Marie Claire and Beyonce – B Graces Cover

Beyonce to grace the cover of Marie Claire next month!

Sanaa Lathan Attends Verizon Wireless Launch Party

Actress Sanaa Lathan attends Verizon Wireless exclusive launch party for the Blackberry 8330 Pink Curve at Intermix on Wednesday in Los Angeles, California.

No Fancy Name, Just LL Cool J Collection for Sears

The LL Cool J Collection of clothing for Sears will debut in 450 stores Sept. 7, to coincide with the release of his latest album, Exit 13, which will available at select Sears stores and at Sears.com on Sept 9. Sears has dedicated LL Cool J sections in many of its stores.

Janet Jackson Launches “Pleasure Principle” Lingerie Line

Janet Jackson’s latest release is a new lingerie line, called Pleasure Principle!

The legendary hip-hop and R&B diva teamed with Bruno Schiavi, the Australian lingerie designer behind Dr. Rey’s Shapewear line (named for “Dr. 90210” fixture Dr. Robert Rey), for her debut fashion duet. The 18-piece line is named after the hit single from Jackson’s 1986 multiplatinum album “Control,” is designed to be comfortable for a range of sizes — 32A to 44G, and is crafted of mostly satin and lace.

Items will be manufactured in China and will be in department stores...

Diddy New Ad Campaign for “I Am King” Features Bar Refaeli

Sean Combs a.k.a Diddy ad campaign for his new fragrance, "I Am King" features Bar Refaeli. According to Luxist Diddy is tooling around in Saint-Tropez and Monaco on helicopters, yachts and so forth with Refaeli (left) and another model in typical mega-mogul fashion.

The New York magazine reports the new cologne will launch exclusively at Macy's in December with a global launch set for February and a women's fragrance ("I Am Queen") to follow in 2009; global sales are expected to total $100 million in the first year alone.

Serena Williams Goes Glam for Men's Fitness Magazine

Serena Williams takes on a sexy role in this September edition of Men's Fitness magazine.

Whoopi Goldberg Joins Broadway's Xanadu – Sales Jump from $75,000 to $316,205

Whoopi Goldberg, Costar of ABC's "The View” has boost ticket sales of Broadway's Xanadu since joining the cast on July 29. The sales for the musical box office jumped from $75,000 to $316,205 and drew audiences that reached 87% of capacity, which remains the highest jump of the season.

Goldberg plays the role of an evil sister Calliope, which will end on September 7, 2008.

Allstate Presents 12th Annual American Black Film Festival

Allstate presents the 12th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF) which opens tonight in Los Angeles, California. Oscar winner Halle Berry will introduce a special screening of "Carmen Jones." This year’s theme is Exploring Black Romance and Sexuality in American Cinema.

According to Jeff Friday, Founder and CEO of Film Life, Inc and the ABFF, “The theme of this year’s festival is Exploring Black Romance and Sexuality in American Cinema, so we thought it would be interesting to take a look back and examine the first film in contemporary cinema to showcase a modern-day love story featuring a sexy African-American duo.”

Celebrities that have confirmed attendance are Evan Ross, Lauren London, Tatiana Ali, Columbus Short, Anthony Mackie; Holly Robinson Peete and Nate Parker (Off The Record); Mos Def, Rockmond Dunbar, Idris Elba, Michael Ealy, John Singleton and Sanaa Lathan (Lincoln Presents: Off the Red Carpet); Malik Yoba, Tina Andrews and Salli Richardson (Black Romance panel); and Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine (ABFF Remembers).

Presenting awards at the ABFF Awards presentation are Richard T. Jones and Paula Patton; the host is Niecy Nash. Dennis Haysbert serves as the President of the 2008 Grand Jury and Anthony Mackie is the 2008 ABFF Ambassador.

Festival Passes are $500, WGA West Writers Workshop Passes are $200, Opening Night Cocktail Reception & Film Screening is $75, Movie Tickets are $12, Allstate and Nielsen Symposiums is $30, Signature Events (HBO Short Film Competition, Black Sexuality and Young Hollywood panels) is $30, Closing Night Gala (Awards Presentation and Film Screening) is $150.

Ebony Magazine Unveils “The Real Michelle Obama”

Ebony magazines features Michelle Obama and calls it the real Michelle Obama. The issue featuring Mrs. Obama comes out Tuesday August 12, 2008. Michelle Obama talks about her husband, presidential candidate Barack Obama, her signature style and life on the Presidential campaign trail.

Released by Ebony Magazine in a media release:

"Going beyond the surface view of poise, elegance, style and the utmost class, Ebony magazine unveils the real Michelle Obama: mother, wife, potential first lady and style icon.

Take a rare look behind-the-scenes of Michelle's life on the road to the White House and how she finds the necessary balance between managing the household with Sen. Barack Obama and joining her husband in pursuit of the most ambitious American dream."

Also featured is an exclusive interview with Marian Robinson who is Michelle Obama’s mother.

Alternate Cover for Nelly’s Brass Knuckles in Stores Sep 16

This is the alternate cover for Nelly’s Brass Knuckles, a better version than the original.
Nelly is on the cover of Rap-Up; on sale now at newsstands and online.

Chris Brown Lands Wrigley Doublemint Gum Commercial Video

Singer Chris Brown in new commercial video for Wrigley Doublemint Gum. The video features Chris’ “Forever” song. Take a sneak peak at the video

Media Spotlight: Top Earning African Americans Stars

These are the faces that you SEE most in the media!

Forbes: The Top-Earning African-American Stars

Oprah Winfrey $260 million

Tiger Woods $100 million

Jay-Z $83 million

50 Cent $33 million

Kobe Bryant $33 million

Shaquille O'Neal $32 million

Michael Jordan $31 million

Will Smith $31 million

Beyoncé $27 million

LeBron James $27 million

Beyonce in Giorgio Armani Suit for Fashion Rocks Magazine

Beyonce will be featured in a Giorgio Armani suit in the Fashion Rocks magazine for the September issues of Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair and Allure magazines. A tie-in promotion for the Fashion Rocks concert at Radio City Music Hall ; opening night for Fashion Week in New York on September 5.

Ashanti Cover of Page Six magazine Sunday edition of The New York Post

Singer Ashanti graces the cover of this week’s cover of Page Six magazine; a weekly feature found in the Sunday edition of The New York Post Newspaper.

Solange Knowles No Longer in Beyoncé’s Shadow, New Global Ambassador for Armani Jeans

Looks like little sister Solange Knowles to mega celebrity big sister Beyoncé is trying to get her name in Forbes most powerful celebrities. Armani has just announced Solange is the new "ambassador" for Armani jeans.

"Armani Jeans expresses my vision of a young, independent, casual lifestyle with a strong and cool, fashion sensibility. Solange epitomises this style perfectly and brings to it that swing so evident in her new single, I Decide," said Designer Georgio Armani.

GM to use Tiger Woods in OnStar Campaigns – Focusing on Branding Over Celebrity Appeal

General Motors will no longer use Tiger Woods as a primary pitchman for Buick, citing they want to expand upon Woods’ role. Mark LaNeve vice president of North American sales, service and marketing for GM says that Woods is a great assest and stresses why shouldn’t the company use him in ways other than Buick.

According to LaNeve the product strategy of how to best use Woods is to sell cars based on their own attributes, not on their ties to a particular celebrity. They plan to use Woods in corporate level marketing and in particular, with its OnStar marketing campaign.

In 1999 Woods signed a sponsorship agreement with Buick and in 2004 he agreed to a new deal believed to be worth more than $40 million dollars over five years.
"We don't want a celebrity at the core of any brand. We want the message on Buick to be about Buick,” said LaNeve.

Do you feel that Tiger Woods will be a marketing crossover success or failure? Remember, this is the guy that usually lands every ball.