Rap-Up.com || VIBE Magazine Remembered: 1993-2009

As one music pioneer leaves us, another who helped chronicle the pop music landscape has also died. It was announced today that VIBE has shut down.

The magazine, founded by Quincy Jones, was the only music title, aside from Rap-Up, that I read on a regular basis. It was one of the first magazines I subscribed to as a teenager and remains one of the few I still subscribe to.

As a fellow publisher, I understand the amount of hard work and money that go into maintaining a magazine and the challenges print publications face in these tough times. I encourage you to support your favorite magazines. When you see them on the newsstand, buy them instead of just reading them there.

VIBE paved the way for many urban music titles, including Rap-Up, and did so with class and sophistication. The impact it had on hip-hop and R&B culture is indelible.

Here’s to 16 incredible years.

Devin Lazerine
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of Rap-Up

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18 Comments

bass man
June 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
This deeply saddens me. VIBE was the first magazine I subscribed to. I was 15. I am almost 18 now, so I feel never got to experience it enough. I’ve only subscribed, subsequently, to two other publications. GIANT & Blender. Blender’s shut down and now, VIBE. But, if you would’ve asked me which one would’ve come out on top. I’d answer: VIBE.

I am going to miss it.

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Giselle
June 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I agree with Bass.

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Kyle
June 30th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, WTF!? It’s funny that this was posted because I have been checking regularly for the next issue of Vibe (july 09), but haven’t been seeing it on the shelves. I’m an avid urban magazine reader and Vibe had to have been my favorite, although it has gotten a little weak over the past couple years. Now it seems as if GIANT magazine will be my main source for urban culture. Rap-Up, this gives you more reason to publish issues monthly or bi-monthly (wink, wink).

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Kyle
June 30th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
UPDATE: Apparently they’re releasing a last issue and guess who’s on it…The Dream & Christina Milian. The picture is floating around the net and it’s really trashy. Christina should be ashamed of herself for trying to get all this attention.

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Jay
June 30th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
Oh man! That’s sad

Was a great magazine!

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Bijan
June 30th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
So sad. But for some reason it doesn’t really surprise me, I feel like they were losing popularity.

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An0thrDream
June 30th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
that’s hella sad!!! i love vibe mag.

Imma go buy a second copy of rap-up’s issue

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Hocine
June 30th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
What??? Can’t believe it

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sexiikiim09
June 30th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
wow thats sad.

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King
June 30th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
NO I will miss VIBE, whatever happend to KING magazine ?

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joey
June 30th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
OMFG NO WAY! THIS IS SO SAD. I SUBSCRIBED TO IT WHEN I WAS 13 AND EVEN THOUGH IM NOW ONLY 16 ITS SOMETHING I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN I GET THE MAIL. SO SAD THIS REALLY SUCKS.

does any1 know why its shuttin down?

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CDamon
July 1st, 2009 at 5:02 am
It’s understandable that print media has been in serious trouble in recent years. Yet it’s still surprising when a magazine as big as Vibe is forced to shut off the printers and call it a day. I’ve been reading Vibe mostly all of it’s 16 year run, I’m currently now 24. Reading and music have always been my favorite ways to pass time and Vibe Magazine helped me explore the two together.

I hope that Vibe can continue in some form through either an online subscription website like those established by other print publications (GQ, Car and Driver) or a blog type website like this great one. Surely, there is enough space on the web for two premiere urban music blogs.

Keep it classy Rap-Up, I want you around for the long haul.

BTW, I just received “Put Your Dreams First (Handle Your [entertainment] Business).” Thank you.

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CDamon
July 1st, 2009 at 5:20 am
@ Joey, magazines like VIBE survive on subscriber revenue, newsstand revenue, and ad revenue from the page space it sells in it’s magazines. One can assume that subscription and newsstand revenue has decreased dramatically in recent years as the proliferation of the internet has marginalized the influence of print based media. More recently, the state of the economy can explain the general lack of disposable income or a change in overall spending habits. As subscriber and newsstand revenue has decreased so to has ad revenue. When paid subscriptions and newsstand sales decrease ads aren’t impacting the intended audience. As a result, ad space prices decrease while all other cost remain the same.

Decreased income from decreasing readership and ad revenue, coupled with constant production and distribution costs, in a market ridden with a lack of liquidity is what spelled disaster for VIBE. A perfect storm of events led to it’s ultimate demise.

Sorry for writing a novel. That’s just my take on the matter. I’m no expert.

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DJ Triumph
July 1st, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Vibe was a great magazine it will be miss.

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Jaelani
July 1st, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Rap-Up, ya’ll are beautiful for that. That’s respect and love. I started reading VIBE since 2007 when Mary J. Blige wuz on the cover, I finally got my subscription late 2008. Wow, i am really gonna miss VIBE :(

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Jaelani
July 1st, 2009 at 1:32 pm
King, KING magazine also shut down. Sorry :(

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Keri
July 1st, 2009 at 6:42 pm
This was my favorite VIBE cover ever.

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Catie
July 2nd, 2009 at 11:43 am
Wow, that really sucks.

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