News Roundup: VIBE Magazine to relaunch with online focus, Tell us what you want to hear in SHINE.
 
8.18.09 By - SHINE 

VIBE Magazine relaunches online sector, Nov/Dec 2009
InterMedia Partners, in partnership with its portfolio company Uptown Media Group along with Blackrock Digital today announced the purchase of the assets of Vibe and Vibe.com, the preeminent brands for hip-hop & R&B lifestyle and culture. Founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones and Time Warner, Vibe has been an iconic brand for 16 years, responsible for setting trends among hip hop and mainstream culture. InterMedia is buying Vibe on the heels of the recent June shuttering of the magazine. "Vibe is the preeminent brand in R&B and hip-hop. We feel privileged to purchase and resurrect such a storied brand," said David Koff, Senior Partner, InterMedia Partners. "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." Vibe's new leadership will include original Vibe team members Robert Miller and Leonard Burnett; Uptown Magazine Co-Founder Brett Wright and Blackrock Digital Partners Chris Smith and Parker McNaughton. This group will be responsible for the re-launch of the Vibe brand and businesses. "I'm excited for the opportunity to restore the Vibe brand to its well respected position in the minds of both consumers and advertisers," said original team member Len Burnett.  "Together, the Vibe and Uptown brands will allow us to develop an array of integrated digital opportunities and events that reach the dynamic urban consumer." Vibe.com, which continues to be one of the most popular urban culture websites, will be immediately re-launched. The digital initiative will be the centerpiece of the new venture. Vibe Magazine will re-launch in November/December 2009, to be followed by quarterly issues in 2010.  Robert Miller, who founded Vibe while at Time Warner and later bought it from them with Quincy Jones said, "As much as Vibe pioneered a whole new culture and media proposition in the 90's, the new digital paradigm offers even greater opportunity to re-position the Vibe brand for the Millennium." The new organization will revamp Vibe's design, content strategy and business model to bring it back to its' rightful stature in urban entertainment.  "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. (Read the full story)

What do you want to see in SHINE?
SHINE would like to hear from you for our new issue. Tell us here what you what to see in SHINE. We will be featuring this option every post and we hope to hear from you. Contact us or comment below and let us know what issue or feature you want to see in SHINE.....We work for you!

1 Comments on "DAILY BABY!"

Samuel, University of Houston, on 9/15/2009 7:25:10 AM Said: I'm glad VIBE is coming back....we need that voice. In SHINE I would like to see more about how we as college students can be the best in our academics: meaning tips and first account advice for success. So far, so good!

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