Dream x Christina Milian Cover VIBE’s Final Issue

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Here is the final cover of VIBE magazine, and from what I’m told, it will not be available on newsstands. After the jump, read the official statement from former CEO, Steve Aaron and former CCO/Editor-In-Chief, Danyel Smith.

Dear VIBE Team:

It is with a heavy heart that I share some tough news, VMG is closing down effective today, June 30th.

It’s been an 16 incredible years since VIBE’s inception. There are very few magazines with the richness of history and breadth of talented visionaries who created the powerful lens in which VIBE viewed and shaped urban music and culture.

Ever since I first set foot in this courageous company, I’ve regarded myself as incredibly fortunate to be be involved with this remarkable brand and group of individuals whose performance has never been nothing short of outstanding. We finished 2008 in an improved position versus the prior year, and accomplished so much, including:

    * Editorial Awards
    * Editorial transformation into content dept
    * New Ad accounts being broken
    * The Most Mag Launch
    * Award winning re-design
    * Profitable digital operation
    * VIBE.com growth and improvements and programs such as  Best Rapper Ever,  #1 Stan, etc
    * Mobile VIBE  launch
    * Micro-site development Mostmag.com to start off.       
    * V Sessions
    * Improved PR coverage

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.

I want to thank you all for your hard work and commitment, and for all of the adventures along the way. I’ll miss this place a lot, but I’ll miss you all and the magic you create.

Vibe will be remembered as a shockingly brilliant content company that everyone can be proud of and I look forward with great excitement to all of future endeavors you all pursue.

With great affection and respect –

Steve Aaron

former CEO of VIBE Media Group

On behalf the VIBE CONTENT staff (the best in this business), it is

with great sadness, and with heads held high, that we leave the

building today. We were assigning and editing a Michael Jackson tribute

issue when we got the news. It’s a tragic week in overall, but as the

doors of VIBE Media Group close, on the eve of the magazine’s sixteenth

anniversary, it’s a sad day for music, for hip hop in particular, and

for the millions of readers and users who have loved and who continue

to love the VIBE brand. We thank you, we have served you with joy,

pride and excellence, and we will miss you. —Danyel Smith

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  1. Ian Jarrell of AllThatsFab.com says:

    I am hoping they still release the Juice issue…it would be a good way to go

  2. Cfro from Hiptics.com says:

    My sister is personal friends with VIBE’s editor-in-chief so I’m extra sorry to hear this news. Will VIBE stay active online? http://www.hiptics.com/2009/06/30/vibe-magazine-goes-out-of-business/

  3. mymannemcee says:

    sooooo im guessing the people with subscriptions will be getting the final issue?

  4. MadFreshDaily says:

    WTF? I get home from work and gotta hear THIS?!? :o( When I was a kid, I just knew that ONE day, I’d be walking into the Vibe offices, saying that I worked there. This is a sad and scary situation.

  5. Jiggy says:

    Very Sad and a reflection of how quickly markets can change

    This is yet another nail in the hip hop coffin and I would like to offer some form of silver lining by stating that Clash Magazine is hoping to launch in the US and is looking to all media types , with UK artists representing 15% of US album charts is Brit Pop the new Hip Hop?

    I truly feel for everyone at Vibe

    and if there is anything you can do to help Clash in the US launch then get in touch with [email protected]

    PS maybe we can co publish a fitting tribute to Michael Jackson?

    what a week

  6. Bo BOo says:

    Goo RIDDANCE!

    This mag has SUCKED major ballz 4 years now!

    Bye! Bye!

  7. Stoik says:

    I’m sorry to hear this, honestly I started reading Vibe once The Source fell off, and they had great information and a different take on things that XXL and Source usually wrote about.

    To the guy who said Brit Pop is the new Hip Hop, no, it’s not. Hip Hop is Hip Hop, nothing more nothing less. It’s a culture that “Brit Pop”, as corny as that sounds, is a part of. Hip Hop is universal

  8. LBoogie718 says:

    wish they could scrape up more money to finish off right instead of these two on the cover..

    cmon quincy! this is part of YOUR legacy!

    n am i getting a refund for my subscription? yeah, right.

  9. msdivab says:

    i really cant believe they are going to celibrate the end of an era with these two. as a woman i dnt care to see milliblonde or her the-nightmare with their shirts off

  10. Jewel says:

    The quality of the magazine has been low, and now who would buy with this cover??? Ho’ & the Beast 2009

  11. FLOYD "MONEY" MAYWEATHER says:

    WHEN YOU GUYS GONNA DROP THE COVER WITHOUT YOU “RR” TAGS?

  12. hello kitty louc says:

    As a nation this is a big thing, but it is what it is the hip hop genaration rather support bling in stead of this don’t worry the world will be over sooner than later. Keep your heads up

  13. 80sbby90skdd says:

    I hate to see it go. I hoped to write for them one day. AND as for this cover….shiiiiiieeett.

  14. bvgoeshard says:

    For those of us who grew up reading VIBE, this day is extremely shocking and troubling. But for me, not only did I grow up reading VIBE, but I was an intern for VIBE, and watched a 16-year legacy fold. VIBE was the definitive voice for hip hop. Not The Source. Not XXL. And with all due respect not Rap Radar. Regardless of what everyone wants to say about the last cover, there would be no hip hop if it wasn’t for VIBE.

    My heart goes out to the incredibly talented staff who now have to look for jobs in a dying industry. But because I believe in them just I in the brand, I know they will go on to do great things.

    Thanks VIBE for allowing me to be apart of history. You will always be remembered for your contribution to the culture of hip hop.

  15. Gurg says:

    Damn. I just subscribed this year. I paid $10 and was promised 24 issues. I only received 3 so far >:O

  16. peepeeppoo says:

    sucks. guess people will have to watch CAN’T OR WON’T NOT now.

  17. vhingrhamesonyomomma says:

    never read a vibe article a day in my life and this cover reminds as to why!

  18. Julian says:

    Such disgust… I think Christina has forgotten who she is and is now slowly becoming the person she said she wouldn’t be… Such disappointment… She fails to realize that her fans loved her because she was herself. Her natural black hair, kindhearted personality, dedication to her fans, she might think that “the old” Christina was not immature or grown, but she’s wrong, staying true to yourself is the true path to becoming an adult, being everyone else is a step backwards, if you ask me, I say she’s even more immature than she was. Christina, I don’t care that you are dating The Dream, but at least stay true to yourself and be who you are, not who he is… To Vibe Magazine, I hate to see you guys go out like this, you will be missed.

  19. toya says:

    I can truly say that I am just happy that Vibe is gone. this gives a chance for the real, straight to the hood magazine to shine. THE SOURCE. Now that Vibe is gone, everyone can now view the full potential of THE SOURCE magazine.

    ‘Bout Time

  20. kiyah says:

    scratch that vibe has been out for decades. They did more interviews then XXL and the source put together. Yall cant top us cause we the best. As far as the cover i like it its unique in an artistic way.

  21. lala blue says:

    Christina milian and the Dream look dirty very unclean on this cover and for this to be the last issue you would have thought they have made to two look elegant & sexy this cover looks as if they didn’t wash up. and Vibe you have put some great people on your cover this cover wasn’t good and Christina should be upset because her & the dream look so uncomfortable. It would have been nice for vibe to have a double cover with Christina & the Dream looking Fabulous.

  22. SHAY says:

    I live in Los Angeles and they are selling this issue on the newstands. Well in my local 7-eleven anyway. I think the cover is way over the top and just nasty. Good riddance to trash.

  23. stephany saboura the model says:

    i was at the grocery store and saw this issue cover….corny! maybe it wouldve been better if dream wasnt shirtless and all greased up lol Not tasteful at all tbut christina looks hot as usual!

  24. diamond says:

    ya need stop being a hater bc she is ur self so ya just jump off and look who fake and leaveing those stupid comments leave them alone bc aint them. HI HATER

  25. scove21 says:

    First of all, The Dream, is NOT a dream. Why would you let your girl take this picture with you with out her shirt on,hello what about her parents. They should of have them in some cool clothes, hugged up taking nice pics. Not to be mean to the Dream, but this make’s him more of a WOMENZER.He is just…….. Not for Christina (from my point of view). I hope she reads this.

    P.S. Go back to the Black natural.

  26. Devante says:

    I just heard the news and this is a very sad day indeed. Vibe magazine has done so much to promote Rap music and Rap & Hip hop music videos and R&B music and R&B music videos supporting such artists as Lil Wayne, Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Usher and more! So it will definitely be a sad loss to the black music industry. Its also ironic that on the very final cover story they have The-Dream and Christina Milian who have also ended their relationship. Anyway thanks Vibe for all your support for black music artists over the years.

  27. […] Christina Milian Before getting her boobies grabbed by former hubby The-Dream on their Vibe cover, Christina Milian had remained somewhat squeaky clean. While her music was suggestive, she […]

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