoft’s game-changing spot was tops in the ‘Inspirational’ category, sprinting ahead of Budweiser’s “Typical American” by a few million views.
Most Viewed in the Action-Packed category:
This was the closest margin of victory, with the F9 trailer edging out Quibi’s inaugural Super Bowl spot by a million views.
Note:F9 also had the most views in the Teaser category, too.
Most Viewed in the Sentimental category:
“Loretta” was the clear favorite in the ‘Sentimental’ category, and it didn’t leave the door open for any upsets. Google’s heartwarming tale has been one of the most popular ads—it finished third in the Ad Meter rankings—and has reached an impressive number of views.
And thus concludes the show, folks.
Looking for more Super Bowl commercial bliss? Make sure to head over to AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive!
Super Bowl Sunday is here, and already a lot of eyes are on the big commercials we’ll see during tonight’s game. Two spots, in particular, are really climbing up the view count, totaling over 30 Million! As Ad Meter counts down to kickoff time, …
Super Bowl Sunday is here, and already a lot of eyes are on the big commercials we’ll see during tonight’s game. Two spots, in particular, are really climbing up the view count, totaling over 30 Million!
As Ad Meter counts down to kickoff time, let’s check in with AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive, and see what two are rushing to the top.
Amazon: “Before Alexa”
Amazon’s “Before Alexa” ad has already been on people’s radar this week thanks to a quirky teaser that shows Ellen and Portia battling over the room temperature. Now, the full spot is out and people are heading over to YouTube to watch it—a lot of people.
Who doesn’t love a comical nod to the Boston accent? (Apparently, not many.) The Hyundai spot featuring Chris Evans, John Krasinski, Rachel Dratch, and David “Big Papi” Ortiz is picking up momentum and right behind Amazon’s view count.
Amazon is just two years removed from its first Ad Meter title, and it finished second with last year’s spot featuring Harrison Ford. This year, the company is back with a 90-second spot, again centered around its virtual assistant, that wonders …
Amazon is just two years removed from its first Ad Meter title, and it finished second with last year’s spot featuring Harrison Ford.
This year, the company is back with a 90-second spot, again centered around its virtual assistant, that wonders “what did people do before Alexa?”
In the commercial, which was released Wednesday, Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are the stars that spark a journey a host of historic settings and scenes, from a medieval court to the White House under President Richard Nixon. (There is, of course, a reference to destroying tapes.)
Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner, and the list of commercials that will star on the biggest stage is growing by the minute. It’s a rush to Miami-which is the perfect time to see what’s trending on AdBlitz , a YouTube exclusive. Not all …
Super Bowl Sunday is right around the corner, and the list of commercials that will star on the biggest stage is growing by the minute. It’s a rush to Miami—which is the perfect time to see what’s trending on AdBlitz, a YouTube exclusive.
Not all the Super Bowl spots that make the largest impact happen during the game
One of this year’s top pre-Super Bowl hits, Secret Deodorant is making a big splash (or kick, in the case) with its ‘The Secret Kicker’ spot. But it won’t be turning heads during the commercial breaks in the game. Instead, the spot will air during the FOX Super Bowl Pregame Show. The 60-second ad stars U.S. soccer players Carli Lloyd and Crystal Dunn, and delivers a powerful message about equal opportunity for women while “kicking inequality.”
Amazon has had success with its creative spots that feature Alexa, with last year’s “Not Everything Makes the Cut,” starring Forrest Whitaker and Harrison Ford taking second place in the Ad Meter rankings. And this year looks like the familiar cloud-based voice service might again be a top contender. The teaser with Portia, Ellen, and a very patient Alexa teases at more than what the room temperature will ultimately be.
There’s no such thing as a bad Sam Elliott monologue
The longtime actor lends his iconic voice and presence in the Doritos teaser aptly titled “Monologue,” a 60-second narration that makes the audience quickly realize that Sam Elliott’s reciting of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’ is quite the ear treasure. And now, the question remains: what’s the thumping, Sam?
Porsche is back in the Super Bowl Sunday ad space for the first tie since 1997—the year Pepsi took top spot in the Ad Meter rankings with an ode to the Village People—and the buzz generated from the company’s 2020 spot has been as electric as the star of the show: the fully-electric powered Taycan. Titled “The Heist,” the company shows off the new model while paying homage to the 70-plus year history that is Porsche automotive creation.
The Big Game isn’t just about beers, cars, candy, and soft drinks—it’s also the opportune time for Hollywood to showcase some of the things audiences will tune into once football season is over. One of the most viewed trailers so far has been the Amazon original series, “Hunters,” starring Al Pacino.
