1. Task 5: Research into similar music
magazines on which you could base
your magazine on. Map out possible
ideas for your music magazine
including names, possible musical
genre and idea for articles.
2. I have chosen to focus on the genre of Hip hop magazines targeted at
teenagers.
Background information on VIBE.
VIBE a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones. The
publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other
entertainers. More importantly, it highlights some of the hottest and most popular
rappers and R&B musicians. This magazine gets a large following and support from
youngsters who love the culture of hip-hop.
3. History
• VIBE magazine is a popular magazine in the United States. It was first released in the early 90’s.
The first ever editor of VIBE was Quincy Jones, a magazine, his main aim was to provide the
latest music and to entertain the target audience, He partnered with Time Inc to ensure that they
would be able to launch the magazine in 1993. For three years, the magazine was owned both by
Jones and Time, Inc. until it was sold to Miller Publishing. In a short span of time, Vibe was then
sold by Miller Publishing to spin magazine. Vibe was owned by Spin for several years until it was
bought by Wicks Group of Companies IN 2006. So now you know when did Vibe magazine start -
it started in 1993, launched by Jone and Time, Inc.
Covers of VIBE
4. XXL Magazine
Background information on XXL MAGAZINE.
In 1997, XXL was founded by former Source staffers as well as other Harris
Publication employees, who wanted to create their own magazine about the hip-
hop music and culture using the model developed by the founders of The Source.
The magazine's past editors included Elliott Wilson (formerly of Ego Trip
Magazine and The Source) and Datwon Thomas (former Editor-In-Chief of King
Magazine). In May 2009 Datwon Thomas resigned from XXL and executive editor
Vanessa Satten, who had been with XXL since 1998, was named the new Editor-
in-Chief.
In December 2006, XXL took over the struggling Hip-Hop producer and DJ
magazine Scratch (another publication owned by Harris Publications), re-branding
it as "XXL Presents Scratch Magazine". Scratch shut down in September 2007.
Other titles with limited runs have been launched under the XXL brand, including
Hip-Hop Soul, Eye Candy and Shade45. XXL has released many other special
projects including tour programs, mixtapes and exclusive DVDs. XXL also
maintains a popular website, which provides daily hip-hop news, original content
and content from the magazine.
