Only weeks after Vibe Magazine [click to read] closed its doors, the famed brand has already been purchased. On August 12, an announcement was made revealing that Vibe had been bought by InterMedia Partners in partnership with Uptown Media Group and Blackrock Digital.
“Vibe is the preeminent brand in R&B and hip-hop. We feel privileged to purchase and resurrect such a storied brand,” David Koff, Senior Partner of InterMedia Partners said in a statement. “Together with the relaunch of Soul Train this fall and the rapid expansion of Uptown Magazine, a reinvigorated Vibe enables us to serve a broad spectrum of the African American audience with high quality entertainment and information.”
Under new ownership, Vibe.com will relaunch immediately while Vibe Magazine[click to read], which will now be released quarterly, will relaunch November/December of this year.
“Vibe was always a leader in the Cultural Revolution, from music, entertainment and fashion to news and investigative reporting, offering artistic content that pushed the culture forward. We are reclaiming that mission,” said Brett Wright, Chief Creative Officer, Uptown Media Group.
Vibe’s new owners hope they will be able to restore the brand through changes to its design, content strategy, and business model.
