NYT: Vibe Mag sold to Spinmedia; going online only?

JUST THINK OF IT AS GOING PAPERLESS:Vibe Magazine, the hip-hop publication launched in 1992 by Quincy Jones and Time Warner, has been sold to SpinMedia, formerly known as Buzz Media, owner of Spin Magazine as well as XLR8R, Punk News, The Hype Machine and PopMatters, The New York Times reports. Vibe and Spin were part of the same company, Vibe/Spin Ventures, several rounds of media sales ago. The print version of Vibe (sold by Vibe Media along with Vibe.com and Vibevixen.com) will likely be shut down later this year, the paper notes, and the pub will, for the time being, at least, be online only. "We are still trying to find a print model that makes economic sense in the digital age," said SpinMedia CEO Steve Hansen. Have they considered an editorial staff composed entirely of hamsters? It's worked for us. (4/25p)