"Nice Fake Hack @MTV." That tweet was the critical response of adult film brand Brazzers to MTV's (truly dumb) BET-MTV fake hack stunt. And Brazzers should know. It was that same day that the porno outlet revealed that one of its star actors was not, in fact, as dead as everyone had thought.

As if Brazzers needed any help with its creative and aggressive marketing. The online brand is quickly becoming the most known—and most mainstream—brand name for naked, including product placement in some of music's most popular music videos.

On Feb. 18, a screenshot of a Brazzers tweet announcing "Today we say goodbye to our dear friend Johnny Sins. died in a car crash accident. always in our heart" spilled onto the internet. Even though the tweet looked a little sketchy, sites, especially Spanish language ones like the Facebook page Fap Fap Fap Fap posted it. From there and a few other places, is was forwarded and liked hundreds and hundreds of times. Continue reading...

Pepsi’s marketing gurus have been appealing to consumers through music seemingly for eons. Much of that perception is due to the success the soda maker has had in tying its name to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Even after the guy’s been laid to rest for more than three years, and earning more than ever, Pepsi is still celebrating its legendary association with the performer.

Back in May, Pepsi announced its deal with the Michael Jackson estate and Sony Music to an exclusive global marketing partnership that included featuring the Gloved One on a billion limited edition Pepsi cans released around the world, starting in China.

As part of its music-based global "Live for Now" platform, the Pepsi brand is reminding consumers that it's been 25 years since Jackson's iconic Bad album was released — an anniversary that director Spike Lee is marking with a documentary, and which Pepsi celebrated in late August in a concert with Billboard and singer Ne-Yo, who performed such hits as Closer from the album, which was released on Aug. 31, 1987.Continue reading...

As part of its deal to acquire NBCUniversal, Comcast agreed to launch more minority-owned networks by 2014 — and it's doing just that. From a music and pop culture hub called Revolt from Sean "Diddy" Combs, to a startup backed by Magic Johnson, it's a mixed bag that helps America's biggest cable operator appease the feds — but will it really do much for diversity — or TV viewers?Continue reading...

Bounce TV just launched in the US with the slogan "TV Our Way." Its first on-air program? Michael Jackson and Diana Ross in The Wiz.

Its schedule is packed with movies with “proven playability among black audiences,” such as A Raisin in the Sun, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, Shackles, Glory, and a week of Richard Pryor comedies. The rest of its on-air lineup features acquired TV shows such as Soul Train, a mix of original programming: sports (primarily, black college football games), documentaries and faith-based programs.

Bounce TV isn't the first or only network targeting African Americans, of course.Continue reading...

It’s nothing new in the old boy’s network, the recycling of executives at the very top, and now it’s a growing fact for women at the apex of their careers, as evidenced by Christina Norman’s new role as Executive Editor of HuffPost BlackVoices, the former AOL portal that has migrated to its own channel this week on the Huffington Post with Norman's arrival.

She's a big hire for Arianna Huffington, who's been aggressively ramping up since joining forces with AOL, and perhaps an indication of a missed opportunity in OWN's business plan — to think multiplatform and digital, not just TV — for Winfrey.Continue reading...

News Corp. titans, Rupert and James Murdoch, face three-hour Parliamentary questioning today in spreading phone-hacking scandal.

Walmart reportedly eyes Rite Aid.

AMD stalls in CEO search, which might overshadow earnings improvements.

American Airlines leans toward Airbus over Boeing in fleet decision, Journal says, while Bloomberg hears that the airline may split the order.

American Family Insurance promotes “the American dream.”

Baidu reaches deal with major record labels.Continue reading...

Ally Financial delays $6B IPO.

AT&T brings free Wi-Fi to NYC parks.

Avaya files for $1 billion IPO.

Borders lenders force store closures.

Burger King and Pizza Hut executives put hometown pride on the line with bet on NBA Finals.

Citigroup data theft exposes nagging security issues in the financial-services industry.Continue reading...

Apple location-data controversy grows.

Barrick Gold to buy Equinox Minerals for $7.8 billion.

BBC challenges detailed in New York Times.

Boeing locates source of Southwest jet rupture.

Dell looks beyond PC business.

Ford outlook is bright as fuel-efficient models gain.

Google looks for new ways to make mobile search pay.Continue reading...