Blab Music
BrooklynVegan to Shut Down After Mass Layoffs at Parent Company Veeps
BrooklynVegan, the New York‑based online music magazine that has chronicled indie, punk, hardcore, metal and alternative scenes since 2004, announced it will cease operations following a wave of layoffs at its parent company, Veeps. The decision came after Veeps informed the remaining staff that the publication would close.
The layoffs, which affected nearly all editorial employees at BrooklynVegan, also hit sister titles Alternative Press, Revolver and Goldmine. Veeps, now owned by Live Nation, has been trimming staff across its portfolio in a broader restructuring that began earlier this year.
Founded in 2004 by David Levine, BrooklynVegan began as a blog that mixed coverage of New York’s independent music scene with vegan food reviews. Over the next decade it evolved into one of the internet’s longest‑running music publications, offering news, reviews, interviews and extensive live coverage. In 2011 the site launched regional offshoots—BV Chicago and BV Austin—and in 2013 it acquired the German‑American metal webzine Invisible Oranges.
In 2015 the company became an affiliate of Townsquare Media, a radio and digital media conglomerate. Four years later, in 2021, Project M Group bought BrooklynVegan and its subsidiaries. Project M sold the publication, along with several other music titles, to Veeps in 2025.
According to Pitchfork, the layoffs at Veeps were “massive” and left BrooklynVegan’s editorial team effectively gutted. The outlet’s staff were told that the publication would shut down after the cuts. The announcement was made public on August 5, 2026, the same day Pitchfork reported the story.
The closure marks the end of a publication that has been cited for its in‑depth coverage of underground scenes and its role in breaking emerging artists. BrooklynVegan’s reporting has included album premieres, tour announcements and live reviews that have reached a global audience through its website and social media channels.
Industry observers note that the shutdown reflects a broader trend of consolidation and cost‑cutting in digital music journalism. Veeps’ decision to lay off staff across multiple titles suggests a shift toward a leaner business model, possibly driven by declining advertising revenue and competition from larger streaming‑centric platforms.
The impact on the music community is significant. BrooklynVegan’s closure means the loss of a dedicated platform for niche genres and independent artists. The site’s regional offshoots, BV Chicago and BV Austin, have also been affected, though it is unclear whether they will continue under new management.
Alternative Press, Revolver and Goldmine—also owned by Veeps—have faced similar staff reductions. Alternative Press, a long‑running publication focused on alternative and punk music, has announced a reduction in its editorial staff. Revolver, which covers heavy metal and hard rock, and Goldmine, a magazine dedicated to vinyl and record collectors, are also experiencing cutbacks.
The layoffs and closures come at a time when the music industry is grappling with changing revenue streams. Streaming services dominate, and many independent publications struggle to maintain profitability. Veeps’ restructuring may signal a shift toward more centralized content production or a pivot to other revenue models.
For the artists and fans who relied on BrooklynVegan for timely news and in‑depth coverage, the shutdown leaves a void. The publication’s archives, however, remain accessible online and may continue to serve as a resource for music historians and enthusiasts.
As of now, no replacement platform has been announced, and it is unclear whether Veeps plans to revive the brand under a different format. The music community will be watching closely to see how the consolidation of digital media affects coverage of emerging and underground music scenes.
The closure of BrooklynVegan underscores the challenges facing niche music journalism in an era of digital consolidation and highlights the need for sustainable business models that can support independent reporting.
The layoffs, which affected nearly all editorial employees at BrooklynVegan, also hit sister titles Alternative Press, Revolver and Goldmine. Veeps, now owned by Live Nation, has been trimming staff across its portfolio in a broader restructuring that began earlier this year.
Founded in 2004 by David Levine, BrooklynVegan began as a blog that mixed coverage of New York’s independent music scene with vegan food reviews. Over the next decade it evolved into one of the internet’s longest‑running music publications, offering news, reviews, interviews and extensive live coverage. In 2011 the site launched regional offshoots—BV Chicago and BV Austin—and in 2013 it acquired the German‑American metal webzine Invisible Oranges.
In 2015 the company became an affiliate of Townsquare Media, a radio and digital media conglomerate. Four years later, in 2021, Project M Group bought BrooklynVegan and its subsidiaries. Project M sold the publication, along with several other music titles, to Veeps in 2025.
According to Pitchfork, the layoffs at Veeps were “massive” and left BrooklynVegan’s editorial team effectively gutted. The outlet’s staff were told that the publication would shut down after the cuts. The announcement was made public on August 5, 2026, the same day Pitchfork reported the story.
The closure marks the end of a publication that has been cited for its in‑depth coverage of underground scenes and its role in breaking emerging artists. BrooklynVegan’s reporting has included album premieres, tour announcements and live reviews that have reached a global audience through its website and social media channels.
Industry observers note that the shutdown reflects a broader trend of consolidation and cost‑cutting in digital music journalism. Veeps’ decision to lay off staff across multiple titles suggests a shift toward a leaner business model, possibly driven by declining advertising revenue and competition from larger streaming‑centric platforms.
The impact on the music community is significant. BrooklynVegan’s closure means the loss of a dedicated platform for niche genres and independent artists. The site’s regional offshoots, BV Chicago and BV Austin, have also been affected, though it is unclear whether they will continue under new management.
Alternative Press, Revolver and Goldmine—also owned by Veeps—have faced similar staff reductions. Alternative Press, a long‑running publication focused on alternative and punk music, has announced a reduction in its editorial staff. Revolver, which covers heavy metal and hard rock, and Goldmine, a magazine dedicated to vinyl and record collectors, are also experiencing cutbacks.
The layoffs and closures come at a time when the music industry is grappling with changing revenue streams. Streaming services dominate, and many independent publications struggle to maintain profitability. Veeps’ restructuring may signal a shift toward more centralized content production or a pivot to other revenue models.
For the artists and fans who relied on BrooklynVegan for timely news and in‑depth coverage, the shutdown leaves a void. The publication’s archives, however, remain accessible online and may continue to serve as a resource for music historians and enthusiasts.
As of now, no replacement platform has been announced, and it is unclear whether Veeps plans to revive the brand under a different format. The music community will be watching closely to see how the consolidation of digital media affects coverage of emerging and underground music scenes.
The closure of BrooklynVegan underscores the challenges facing niche music journalism in an era of digital consolidation and highlights the need for sustainable business models that can support independent reporting.
