• by John Gaffney , June 19, 2002

Boom Times Around the Corner:That’s my prediction. I believe the second half of 2003 is going to mark the biggest media expansion we’ve seen since the roaring 90s. Here’s why. The FTC will announce at that time that it’s a free market. Gannett can own radio stations, TV stations and newspapers in the same market. Gannett will go on a spree. So will Scripps Howard. So will Media General and The New York Times. There will be synergy of biblical proportions. Great storms on the sea and lightning from the sky. Cats living with dogs. And one media company in each market will cover said storm and said living arrangements. And the consumer will riseth up and saith: “Is there anything else on?” That’s where the boom times come in. The FTC is just playing coy right now, postponing this decision officially until 2003. But after it happens I think it makes fertile soil for the alternative media renaissance. The FTC decision will be the tipping point where ad buyers and consumers say they’ve had enough of media consolidation. It all leads to media homogenization. So the counter-culture becomes more powerful and the counter-culture needs to speak. Last time this confluence happened the Internet was the main benefactor. I think the Internet will once again be the main benefactor. But I also think next year will bode well for alternative weeklies, cable, newsletters and satellite radio. Of course these are forward looking statements and like all forward-looking statements you should regard them suspiciously.

Maybe He’ll Stop Whining Now: I’ve been kvetching a lot in this space about the lack of good radio and relevant print products (like Rolling Stone) for the 30-plus demo (me). But last night I was reading The New Yorker and I was thinking that this book is a consistent music columnist away from making me shut up.

Raise A Glass and Take A Picture: We need nominations (in NYC) for our print version’s August party of the month. Needs to happen sometime before July 9. We’ll send the photographer, you send the invite. If you don’t, we will be forced to run stiff photos of award winners at yet another rubber chicken gala.