NIL Resources
Curious about the latest updates with NIL? We have you covered.
FAQs
Athletes
Brands
Universities
Licensees
Collectives
What are NIL Group Rights?
Group Rights are generally activated when three athletes from a given team or six from across a University Partner are engaged. This is similar to professional athletics where leagues and players have worked to avoid "ambush marketing" while leveraging the combined power of player and league brands. Through TBG this enables the use of school marks and logos with the students that are featured!
Does partnering with The Brandr Group (TBG) limit me from other NIL opportunities?
Not at all! TBG exists to support the student-athlete by creating passive income opportunities in content and apparel, while bringing new activation opportunities we source through some of America’s strongest brands. Student-athletes can simultaneously pursue other opportunities.
How much will I earn in NIL income through TBG?
Your earning potential through TBG opportunities will be entirely unique to your brand (ex: Instagram followers), your efforts to market your own merchandise (ex: posting about new styles and product availability) and market demand (ex: book store sales and corporate inquiries). The Brandr Group works to create the platform and consultation for you to be your best.
How is TBG different than other NIL Marketplaces I see online?
The Brandr Group works directly with our University Partners to create opportunities for you – be that in co-branded merchandise sales or personal activations with you. Typically a student-athlete wouldn’t appear in their jersey or with school marks through an online marketplace. It’s all about pairing the brand needs and budget with the right student-athlete – YOU!
What does TBG do for the student-athlete?
The Brandr Group is a full service NIL Agency, which means we work to do everything possible that ensures success to all stakeholders. We work to pair student-athletes with the right brand fits, negotiate fair market value for services, schedule meetings, provide onsite support and ultimately payment. Whew! It’s a lot of work and one or the reasons that over 80 of America’s top Universities have entrusted us to care for their student athletes.
What exactly is the relationship between TBG and the University?
First of all, it’s important to know that NCAA guidance is very clear that no university or other multi media rights holders should be directly facilitating or compensating athletes for NIL purposes. So, TBG has engaged in Collaboration Agreements with the Universities to represent the best interests of the student-athletes with respect to the University Intellectual Property in apparel licensing and active use (appearances). The schools receive no portion of what TBG negotiates for students and TBG has no other obligation than to that of the students and brand partners we work with.
What is a Collective and how is TBG different?
A collective is typically a group of dedicated alumni that have pooled their resources and passion to advance student-athletes of their alma mater. Collectives can be focused on specific sports or all sports, for profit or non-profit. TBG is a full service NIL Agency that represents over 80 of America’s top Universities. We work directly with schools, licensees, and brands to compensate athletes in a transparent way that provides fair market value and compliance to NCAA guidelines.
How does TBG Support International Students?
The Brandr Group works to provide support to every student-athlete within full compliance to NCAA and state guidelines. Merchandise and apparel income have been recognized as acceptable for most international student-athletes. Appearances and active use opportunities create more complexity at the state level. Please consult your athletic department for specific direction.
What are NIL Group Rights?
Group Rights refer to the rights that are held by a group of individuals collectively versus an individual. For student-athletes, Group Rights are generally activated when three (3) student-athletes from a given team or six (6) from across a university are engaged. Professional player associations, such as the NFLPA or NWSLPA, created the Group Rights model to help athletes maximize the value of their NIL by marketing them commercially as a group for licensing and endorsement deals. These professional player associations negotiate and assist with fulfillment for commercial activations involving groups of athletes. TBG serves student-athletes in a similar capacity and also enables brands and licensees to utilize university IP in campaigns with student-athletes. This is similar to professional athletics where leagues and players have worked to avoid “ambush marketing” while leveraging the combined power of player and league brands. Group Rights provide a strong differentiated value as research has shown consumers place considerably more value on athletes with the logo and marks of their team.
What services does The Brandr Group provide?
TBG is a full-service NIL agency, which is to say we do what it takes to ensure the success and support of brand partners and our student-athletes. From identifying the best athlete’s fit based on the brand to consulting on campaign development, ensuring a professional execution with the student-athlete and making the final payments – it’s all supported by TBG. We’ve worked with professional athletes for years and understand what “NIL done right” looks like for you.
How does The Brandr Group work with Multi-Media Rights (MMR) entities?
NCAA directives are clear that entities who have conflicting interests in sponsorship sales with student-athletes, such as Multi-Media Rights partners or universities, should NOT negotiate or compensate student athletes. That’s why over 80 of America’s top universities work with TBG to represent student athletes in group licensing and sponsorship. Ideally, TBG works hand-in-hand with Multi-Media Rights companies to bring sponsorship opportunities to student athletes at a fair market value and expand this amazing opportunity for all stakeholders.
How is TBG different from NIL marketplaces I see online?
Online NIL marketplaces allow student-athletes to pick and choose opportunities outside of wearing the jerseys and representing the intellectual property of the University. The Brandr Group’s collaboration with universities unlocks a different level of affinity to fans and brands through the use of university IP in campaigns. Also, because The Brandr Group is a full-service NIL agency, we work in lockstep with brands and businesses throughout the process (university compliance approval, athlete selection, campaign activation, student-athlete payment, etc.), far beyond simply creating a “match” via an online platform.
How much does it cost to use Student Athlete NIL?
With The Brandr Group, leveraging student-athlete’s NIL is an exercise in determining Fair Market Value. Based on individual brand reach and engagement (i.e.: social media following) as well as the requirements for an activation, a compensation mark is determined and agreed upon.
How does TBG manage student athlete relationships and communication for us?
The Brandr Group team includes certified NFL and NBA agents, former collegiate athletes and people that are genuinely passionate about ensuring the best interest of our student-athletes always comes first. So, we take a consultative and accessible approach for our student-athletes as we prepare them for licensing and [sponsorship] opportunities. Via phone calls, emails, and onsite presence, The Brandr Group is always accessible to support our brand partners and student-athletes.
What is a Collective and how is TBG different?
A collective is typically a group of dedicated alumni that have pooled their capital and resources to advance the student-athletes of their alma mater. Collectives can be focused on specific sports or all sports at a given university and can be for profit or non-profit entities. TBG is a full-service NIL Agency that represents over 80 of America’s top Universities. We work directly with schools, licensees, and brands to compensate athletes for the use of their NIL in a transparent way that provides fair market value and is in compliance with NCAA guidelines. TBG will, though, partner with Collectives to create powerful programming and licensing support.
How does TBG support international students?
The Brandr Group works to provide support to every student athlete based on the laws of each individual state as well as the NCAA guidance. Merchandise and apparel income are generally recognized as acceptable for most international student-athletes. Appearances and active use opportunities create more complexity at the state level. We consult directly with athletic departments for specific guidance and direction.
What are NIL Group Rights?
Group Rights are activated when brands feature three athletes from a given sport or six athletes across multiple sports. Group Rights are built to be additive to individual deals for athletes while leveraging the combined power of player and school brands. Through TBG's collaborations with school brands, our group rights program is centered around the co-branding of school marks and logos with the athletes that are featured – a critical value as research has shown consumers place considerably more value on athletes with the logo and marks of their team.
What services does The Brandr Group provide?
TBG is a Full Service NIL Agency focused on group rights development, which is to say we do what it takes to ensure the success and support of brand partners and our student-athletes, whether that be on licensed product or through active brand support. From making cobranded products available to athletes’ friends, families and fans, to identifying the athlete’s best fit based on the brand, consulting on campaign development, to ensuring a professional execution with the student-athlete, and making the final payments to the athletes – it’s all supported by TBG. Through our university collaborations, we follow NCAA guidance and in complete transparency with the schools to insure compliance in representing the student-athlete while keeping university collaborations are informed and engaged.
How do The Brandr Group rights compare to traditional Multi-Media Rights?
NCAA directives are clear that athletes should NOT be negotiated with, nor compensated by entities who have conflicting interests of sponsorship sales on behalf of a school. That’s why over 80 of America’s top colleges and universities work with The Brandr Group to represent the student-athletes in licensing and active use group activation. Ideally, we work hand in hand with Athletics departments and their Multi-Media Rights companies in bringing student-athletes to sponsorship opportunities and expanding this amazing opportunity for all stakeholders.
How is TBG different from NIL marketplaces I see online?
Online NIL marketplaces allow student-athletes to pick and choose sponsorship opportunities that normally do not include the intellectual property of the school. The Brandr Group’s collaboration with schools, which does include the use of school IP, unlocks a different level of affinity for fans and brands. Also, because The Brandr Group is a Full Service NIL Agency, we work in lockstep with the athletes throughout the process, far beyond simply creating a “match”.
How does The Brandr Group work with the school?
Through our University collaborations, we ensure school’s IP is represented in an approved fashion, and that they receive regular reporting and consultation around our student-athlete support, NIL licensing results, and the overall marketplace trends. We’re only compensated on the revenue we bring for the student athletes, not by the schools, and our collaboration with schools benefits all parties.
How does TBG manage student-athlete relationships and communication?
The TBG Team includes certified NFL and NBA agents, former collegiate athletes, and people that are genuinely passionate about athletes and their interests. So, that leads us to be very consultative and accessible for our student athletes as we prepare them for the opportunities. Via phone calls, emails, and onsite presence The Brandr Group assures we support our brand partners and student-athletes.
Does The Brandr Group work with Collectives?
We work with many Collectives across our school collaboration network to create NCAA compliant solutions. We do brand activation work, data mining intelligence, event planning and more.
How does TBG Support International Students?
The Brandr Group works to provide support to every student-athlete within full compliance to NCAA and federal guidelines. Passive licensing income from merchandise and apparel has been recognized as acceptable for most international student athletes. Appearances and active use opportunities create more complexity at the federal level. We consult directly with the athletes and athletic departments for specific direction.
How long does it take to become approved?
Our licensing team will review your application within 24-48 hours after submission. On average it can take up to 2-4 weeks for approval. This factors in application requirements, agreement review, samples review, and confirmation of university IP rights.
Do products HAVE to be co-branded with Player NIL and School Logos?
Yes, all of our licensing programs are co-branded with university IP which requires brands to also get licensed with the appropriate universities.
Does every product have to feature multiple players in a single design?
No, licensees simply need to feature at least three players in their line as options for retailers to purchase from to meet the group threshold. (Ex. a licensee producing a name and number T-shirt would need to offer at least three players in their line to a retailer)
How does the artwork approval work?
Licensees will submit artwork to TBG via its BrandComply platform for review of the athlete's likeness, and will also need to submit to the school via their respective processes for review of university IP.
How many athletes do I need to activate with to utilize my license?
At least 3 players per sport or 6 players across multiple sports per institution.
Does my license with TBG cover school rights?
No, the TBG license only covers the rights for the athletes that opt in to our program. Licensees will also need to ensure they are licensed with each applicable university for their IP rights.
How do I access the player management portals for each school?
Once a license is active, TBG licensing operations staff will provide you access to each university's player management portal which will outline active athletes plus denote athletes who have exhausted eligibility or left via the transfer portal.
How does The Brandr Group work with Collectives?
The Brandr Group partners with collectives in a variety of ways including development of opportunities for NCAA compliant compensation of athletes and fundraising development strategies.
Can Collectives pay the Student Athlete directly if working with The Brandr Group?
No. In order to maintain the integrity of our University Collaboration agreements and NCAA guidelines, the activations must be paid to The Brandr Group who will then pay the student- athlete and consolidate tax reporting.
You don't have to go it alone
Lean on our expertise as you maneuver the brave new world of NIL
contact us