Back in June we reported that FreeCreditScore.com had launched a search for a new band to feature in its commercials. The credit monitoring service has a new advertising partner to promote its brand-building band search: MTV. Except, MTV doesn't seem to want anyone to know about it.

The band search has been reported as one that would replace the now infamous FreeCreditReport.com band. In fact, the new band will be for FreeCreditScore.com, a sibling company under the wing of the Experian corporation, a credit bureau. FreeCreditScore arose from America's 2009 Credit Card Act, which forced credit report advertisers to state that their product is "not the free credit report provided for by Federal law."

Experian's FreeCreditScore still exists, but its reputation took a thrashing after a few lawsuits. Freecreditscore.com works essentially the same as its predecessor. While the intiital results are free, those who forget to cancel their accounts in the first 7 days "will be billed $14.95 for each month that you continue your membership."

The winning band, The Victorious Secrets, was announced today. MTV's role in the band search, on the surface, appears to be editorial. But was it?Continue reading...

Facebook readies for looming social battle with Google with reported company lockdown and weekend hours (and games exec search), as Google shores up social investments with its latest deal: the $70 million acquisition of digi-gamer Jambool. FB is also shrinking the tabs on brand pages.

Edelman's Steve Rubel ponders marketers email vs. social media conundrum in his latest column for Ad Age, a topic that Brandchannel's Sheila Shayon examined in her look at Ben & Jerry's recent customer flap in the U.K.

Coor's Light and other alcohol brands tread carefully in social media.

Google makes it easier for companies to switch to Chrome.

Monopoly has an unofficial social media edition.

MTV names first TJ, or Twitter jockey: Gabi Gregg, winner of a search sponsored by American Express Zync. Follow her here.

Novartis pulls Facebook widget following FDA complaint.Continue reading...

Interbrand CEO Jez Frampton addressed today's BP developments from a branding perspective with Bloomberg TV, which also spoke to BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg about the company's outlook. In non-BP brand news this morning:

Apple's latest challenge: a federal ruling supporting opening to apps and permitting “jailbreaking” of its devices.

Citigroup discloses a security flaw in its mobile-banking application for the iPhone – and a fix.

Coca-Cola brings back British DJ Calvin Harris ad in music-related promotion.Continue reading...

Apple looks to small businesses for growth.

AT&T reports earnings, and 3.2 million iPhone activations in the second quarter.

CBS eyes daytime talk-show arena reportedly with The View-like replacement for musty As the World Turns.

Chrysler in the black again after last year’s near-death experience and acquisition by Fiat, with help from the U.S. government.

Comcast's G4 TV channel will become 4G for a week-long tie-in with Sprint.Continue reading...

The Wall Street Journal calls BP's capping of the Gulf oil leak the end of the beginning, with "crunch time" ahead. Pressure tests will be performed today to see if the cap can be left on the well.

The New York Times revisits BP's safety record, while U.S. senators want the company's role in Lockerbie bomber release investigated.

BP's talks with Apache are causing concern, as Abu Dhabi's crown prince reportedly considers taking a stake.

Pepsi is offering $1.3 million for ideas to aid the Gulf (submit here through Thursday at noon ET), while Jersey Shore's Snooki is doing her bit.

ExxonMobil, meanwhile, is treading lightly these days.

Microsoft is scrapping its social youth-aiming Kin phone after less than two months on the market.

AIG's chairman and CEO are at odds.

Amazon acquired deal-of-the-day site, Woot, which celebrates with $150 Kindle special. Kindle DX also slashes price.

Apple launches iAds today with Nissan, Citi, Unilever, AT&T, Best Buy, and Chanel.Continue reading...

iPhone 4 buyers began lining up yesterday, but will find only one color (black) available today. It's already a hit in Japan.

Viacom calls legal ruling favoring Google in billion-dollar YouTube suit "fundamentally flawed" as it prepares to appeal.

CNN confirms new show with disgraced NY governor Eliot Spitzer and conservative Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker.

More brands in the news after the jump.Continue reading...

In a landmark ruling today, a U.S. federal judge threw out Viacom's $1 billion copyright suit against Google and upheld YouTube's right to host videos uploaded by users under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.

Google chief counsel Kent Walker says the judgment extends to other parties to Viacom's lawsuit including England's Premier League football and added, "This is an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the web to communicate and share experiences with each other."

Viacom, which filed suit over videos taken from its MTV, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and other TV networks being uploaded onto the world's biggest video site, intends to appeal.Continue reading...