Vibe Magazine closes down
Another death has been announced in the entertainment industry. Thankfully, it’s not a person. It’s a printed product–which is equally as devasting (in my opinion).
The popular hip hop/R&B magazine titled Vibe Magazine has officially closed down. The magazine has been hit hard by the economy and a decline in readership.
Newspapers and magazines across the country are closing down and laying off employees because readers aren’t purchasing the printed product anymore. Instead, they are going online to read their news for free. Plus, advertising revenue is falling.
“On behalf the VIBE CONTENT staff (the best in this business), it is with great sadness, and with heads held high, that we leave the building today. We were assigning and editing a Michael Jackson tribute issue when we got the news.” 
“It’s a tragic week in overall, but as the doors of VIBE Media Group close, on the eve of the magazine’s sixteenth anniversary, it’s a sad day for music, for hip hop in particular, and for the millions of readers and users who have loved and who continue to love the VIBE brand. We thank you, we have served you with joy, pride and excellence, and we will miss you.”
Vibe Magazine was created in 1993 by music producer Quincy Jones. In 2006, he sold the magazine to Wicks Media Group.
In an interview with EbonyJet.com, Jones said “I’m trying to buy my magazine back now,” Jones told EbonyJet.com just moments ago during a telephone call to Jones’ London abode. “They just messed my magazine all up, but I’m gonna get it back. You better believe it, I’m’a take it online because print and all that stuff is over.”
As a subscriber to Vibe Magazine, I’m sad to see the magazine close down. It always had in-depth interviews with hip hop musicians that you couldn’t get in other magazines. (RIP Vibe)
Tim Henley
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I agree, I will miss this mag. Any word on if the site will stay up?