The acquisition would fit SouthComm's strategy of buying publications at bargain prices in a difficult media environment in hopes of benefiting from an eventual rebound in advertising revenue and other changes in the media landscape.
For Village Voice Media, owner of the Nashville Scene, SouthComm's interest could provide a way for it to sell a publication that has lost pages and ad revenue in the past year, allowing it to concentrate on larger markets such as New York and Los Angeles where it also has alternative weeklies.
SouthComm, led by former Scene publisher Chris Ferrell with financing from investor E. Townes Duncan's private investment firm, has been on a buying spree.
The City Paper, NashvillePost.com, Music Row, Medical News Inc. and Her Nashvilleare among its holdings.
Operations of several of the publications were consolidated, including eliminating overlaps in management, to cut costs.
SouthComm also faces the challenge of moving from print to more online delivery of news and uncertainties about whether enough advertising dollars will follow along with that evolution.
New law lures new micro-distilleries to TennesseeTank, Tankless or Thankless
