Vibe is now joining forces with Rolling Stone, and this news came out just last week.
After the announcement, both Mya Abraham and DeMicia Inman shared that they lost their jobs, which must have been really tough for them. The CEO of Rolling Stone, Julian Holguin, talked about plans to boost their hip-hop and R&B stories, and also said they want to put more energy into Vibe by working on things like videos, podcasts, and even cool events. Datwon Thomas, who’s been with Vibe for a long time, is now going to help out as an adviser and said, “Coming back to Vibe in this role is deeply meaningful to me and I am proud to remain connected to such an iconic brand that has been such a big part of my life. The opportunity to help guide Vibe into the next phase of its growth and continued legacy is an honor.”
People sometimes feel sad when magazines change, but maybe something new will be good.
Vibe actually started way back in 1993 with Quincy Jones and Time Warner, and it’s had a few different owners since then. Now, Penske Media Group, the same company that owns Rolling Stone, is in charge. Mya Abraham, who lost her job, is already working on a new podcast and Substack called Play the B Sides, which is all about R&B. Meanwhile, Vibe and Rolling Stone are looking for someone new to lead the Vibe brand, plus a host for videos and podcasts, and someone to run their events.
Sometimes I wonder if magazines will even exist in ten years, or if we’ll just get all our music news from TikTok.
