kenneth in the (212)

Thursday, September 29, 2016

Publisher of Next and Frontiers Shut Down; CEO Promises to Fight On

In financially sounder times ...

Like the convoluted Here Media/Regent Entertainment/Alyson Books/PlanetOut Inc. debacle before it, this is not an easy-to-follow story. But the short version seems to be that Multimedia Platforms, which now includes Next Magazine in New York (which had already bought longtime competitor HX), Frontiers in Los Angeles and Florida Agenda (as well Guy magazine, which has been rebranded Next South Florida), has laid off all of its employees and ceased production.

According to South Florida Gay News:

CEO Bobby Blair put out a press release indicating that a court order had been issued seizing the assets of his company, and a restraining order “has been issued prohibiting the company from distributing any cash or any other assets of the company.” Lenders in the State of Massachusetts apparently filed the action.

In an effort to explain the company’s present difficulties, Blair told SFGN “for the record, I was re-appointed CEO last week as I became informed all this was happening by management. The last 4 months I have not been involved or included in any day-to-day business or involved in this now disputed credit facility.”

Blair indicated in private emails to colleagues, which are being circulated in social media, that he has retained counsel to “fight” the seizure but has refused, as of this time, to name the lawyers or the court where the action is proceeding. His representation to one party was that “new management signed a horrible deal that I have now to fix.”

But for now all local and national operations have been shut down. There will be no papers or magazines this week.

I hope it works out for him. No matter the outcome, though, it's clear that print media is in dire straights -- and LGBT outlets have been particularly hurt by the shift to online information. I reached out to Bobby for comment but have not heard back from him.

Coffee Talk

Any locals know what went down at 21st/7th at the Espresso Matto (formerly Filicori Zecchini)? My source -- a man who screams expletives from his wheelchair at passersby and asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the matter -- says he heard an employee (who was a "nasty bitch" to him over a tuna sandwich in the past) had been sexually assaulted. Then he paused and said he thinks it's more likely someone was murdered.

Normally I would assume it was something related to not paying rent ...

But I'm pretty sure that usually looks more like this. If you know anything, please contact me HERE.

Snake in the Grass

What's going on in Dan Osborne's SWEATPANTS?

Hoboken Train Crash Leaves at Least 1 Dead; About 100 Hurt

Woke up to a bunch of security alerts from work to make sure I was OK after a commuter train crashed at a station in Hoboken, N.J., during the morning rush, killing at least one person and injuring about 100 others, a number of them seriously. Happy to report that all of my Jersey pals -- a lot of the people I work with live over there because some of our offices used to be in Harboside -- and I are all right. Sending good thoughts to everyone who was affected.

From HERE.

Play to Win

Taking It Easy in Winslow, Arizona

The Associated Press reports that a life-sized bronze statue of late musician Glenn Frey of the Eagles has been installed in the "Standing On The Corner" Park in Winslow, Arizona. It joins the statue that many feel looks like Jackson Browne that has stood in the city's downtown area since the late 1990s. Browne and Frey co-wrote the Eagles' song "Take It Easy" in 1972 that included the lyric "standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona." Frey died in January at age 67.