As we look on the past few years, we see the music industry’s landscape has significantly evolved. A significant milestone in this journey was when The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group made a strategic move to acquire SpinMedia’s iconic music brands, including Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum. This acquisition has since established the world’s largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share, reaching nearly 45 million unique visitors and one in every three U.S. millennials. Let’s dive into the details of this influential acquisition and the impact it has had on the music and entertainment industry.
The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group Acquired SpinMedia’s Iconic Music Brands, Including Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum
The Acquisition
The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group signed a definitive agreement to acquire SpinMedia’s storied music assets Spin, Vibe, and Stereogum, establishing the world’s largest music brand by digital traffic, social reach, and audience share.
“In recent years, we set out to own the topic of music online, and the acquisition of these incredible music assets helps us do just that,” said Media Group co-president John Amato.
“Bringing in these historic brands under Billboard allows passionate music audiences to enjoy rock to Black to pop in one massive portfolio,” said Media Group co-president Janice Min.
SpinMedia CEO Stephen Blackwell was named Chief Strategy Officer of the newly acquired and will oversee revenue, digital growth, and product, reporting to Amato.
The Impact
The deal expanded The Hollywood Reporter-Billboard Media Group’s online audience to 45 million readers a month, strengthening its reach among social-media savvy millennials who value listening to music digitally and live experiences in equal measure.
The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard both launched aggressive moves into video earlier this year, with the brands currently delivering over 100 million video views monthly. The Media Group has also partnered with Facebook to create custom content for the recently launched Facebook Live.
In all, the acquisition boosted the Media Group’s revenues to more than $100 million a year, two-thirds of which will come from digital and video.
SPIN magazine became fully digital in late 2012 BuzzMedia acquired the 27-year-old publication and rebranded it as SpinMedia. It bought the hip-hop and R&-on-bet” target=”_blank”>” target=”_blank”>;B magazine VIBE and its digital properties the following year, growing its footprint in music and entertainment.
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