Starbucks could announce the formation of a new record label--with its first release a new effort by Paul McCartney--as early as this week. Sir Paul not only fits with the Starbucks demographic, but also is a free agent not signed to any label, sources say. Unlike its Hear Music operation, which releases the Artists Choice compilation series that features musicians such as Sheryl Crow or The Rolling Stones selecting songs that influenced them, Starbucks Records is expected to sign, record and produce its own artists. It might take on a partner in the venture. Up until now, Starbucks …

Revlon's Mitchum deodorant is the latest marketer to cut a deal with Hanger Network, a small New York firm that has hooked up with a laundry-supply firm to make and distribute hangers carrying ads to dry cleaners around the U.S. The hangers--made from recycled paper board--are called EcoHangers. Mitchum's ads for its new Smart Solid product aimed at men will begin appearing next month in Northeastern cities. There are eight taglines, each intended to underline Smart Solid's promise not to leave a white residue on clothing as other antiperspirants do. Among the ad lines: "You won't find white residue …

Initial worries that advertising on tray tables at couch seats on US Airways planes would annoy passengers have now been allayed, the airline and its advertising partner say. Research indicates a higher-than-expected number of passengers like and retain messages from the ads, they claim. In fact, Brand Connections, the New York marketing company that provides the laminated tray table ads for US Airways, plans to expand the ads to first-class seats, starting this spring. The ads have generated overwhelmingly positive reaction primarily because they are designed to convey information, often with lots of words rather than the attention-seeking …

A new ad for TrimSpa will feature more than 400 "before" and "after" photos of users of TrimSpa weight-loss supplements, presented in such a way as to also show up when DVR users fast-forward through its ads, says Tony Azzizzo, president of Goen Technologies, marketer of the brand. Azzizzo disclosed the strategy following a presentation Feb. 28 by Information Resources Inc. and TiVo about DVR impact on ad viewership and sales. He declined last week to offer further details on the campaign--or how the ad would work technically. He described it as part of TrimSpa's effort to "restage, relaunch …

Aston Martin, the British nameplate made famous in James Bond movies, could be sold by Ford as early as today to a group of private investors in a deal worth about $870 million. The group is led by auto racing entrepreneur David Richards, a founder of Prodrive Ltd., which runs Aston Martin's racing program. Kuwait's Investment Dar Co., among others, would back him, sources say. Aston Martin is part of Ford's Premier Automotive Group, which includes Jaguar, Land Rover and Sweden's Volvo. It wants to sell the sports car maker to raise cash to help pay for its restructuring, …

GM is planning to use alloys and polymers that move or change shape when given a programmed stimulus--such as heat, cold or a shot of electricity --that could add more high-tech features to its vehicles, even as it reduces cost and improves fuel efficiency. In practical terms, that means instead of having to replace a crunched fender, your repair shop might just heat it up and watch it resume its programmed shape. Alan Taub, GM's executive director of research and development, says the automaker wants to be "the intellectual leader in smart materials." It expects to start using the …

Vonage Holdings was ordered by a federal jury yesterday to pay $58 million to Verizon Communications for infringing on five of its patents. Verizon immediately asked the court to issue a permanent injunction, preventing Vonage from using the technology for connecting its Internet network to the public telephone system. If the order is granted, Vonage's 2.2 million customers could be limited to using the service to communicate only with one another. Rebecca Arbogast, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus, says an injunction against Vonage was likely. She predicts that the jury's verdict would have little effect on companies other …

Dial is introducing a men's body spray--RGX Bodyspray from Right Guard--that it is positioning as a grown-up's alternative to Unilever's Axe, which invented the category. Axe is known both for its very high sales and highly sophomoric advertising. Rudy Vetter, Dial's vice president of marketing for deodorants, says it wants to appeal to age groups who "feel more mature than Axe users." RGX has a less overpowering scent than Axe, and its packaging looks less phallic. A TV, print, online and in-store campaign will break next month. It will not follow the "use-our-product-and-pinup-models-will-tackle-you" formula used by Axe and …

Paul Mercer, who was the lead designer of Version 7 of the Macintosh graphical desktop finder, has joined Palm to help it respond to the challenge posed by Apple's new iPhone. While iPhone is still several months away from being available, its flexible interface is already shaking up the cell-phone industry -- including Palm, which makes the hybrid phone-organizers known as smart phones. Industry analysts have said that the Apple phone will force the industry to shift its focus from hardware to software design. Mercer joined Palm with two employees from Iventor, an independent design firm that …

Fast-food retailer Hardee's is among the companies testing coupons that are downloaded to customers' cell phones. The test, which is being conducted in Indianapolis and St. Louis, offers coupons for chicken sandwiches, breakfast biscuits and chili cheese fries. In order to get the coupons, customers have to go to www.cellfire.com, check the compatibility of their cell phone with Cellfire, and enter their phone numbers and e-mail addresses. They then receive a text message with a link to download the Cellfire application. After launching, they can locate coupons stored under the names of participating companies. After clicking "use now" …