I'm told there was a time when people spent their entire careers with one firm. When new talent was mentored and experience was respected. When the competition you most feared wasn't sitting in the office next to you. When loyalty was rewarded.

There is little in the broadcast (or advertising) industry more vulnerable than a middle management, middle-aged man. He's stuck in the middle. He knows only too well that when he is ultimately set adrift, there is no telling when and where he will land.

We live in a world where a bad "book" or two can spell your demise. Of course, if you are related to the owner, you get a personalized set of "get out of jail free" cards.

In this digital age of high definition, I'm beginning to see things all too clearly. I'm just not sure that I like everything I see. The recent Canadian Music Week gave us reason to pause and take a look at a few timely issues in the communication (i.e. broadcast/ entertainment/ advertising) industry.

As I sit on the cusp of a new millennium, I take a look around and wonder ... is this hello or goodbye? They say your past catches up with you. Anyone who has looked at demographic projections lately knows that senior citizens comprise a dramatically increasing per centage of our population. And what is mainstream? The majority are minorities. Nothing seems as clear as it once did. It's a time of increasing media fragmentation and confusion, not to mention road rage. Let's take a shot at a few predictions.

It might not be the first place you would think of. Nevertheless, Canada's largest arena (nestled amidst a fortress of office towers) was chosen as the site for a celebration of our roots. Where better to remind city dwellers that it's time to come back down to earth. The occasion was the Family Farm Tribute held at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Sunday, January 16 and broadcast nationally via CBC Newsworld.