Make that two. SpinMedia (formerly known as Buzz Media) has now bought two iconic music publications and quickly folded their print editions. The company announced today that it had purchased Vibe, and as part of the deal, the magazine would cease to exist. Vibe will continue as an all digital publication. Late last year, SpinMedia did the same thing with Spin.

SpinMedia’s official statement implied that this is what Vibe readers want. They’re accessing the magazine online and through their phones, the company said. And maybe that’s true. But still, it’s always sad when a magazine disappears because “the intent is to continue to deliver a high quality digital product” and “there are no plans for print.”

As with any print publication folding, there will surely be plenty of layoffs. And speaking of unfortunate news, 2013 is Vibe’s 20th anniversary.

The print version of Spin is done. We knew it was coming as soon as Buzzmedia bought it, but it still sucks to get the official word. The September/October issue will now forever be known as the title’s last issue ever.

Here is the statement from Spin:

Following the September/October issue, SPIN has halted publication of our print edition to invest more deeply in our digital properties, including SPIN.com, SPIN Play for iPad, and SPIN mobile. SPIN has been a pioneer in music journalism since 1985 and we hope you’ll continue to enjoy our leading editorial, photographic, and multi-media content online. Special arrangements have been made with alternative publishers to fulfill your SPIN print subscription for the remaining term: you will automatically receive your new magazine in the mail, with the option to ask for a full refund. We appreciate your patience during the transition of your subscription.

Those “special arrangements?” Sending Spin subscribers issues of Car and Driver instead. Ugh. What a shitty way for such an iconic magazine to go out.

Welcome back to FishbowlNY’s weekly Cover Battle. Today we have Spin versus ESPN The Magazine. Spin has rapper Azealia Banks yelling at us to buy her EP and to stop dressing her up like a drunk mermaid for magazine photo shoots. Understandable.

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The changes we anticipated coming to Spin have come big and fast, as new owner Buzzmedia cut 11 staffers and said it was dropping the November/December issue. The New York Times reports that Steve Kandell, Spin’s editor-in-chief and Catherine Davis, its managing editor, were among those let go.

The next issue of Spin will be its September/October issue; it will be available in late August.

According to a statement from Buzzmedia, it remains “committed to moving forward with print,” but this can hardly be seen as anything other than a move toward dropping the magazine altogether.

The rumors that surfaced in early June that Buzzmedia was trying to buy Spin turned out to be true. The New York Times reports that Buzzmedia has purchased the iconic music magazine, with plans to expand the digital side.

Tyler Goldman, Buzzmedia’s CEO, told the Times, “People are using multiple platforms to consume more content and context from the brands they believe in, and we see the ability for Spin to bring more storytelling to digital platforms.”

There was little mentioned about the print version of Spin, although Goldman did say it was “important.” Let’s just hope he deems it important enough to keep around.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ad Age is reporting that “talks are swirling” regarding BuzzMedia, an entertainment website publisher based in Los Angeles, purchasing Spin. According to Ad Age, the merger could help both brands:

BuzzMedia has been increasing its focus on music lately, hiring its first general manager of music in January and buying the electronic music site XLR8R in May. Spin, meanwhile, has been trying to pivot from a primarily print operation to a more digitally focused brand.

Of course the discussion — if it’s even happening — could dissolve and nothing could change. But if it does, you can now brag to all your friends that you heard about it way before they did. Just don’t be surprised if they stop asking you to happy hour shortly after that.

Spin is taking album reviews to a new place in 2012. The magazine has launched the Twitter account @SpinReviews, and it will be posting album reviews in 140 characters or less throughout the year. The albums — everything from hip-hop to country — will be reviewed by editors and freelancers, and the account is spearheaded by Christopher Weingarten, Senior Editor at Spin. Weingarten certainly has the chops to pull this off: He’s the man behind the @1000TimesYes handle, which offered reviews of 1,000 albums in 2009.

Weingarten hopes that the Twitter experiment will break through the online clutter. ”As music criticism gradually evolves into a ‘downloader’s handbook,’ Spin would love to be there to help you decide which records are worth breaking the law to hear… and which are worth the price of owning a vinyl or CD keepsake,” writes Weingarten. “Think of this as a passionate cheat sheet, a jumping-off point to explore your own opinion and fandom.”

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Maybe you’ve never heard of Yuck, the Dum Dum Girls or Kurt Vile. It’s okay. We haven’t either. But the editors at Spin have, and those are just a few of the artists that made its Top 40 Albums of 2011 list, so they must be worth knowing. The bands also happen to have their songs featured on Spin’s iPad app, which is available for free, from now until January 5.

The best part about this offer is that once you download the app, the playlist that Spin curated from the Top 40 Albums list is yours to keep forever. That means you can stream this playlist during your New Year’s Eve party and act annoyed with your friends when they don’t know — but love — the songs that you’re blaring.

There’s also 35 videos available with the app, but remember to act unimpressed with them if you play any of them for your guests. The secret to being a Knowledgable Music Person is to be tired of everything, all the time.

Here’s a look at what FishbowlNY stories made the most buzz this week.

1. Occupy Wall Street Protestors are Not Geraldo or Fox News Fans, October 10
2. The Atlantic‘s November Cover is a Rarity, October 12
3. Longtime WCBS-FM Midday Jock, ‘Consummate Pro’ Bill Brown Dies at 69, October 12
4. Spin Adds to Team, October 11
5. Meredith Acquires Every Day with Rachael Ray, October 12
6. ‘New York Not Gone Forever’ as Former WPIX Talent Lolita Lopez Starts as KNBC Reporter, October 10 
7. The New York Times’ Editors Don’t Care About Salad Dressing, October 11
8. Meteorologist Craig Allen Increases Workload at WPIX, October 11
9. Taking Taxi to the Top at WEMP, October 10

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