WHO’LL BE TIM’S REPLACEMENT
AT BILLBOARD?

The sudden passing of Billboard Editor Tim White two weeks ago has left a huge void at the top of the venerable music trade magazine’s masthead. White had held the top post since 1991, when he was brought in by his one-time Musician colleague, publisher Sam Holdsworth.

Insiders say, even before White’s death, the company had hired a consultant to determine how the publication could increase its profits. Meanwhile, the search for a successor has not even begun, but we at HITS, your #1 source for creating something out of nothing, have created a preliminary list of possible candidates—and some odds just to spice up the speculation.

Bill Flanagan (7-2): Ex-Musician editor now a VH1 producer has probably priced himself out of the trade journalism market, but he’s well-respected among artists and industry execs alike.

Ken Barnes (10-1): DC-based USA Today entertainment editor has plenty of trade experience at R&R and would share his predecessor’s prickly, elitist personality.

Robert Love (11-1): Ex-Rolling Stone managing editor is available.

Eric Boelhert (12-1): Salon.com music business reporter whose investigative series on Clear Channel has been hard-hitting, is probably a little too controversial.

Jim Henke (13-1): For Rock & Roll Hall of Fame curator, anything has to be better than Cleveland in winter.

Fred Goodman (15-1): Veteran one-time Billboard and Cashbox editor and author of the seminal Mansion on the Hill would be a great choice, though he won’t suck up.

Anthony DeCurtis (16-1): Ex-Stone editor is pompous enough for the gig.

Mikal Gilmore (17-1): Certainly has the literary credentials, and "Music to My Ears" would be in good hands.

Charles M. Young (18-1): It’d make the staid old mag a lot livelier.

Jim Bessman (20-1): Why not? It would show some loyalty to a longtime Billboard scribe.

Melinda Newman (25-1): There should be at least one woman considered for the gig, right? Ann Powers wouldn't be a bad choice, either.

Gene Sculatti (30-1): This veteran rock crit and Tim White protege, now L.A.-based editor for Billboard’s special issues, would be a populist choice.

Bud Scoppa (45-1): They’d never do anything as smart as hiring our guy...

Dave Marsh (100-1): Well, at least there’d be some excellent Springsteen coverage.

Robert Christgau (125-1): The Dean of American Rock Critics would turn the Bible into a vaguely left-leaning Boho journal.

Vic Garbarini (150-1): Maybe he could get his pal Sting to edit "Heatseekers."

Bob Lefsetz (250-1): Now that would be some out-of-the-box thinking.