In this podcast episode, the hosts, Jeremy Fremont and Vahe Arabian, explore Vibe.com, an American music and entertainment magazine. They discuss how VIBE.com has stayed true to its audience and grown its content operations.
VIBE.com, founded in the 2000s by Quincy Jones and David Salzman, focuses on hip hop, music, and celebrity news.. The website features original articles, news updates, and an archive section. It also has a strong emphasis on visuals, with image-heavy content and a dedicated photos section.
The hosts highlight VIBE.com’s effective site hierarchy and organization, making it easy for users to navigate and find relevant content. They also discuss the importance of optimizing image size and page speed for an image-heavy site like VIBE.com.
The hosts note Vibe.com’s strategy of curating content and creating a network of sites within the Penske Media Corporation. This approach allows VIBE.com to cover a specific niche within the music and entertainment industry, attracting a dedicated audience.
They also discuss the potential for user-generated content on VIBE.com, highlighting the “send us a tip” feature and the importance of engaging with the community through comments and feedback.
The hosts mention the benefits of being part of a collective of sites, as seen with VIBE.com’s affiliation with other brands within the Penske Media Corporation. This collective approach allows for increased reach, revenue opportunities, and the ability to target specific audiences.
Overall, the hosts emphasize the importance of staying authentic to your audience, curating content, and finding your niche in order to build a successful publication. They encourage publishers to envision themselves in the industry for the long term and to focus on providing value to their audience.
