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It's the end of the year for License! magazine, and we are busy gearing up for a "reinvigorating" 2003. Next month, we'll unveil the newly redesigned face of License!, in part thanks to you, our readership, with your comments, ideas, and suggestions well-taken and noted. As it is the end of the year, it seems apropos that our last issue of 2002 be dedicated to a numbers update…and more.

First, as many of you are aware, several of License!'s sister divisions at Advanstar Communications are among the biggest trade events for the licensing business. Here, a numbers update from these trade events: The Licensing 2002 International Show, which took place in New York, June 11-13, experienced a 4 percent increase in visitor attendance over the year prior; 72 countries were represented. Visitor attendance at the August 2002 edition of MAGIC Marketplace, held in Las Vegas, NV, August 26-29, was up 6.25 percent to 85,000 attendees over its February 2002 edition. Lastly, our international counterpart, Brand Licensing London, held October 23-24 at the Business Design Centre in London, reports a 15 percent increase, attracting 4,007 visitors. Brand Licensing London will move to the Earls Court 2 Exhibition Centre in 2003 and will be integrated with our Munich, Germany show, formerly Licensing Europe.

Second, as it relates to your respective businesses, our editors updated the 100 Leading Licensors, which ran in our April 2002 issue, to include projected 2002 worldwide retail sales of licensed products. We also included an addendum to this licensor listing. Although not ranked, I'm certain these additional companies will appear on our 100 Leading Licensors list in April 2003. To further aid our readership, we asked retailers from a variety of distribution channels to offer their "predictions" on properties and trends they likely will embrace in 2003. A portion of our Industry Annual Report also is included.

Beyond this numbers update, we at License! bestow on NASCAR the title "Best Co-Branding Program of the Year." In a down economy, NASCAR has managed to race ahead via sponsorships, co-branding tactics, and cross-licensing agreements for NASCAR and individual teams, tracks, and drivers. Learn how this consumer-product-friendly sport serves as a conduit to licensees and retailers.

On behalf of the publishing team of License!, a happy, healthy holiday season, and a bright, prosperous New Year. See you in 2003!