Apple dodges $9 billion in US taxes with bond deal.

Google named Advertiser of the Year. 

Volkswagen makes $10 million donation to the National Mall.

Adidas sales drop on weakening Reebok brand.

Barnes & Noble begins support of Google apps on Nook.

Beam sales rise because of "formula run" on Maker's Mark.

Diet Coke slims down its vending machines.

Ford adds jobs and raises capacity to make pick-up trucks.

Geritol seeks new life with younger consumers.

Huffington Post brings rapid-response "native" ads to its home page.Continue reading...

Santa has been busy these past few decades, touting Philips Norelco shavers among other holiday advertising campaigns, and he’s back after a brief hiatus with his new ride, the SensoTouch 3D.

“This new commercial (above) combines the best of the old and the new as Santa navigates the fast and slippery slopes with the look of the same shaver for decades, but now with new technology, an upgraded product that is thinner, waterproof, works in the shower, with foam, or dry, a product virtually transformed,” Jacopo D’Alessandris, VP, Head of Marketing North America for Philips Consumer Lifestyle told brandchannel.Continue reading...

AMC considers reality shows to complement Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

BP and Shell plan to resume oil exploration in Libya.

Boeing hopes rise for union accord that would end labor struggle.

CBS is upbeat about TV business in 2012.

Citigroup announces cuts of additional 4,500 jobs.

Daimler loses value with investors relative to BMW as the two companies race to finish in U.S. luxury-car sales for 2011 and as Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand plans big boost in U.S. output.

Darden cuts forecast due to Olive Garden woes.Continue reading...

Absolut is building on its long collaboration with musical and visual artists from Spike Lee to Damien Hirst with a black-and-white film, “Cee Lo Distilled,” following a day in the life of Gnarls Barkley’s Cee Lo Green. The trailer (above) has already been released, with part 1 of the film debuting June 27 and part 2 coming out July 6, both on Absolut’s Facebook page.

But wait! There’s more. As part of Green’s partnership with Absolut, the singer will be a “guest editor” on Absolut’s Facebook page for 10 days surrounding the film’s launch with a Facebook app, “Forget You” (a reference to the clean version of his hit single) that will allow Cee Lo to “send a custom video message direct, commenting on friends’ Relationship Status updates.” Who knows what he might have to say, especially if he’s been at that Absolut!Continue reading...

Leisure travel may have taken a hit during the recent recession, but that hasn't stopped cruise lines from building bigger, more extravagant ships. Carnival Cruise Lines just debuted its new European cruise ship, Carnival Magic, and is taking 2012 reservations for its new Carnival Breeze. Competitor Royal Caribbean has recently updated three ships and two more will be "newly enhanced" by the end of this year.

It used to be that ships were all about sailing to a few ports and non-stop eating along the way, but today's cruising involves an almost bewildering array of on-board experiences.Continue reading...

AOL chief vows that the brand will stage a comeback.

AT&T will attempt to sway regulators over its T-Mobile deal.

Apple tops brand charts in new Millward Brown study.

Best Buy considers offering electric vehicles.

Caribou Coffee explores lunch products.

Estee Lauder looks to China.

Hertz makes new offer to buy Dollar Thrifty.  Continue reading...

AMC, Matthew Weiner and Lionsgate reach agreement to keep Mad Men on the air for three more seasons.

Sbarro restaurant chain to file Chapter 11.

American Apparel nears bankruptcy filing.

American Airlines and Japan Airlines launch trans-Pacific airline alliance.

Budweiser runs responsible drinking campaign on "China's Twitter," Sina Weibo.

Disney rolls out Disneymedia+ to integrate brand marketing in Europe.

Panasonic reports on impact of Japan disaster on operations.Continue reading...

Google deep-sixes music search engine, sees negative response to +1 like feature, loses ground in China, angers Android app developers, denies facial recognition rumor, and wages battle with Microsoft in Europe. On the +1 side: nice logo today!

Ally files paperwork for IPO.

Boeing and Airbus each claim victory in latest WTO ruling.

Dendreon rises on Medicare ruling.

Live Nation reportedly bids for Warner Music Group.Continue reading...