Activision Blizzard tests subscription for Call of Duty videogame.

AmEx custom publishing writes success story.

Apple to reveal iCloud and iOS5 on June 6th.

AT&T faces growing opposition to T-Mobile acquisition.

Budweiser, Miller High Life appeal to Americans' patriotic spirit.

Colombia coffee growers create logo to woo Chinese from tea to lattes.

Comcast buys Blackstone's stake in Universal's Orlando parks.Continue reading...

Deutsche Boerse agreed to buy NYSE Euronext for $10.2 billion in a "politically charged deal" that would create the world's largest exchange operator and put it under German control.

CBS news correspondent Lara Logan is recovering from a 'brutal' attack in Cairo.

Chevron disputes judge's Amazon ruling while Ecuadorians plan to fight for more. 

Apple unveils iPad subscription plan.

BHP Billiton to return $10 billion to shareholders.

Danone warns about looming price hikes due to rising food costs.Continue reading...

Comcast's acquisition of NBC Universal is approved (with one FCC commissioner, Michael Copps, opposed). Conditions for the deal, expected to close by Feb. 1, include that Comcast must give up its management role at Hulu, and abide by anti-favoritism clause — a victory for Bloomberg TV and other networks that compete with Comcast and NBCU's channels. Comcast, separately, just invested $10M in Snagfilms, an ad-supported documentary site that owns INDIEwire, and led a $9M financing round in e-publishing consultancy Perfect Market.

Apple announces record quarterly earnings of $6B, with 7 million iPads sold during the Christmas quarter. The iPhone is now the UK's "most desirable" brand.

Citigroup "disappoints" despite quarterly profit of $1.3 billion.Continue reading...

Brand managers know they’re taking a big leap of faith when they make huge investments in celebrity-designer lines and personal endorsements by superstars.
But Wal-Mart corporate (and Walmart, the retail brand) clearly believe that it’s still early enough in the career of Justin Bieber to take a flyer on his continued innocence — at least for a while.

The world’s largest retailer has forged a near-exclusive arrangement with the 16-year-old teen-heartthrob singer from Canada heading into the holiday season, including being the sole distributor of his new album (My Worlds Acoustic, teased during the World Series) starting Nov. 26, as well as related add-ons such as a Bieber-inspired unisex fragrance line and even nail polish (with Nicole by OPI).

Having already featured Bieber on its Soundcheck platform, the house that Sam Walton built is latching onto the lad while he’s still a lad — perhaps because the last time the retailer signed on with a tween sensation, it didn’t go too well.Continue reading...

Google is planning an app store, the Web giant announced at the kick-off to its 2010 I/O developers conference. Click here and here for more news on its app, video and cloud ambitions. Tomorrow's big news will be Google's Smart TV project.

The FDA, mulling releasing details on rejected drugs and devices, also widens investigation of J&J's McNeil unit after finding excessive dosage in children's Tylenol.

Wal-Mart challenged by AP over unsafe levels of cadmium in Miley Cyrus-branded jewelry aimed at kids [Update: the jewelry has been pulled from its stores]. Separately, Wal-Mart is offering cash perks to "the unbanked."

BP was asked by US Rep. Ed Markey to stream a 24/7 live-cam of the seabed oil leaks in the Gulf instead of posting videos.

MySpace is launching a new look, functionality and logo later this year under new chief marketer David Donegan.Continue reading...

 Film director Brett Ratner is doing his part to blur the line between commercialism and cinematography.

"Filmmakers should align themselves with brands," says Ratner, 40. "They can help each other."

Ratner recently collaborated with Kerzner International, a global casino chain and owner of the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas.

CEO Sol Kerzner wanted to rejuvenate his brand and thought the director, known for his Guitar Hero commercials and blockbuster movies, could help.Continue reading...

Though they've been in the music scene for a few albums now, it seems that Kings of Leon have officially blown up into J-Lo/Miley Cyrus/Gwen Stefani/Ben Harper territory: they are designing a clothing line. The Nashville-born family of musicians -- the band consists of three brothers and their cousin – will be collaborating with Paris-based creative collective Surface to Air on a limited-edition collection that will retail exclusively at Copenhagen boutique Paris Texas.

Since the boys received five nominations at this year’s MTV Europe Music Awards, odds are there will plenty of Denmark-bound fans to stand in line once the collection drops.Continue reading...

After Cadillac solicits ideas from agencies, current shop resigns account. [WSJ]

Analysts see lagging growth in Cadbury's sales. [Times of London]

Nobel Peace Prize boosts Obama, America's brand. [FT]

Luxury brands rush to satiate consumer demand in China. [FT]

Carrefour strives to regain footing, focusing on lower prices. [WSJ]

Barnes & Noble to announce e-reader next week. [WSJ]

"This Is It," new/old Michael Jackson song, out today. [Idolator]

Stars Miley Cyrus and Courtney Love exit Twitter. [LA Times]

Motorola builds buzz for Android phones on social media sites. [Chicago Tribune]

(More headlines: Facebook, Forrester's Brand Advocates, TeenNick.)Continue reading...