If Vox Media Sells Its Brands To James Murdoch, Are Digital Media Companies Done?

BusinessMediaIf Vox Media Sells Its Brands To James Murdoch, Are Digital Media Companies Done?ByFrank Racioppi,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Frank Racioppi is the owner of Ear Worthy, focusing on podcasts.Follow AuthorMay 11, 2026, 03:34pm EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.nVoxThe average consumer probably knows Vox Media from several of its properties – New York Magazine, SB Nation, and its most well-known podcasts, such as Pivot, Today Explained, Where Should We Begin with Esther Perel, and The Vergecast.Vox Media podcasts are primarily known for high-quality explanatory journalism, authoritative voices, and deep-dive storytelling across politics, technology, and culture. They excel at taking complex topics and making them accessible, aiming to provide context and clarity rather than just breaking news.In the last decade, Vox Media has assembled a candy factory of digital media brands. Group Nine Media (Dec 2021/Feb 2022): Acquired in a major merger that brought brands like Thrillist, The Dodo, NowThis, and Popsugar into the company. New York Media (Sept 2019): Merged to add New York Magazine and its verticals (The Cut, Vulture, Grub Street, The Strategist, Intelligencer). [Epic Magazine (Apr 2019): Acquired to bolster Vox Media Studios. [Recode (2015): Purchased to merge with Vox's technology site, The Verge.Yet, according to a recent article in AdWeek, “the house of brands, which was assembled through a series of acquisitions since its founding in 2011, now appears poised to disassemble in a similarly incremental fashion.”Are Digital Media Companies viable?Digital Media companies have struggled to survive in an era of, ironically, digital media. For example, according to CrunchBase, Vice Media, once valued at $5.7 billion, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023. Several other prominent digital media and tech-focused co...