If there are two things that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt need it’s more money and more publicity. So the pair will release their first wine from their organic 1,000-acre French estate, Chateau Miraval, next month with their names on the bottle, Bloomberg News reports.

The rosé, formerly known as “Pink Floyd,” will be labeled as Miraval and feature Pitt and Jolie’s names on the back of the bottle along with Perrin, the family that Brangelina has partnered with to help create and distribute the wine. The trio will also distribute a white later this year and reds in 2014. “We are intimately involved and quite enthused over the wine project with our friends the Perrin family,” Pitt said via his publicist.

One thing that brought Perrin and Pitt-Jolie together was the fact that both vineyards grow their vines organically, something the Perrin family has been doing since 1950. Now the Hollywood escapees are joining a long line of celebs who have extended their personal brands to alcohol brands.Continue reading...

CNN seen naming Jeff Zucker, former head of NBCUniversal, as its chief.

Groupon sees board meet on new CEO.

LinkedIn wants to solve world's skills gap.

Aldi stretches brand promise for hunger challenge.

Angry Birds sparks export boom from Finland.

Apple continues shakeup over iOS 6 maps app mishap as brand hit with patent suit over headphones.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...

Amazon's brand value soars 32% in Interbrand's 2012 Best Retail Brands report.

Apple's iPad challenger Proview is open to a settlement as Apple extends checks on Chinese suppliers. Apple also signed China Telecom as second iPhone seller.

Cabela's expands and rolls out smaller-store format.

Coca-Cola sponsors teen parties in Tanzania.

FedEx may be eyeing TNT Express.

Ford signals moderate growth and expansion in China.

Gap teams with fashion bloggers for Be Bright global launch.Continue reading...

Google taps David Beckham to promote Google+ as company grapples with social search fallout, and apologizes for Kenyan flub.

Apple's iPad 3 expected to go on sale in March with HD screen and faster chip. Apple also joined the Fair Labor Association, opening suppliers' doors to labor rights watchdog in transparency response to Foxconn fears — the first tech brand to do so.

Bentley courts Maybach fans including Jay-Z — who has just signed on as the face of (and an investor in) Duracell.

British films to be pitched as a global brand.

BT will offer free Wi-Fi at London Olympic Games.

Disney Studios quickly fills CMO position.

Dr Pepper brand name is removed from Texas town.

Easyjet fined for barring disabled passengers.

Excedrin recall expands to Canada.

Olivia Munn strips off for PETA.Continue reading...

When the teen-heartthrob band of brothers Hanson appeared on Saturday Night Live back in 1997, Will Ferrell and host Helen Hunt dressed up as terrorists, kidnapped the trio, and forced them to listen to their outrageously infectious and overly sappy hit tune MMMbop endlessly in hopes of making them all insane.

Well, Isaac, Taylor, and Zac came out of the studio alive and kicking that night (after performing the tune) but their latest venture may make some think they are slightly out of their minds.

Rolling Stone reports that the band next year plans to release a new brew, an India Pale Ale called (of course!) MMMHop IPA. Might as well take advantage of the one song that millions of people worldwide actually remember from the band that is still churning out tunes. The song, by the way, went double platinum and up to No. 1 in 27 countries. (Dang the Finnish! It only hit No. 4 there.)Continue reading...

Japan's nuclear situation is "approaching Chernobyl" says official, as locals stock up and fears rise.

Adobe prepares for a possible future without Flash.

AOL and TechCrunch expose editorial differences in the wake of Engadget editors' departure.

Apple and other tablet-makers are poised to see lift from corporate IT sales.

BlackBerry-maker RIM thought the iPad would be a flop.

BMW set for record sales despite rising costs as former designer heads to Samsung.

Diddy isn't giddy about being named richest hip-hop artist.

eBay cuts fees and expands offering to attract sellers.Continue reading...

Gwen Stefani for HP, Michael Jordan for Hanes, Dr. Dre for HP, Peyton Manning for Sony, Lady Gaga for Polarioid, Lance Armstong for Radio Shack, Michael Vick for… ArTran?

A new study confirms what a lot of people on both ends of the advertising paradigm suspect: celebrity endorsements aren't worth it. My colleague Sheila Shayon earlier pondered this question — find out why the evidence is swinging in favor of taking back the swag bags and shutting down the gravy train.Continue reading...