Michael Jackson Hires PR Firm of Other Celebrities

Embattled pop star Michael Jackson, whose inner circle has been in a state of flux since summer as he has battled child molestation allegations, has added a new publicity firm to his camp.

Entertainment publicist Michael Levine confirmed that Jackson last week hired his Levine/Schneider firm, whose work includes public relations for such clients as Barbra Streisand and Jackson’s sister Janet.

It was unclear what role longtime Jackson publicist Lee Solters will now play in the entertainer’s career. Levine said he does not know what Solters will be doing. Solters said he is still working for Jackson and will remain involved in various matters for him.

Last week, Jackson’s attorneys announced that he has settled for an undisclosed amount a civil lawsuit brought by a teen-age boy who accused Jackson of sexually molesting him. Jackson has denied the allegations.

* Ex-Paul Kagan Associates media analyst Paul Bricault has joined the new media group at William Morris Agency.

* Arnold Rifkin, senior vice president and worldwide head of the motion picture division at William Morris Agency, has been named to the board of councilors at the USC School of Cinema-Television.

* Paramount Pictures has promoted Jay Rakow to senior vice president and general counsel. He previously was deputy general counsel.

* MCA’s UNI Distribution Corp. has named Timothy Bixby vice president of finance and Carl Michelakos director of sales for special projects. Separately, MCA Records International has named Eamon Sherlock senior director for international.

* Columbia Pictures has promoted Stephanie Allain to senior vice president of production.

* Pamela F. Cherney has been named treasurer of MCA Inc.

* Twentieth Century Fox International announced several appointments. Scott Neeson was promoted to senior vice president of marketing, Doug Gleason was named vice president of publicity and promotion, Jim Darbinian was named vice president of creative advertising, and Ralph Lewis was named vice president of media.

* Barry Porter has left Bear, Stearns & Co., where he was a senior managing director, to join Pacific Capital Group, a merchant banking firm specializing in entertainment and media.

* Twentieth Century Fox has named Elliot Lurie executive vice president of Fox Music Group.

* Steve Plotnicki has assumed the title of president of Profile Records after buying out the interest of founder Cory Robbins.

* Nancy L. Bushkin has been promoted to director of corporate relations for Viacom International Inc.

* Susan Notarides has been promoted to executive vice president of licensing and merchandising at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, while David Bishop has been named executive vice president of MGM/UA Home Entertainment.

* Marc Brody is now vice president of eastern sales for Rysher Entertainment.