Unlocking NlL: Athletes Studio empowers LSU’s Angel Reese and others.On this episode of Listen In With KNN, sports radio show and podcast presenter Kelsey Nicole Nelson delves into the evolving industry of name, image, and likeness (NIL).
Nelson and Nicholas Lemieux, founder and CEO of Athletes Studio, discuss the impact of new NIL restrictions on athletes’ ability to monetize their brands.
Players Studio is a top e-commerce platform for professional players to commercialize their NIL. It has helped over 200 athletes from NFL, UFC, and NCAA organizations.
Lemieux emphasized the significance of creating infrastructure for college athletes, including websites, emails, newsletters, and garment design. He also assisted LSU’s Angel Reese in capitalizing their name, image, and likeness.
This is especially useful for athletes like Reese, who have the power to drive massive sales, making more gross income in one day than the No. 1 WNBA draft pick over an entire season, according to Lemieux.
Athletes Studio aims to make athletes’ products more accessible to fans beyond online platforms. Athletes Studio’s strategic relationships, like with Dick’s Sporting Goods, expand the reach of NIL-branded products.
This commercial partnership strengthens athlete branding through trademark phrases such as Reese’s “Bayou Barbie and provides the potential for items to increase fan devotion.
Nelson and Lemieux covered another athlete-related topic: non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and how they have played an essential part in sports ventures such as the NFL’s digital trading cards.
We implemented it through a loyalty program that offers digital collector products with an instant reward for fans, Lemieux explained. Our path is clear: continue to grow by reaching 1000 athletes by the end of 2024 and providing AI virtual assistants to help with athlete management.
This episode finished with Lemieux discussing their experiences working with other sportsmen, such as the Washington Commanders’ outstanding wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, and the distribution of “Scary Terry” Halloween edition products.
Lemieux acknowledged the transformational power of NIL legislation and athlete monetization. Players Studio, a platform that leverages players’ names, images, and likenesses, is leading the way as NIL rules impact sports.
