Quincy Jones just caught wind of the collapse of the magazine he started–VIBE. And he’s not at all pleased with how things are going down. He said in a statement to EbonyJet.com yesterday that he plans to get his iconic magazine back and keep it alive:
“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,”
He has a point about print being dead. But content is still King. Can VIBE pull it off even if they come back with a strictly online presence and Quincy Jones buys it back? Their latest editions haven’t been what they used to be. But time will tell…
Here’s the memo sent out by the VIBE Music Group CEO Steve Aaron:
“It is with a heavy heart that I share some tough news, VMG is closing down effective today, June 30 due to lack of additional financial investments.
“Unfortunately, over the last several months, a confluence of events has obviously posed VMG to exceedingly serious challenges.
“The collapse of the capital markets has impacted us greatly. Over the past several months, we have actively pursued investment resources while working intensively with our bank to find a solution. But the deal market right now remains very poor and at the end of the day, the lack of investment resources to restructure the huge debt on our small company has made this outcome become a reality.
“The print advertising collapse hit VIBE hard, especially as key ad categories like automotive and fashion, which represented the bulk of our top 10 advertisers, have stopped advertising or gone out of business. It’s also unfortunate that in a recession many companies reduce the multi-cultural campaigns. These facts, coupled with the continuing decline of the music industry not to mention the newsstand wholesaler consolidation in early 2009 all negatively impacted our business in a significant way.
“The relentless economic situation has depressed our growth initiatives on the digital front. To be clear, VMG has made significant improvement in this part of our business, but not at the accelerated pace required to offset the devastating effects of the most severe recession in our lifetime and the accompanying print losses.”
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:03 AM
He shouldn’t be pleased at the way they going out with Winnie the pooh and his girl on the cover. SMDH.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:09 AM
2nd! let’s hpe Quincy can restore it to its former glory!
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:11 AM
You betta get em Q! With that bull tabloid issue and these ridiculous covers. He knows print is dead, why didn’t they realise it sooner…would have saved em a couple of $.
It’s crazy when you see what these employees are putting forward to represent the community, with BET, Vibe etc. The funny thing is, is that there are dozens of people with x10 better ideas that could easily make networks and magazine companies better. They need to listen to the people, maybe that way they just may succeed.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:15 AM
Ok did anyone watch the new BET awards, they cleaned it up. They edited the 12 year old girls off with Lil Wayne and Drake and they edited the Taraji and Tye piece where the one guy was talking about guns equal Michael Jackson
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:18 AM
Vibe should be closed down. Especially the way it’s been going the last few years. The real reason it’s going down is because kids don’t read like they used to when I was growing up. They rely on the videos to show them how to be and how to act. Come on now. Black people can do better than that. I get tired of seeing these one hit wonders and vulgar rappers on the covers of magazines and expect everybody to know what they are about. Hip hop has been dying for the last 8-10 years. There may be a few rappers out there that are worth something but for the majority, I wish they would sit down somewhere and do something to help black folks be seen in a better light. Their personal lives take the fore front of their professional lives. And I’m getting real tired of that crap. What happened to the days of the past when folks kept their private lives private? What happened to the self respect that black folks used to have for themselves?
Hopefully, Quincy J. can revamp the magazine into something that a person can be proud of.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:27 AM
The only thing I read in VIBE is the 20 questions.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:28 AM
Yea cause that last cover…
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:31 AM
I don’t understand the “Guns equal…” statement from the dude from Baby Boy. What exactly does it mean?
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:34 AM
It means he sniffed some cocaine before he went on TV.
BOYCOTT EBT Channel.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:38 AM
Do the damn thang Mr. Jones. Everything this man touches turns to gold!
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:41 AM
I can’t say I care. I’m done with Vibe. Corporate America could careless about Ciara, The Dream and Christina Milan, Pleasure P, Plies, etc. who all blessed a Vibe cover. You can’t blame that lameness on them. The Vibe staff did it to themselves. They had an opportunity to portray artists with talent, substance, style, integrity but they chose not to. They chose to promote those who are ringtone friendly with childish, immature, degrading lyrics. Corporate America did not instruct that. The Vibe editors chose to go that route. They lost their way long before the White man picked them up. The White man didn’t destroy Vibe, Vibe did it to itself.
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:42 AM
LMAO!!!
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:44 AM
I hope Quincy Jones is able to revamp VIBE. I love that magazine. If you can get past the vast amount of ridiculous advertising (shit of their readers can’t afford), some of the articles weren’t too bad. But going online will probably be their best bet. Print magazines and newspapers are dead and gone. I don’t even understand why most papers and mags aren’t strictly online…
Wed, July 1, 2009 9:44 AM
it’s the saying from the Babyboy movie. Guns don’t depreciate with time; like cars depreciate soon as u ride it off the sales lot. that’s not a quote it’s just the meaning.
Wed, July 1, 2009 10:21 AM
Such a cuttie. His photos were seen at milllionaire persoanals site ***meetrich.com***last week. It is said he is already in relationship with a young beautiful woman on that site now. ?
looooooooool
Wed, July 1, 2009 10:31 AM
VIBE has indeed gone downhill over the years. It’s more ads than actual content. I used to look forward to my monthly issue back in the 1990’s but the last few years it’s been sucking badly. The news in magazines is usually 2-3 months old when you get them anyways, online is the way to go.
Wed, July 1, 2009 10:41 AM
Vibe isn’t what it used to be because back in the day they wrote about REAL TALENT!
I have the vintage covers that I posted on twitpic from The Death Row Cover, To Dre leaving, Brandy with the Bubbles…there were just so many great covers. Maybe they’ll do a book on the covers. Biggie & Faith, Lauryn Hill man! To go to those covers to The Dream & Christina Milian ummmm yeah!!!
Wed, July 1, 2009 11:37 AM
Ouch – Don’t Blame Us!
I have ONE of my FAVORITE Covers & will kepp It 4ever – Very Sexy!!!!
Have a WONDERFUL Wednesday REAL Young, Black, Fabulous Ones!
Wed, July 1, 2009 11:38 AM
CORRECTION:
( kepp ) Keep It!
Wed, July 1, 2009 12:29 PM
I don’t think print is dead at all.
I much rather sit and read a good magazine, then having to sit infront the laptop all the time, with pop ups just expanding at times left and right.
I just like reading magazines, first scanning through them, then actually reading them, maybe cut something out I liked, or want to buy…;-)
Wed, July 1, 2009 12:52 PM
If Quincy was so passionate about “VIBE” he would have continued to be involved in it. VIBE’s identity and target audience was all over the place, which equals a formula for failure.
Something fresh, new (and online) will take its place. Cest la vie!
Wed, July 1, 2009 1:06 PM
One thing you all have to remember is that VIBE was the definitive voice for hip hop. This is a major loss for hip hop culture. A 16-year publication gone. Another thing you have to remember is that at the end of the day everything is about money. Sex sells. Advertising and sales ads pay the bills. I grew up on VIBE and yes it has changed in the past few years. However, to stay relevant in an industry like this you must change with the times. I really don’t think the focus right now should be on the negative. Besides, no one at VIBE knew the last day would be yesterday. Therefore, that cover for the August issue was chosen three months prior to it even being published.
RIP VIBE…you will always be the voice of hip hop. What VIBE meant to journalism is what MJ meant to music.
Wed, July 1, 2009 2:45 PM
SO, black youth don’t read? Sounds like that is what some of all are saying. I blame the quality not the readers. Why put C-Mili on the cover half naked,(cause that really IS all she has to offer) instead of say Drake. (I and many others wanna know who he is and why he is being SO hyped up) The audience was there and the potential was too, when it first came out EVERY month’s cover was hot.
I wish they would’ve been able to finish the MJ tribute issue though..
Wed, July 1, 2009 7:42 PM
I didn’t know Quincy started Vibe. He should have continue to oversee it and market it better to the younger generation because I never brought vibe, I read it if someone else had it but that is it. But he is right, most people don’t buy magazine who is willing to pay up to 6 dollars on a booklet with mostly ads that you read for half an hour at the most. It would be must better online. But he should fire the editors and some of the staff with that trash of the last issue with The Dream and Chistina M.