[jitterbug13]

All I got to say is THANK GOD!!!! They've been going downhill for the last year or so, especially when they had Mary looking like an alien on the cover.

Today (7/5), it was officially announced that 'Vibe' magazine is making a major change.

The 12-year old urban culture mag was acquired by the Wicks Group of Companies, a private-equity firm. Eric Gertler and Ari Horowitz, who recently oversaw BlackBook Media, will oversee the property as CEO and president, respectively. The executives are principals of Keith Glen Media Corp.

Kenard Gibbs, who has been the Quincy Jones-founded magazine's president since 2000, announced that he would leave during a morning meeting. Len Burnett, who helped launch the magazine with Keith Clinkscales, will stay in place as group publisher, while Danyel Smith, who served as 'Vibe's' editrix from 1997-1999, before joining Time, Inc, has replaced editor-in-chief Mimi Valdes effective immediately.

Smith, who is married to 'XXL' magazine editor Elliot Wilson, penned the novels 'More Like Wrestling' and 'Bliss' and has also written for 'InStyle,' 'Entertainment Weekly,' 'Rolling Stone,' 'Billboard' and 'Essence.' The Bay Area native most recently hosted 'The Conversation: A New Talk Show with Different Voices' a radio talk show on New York City's public radio station WNYC.

"I have always been a strong supporter and believer in the VIBE brand, and I am thrilled to rejoin as editor-in-chief," Smith said in a statement. "I look forward to strengthening our editorial traditions and our overall music, fashion, culture and style coverage on behalf of 'Vibe' readers."