Conde Nast buys Pitchfork Media

One of the world’s most powerful media companies is buying one of music’s feistiest criticism and video websites.

Conde Nast, the parent company of Vogue and the New Yorker, announced Tuesday that it has purchased Pitchfork Media, according to the New York Times. The terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

The venerable Conde Nast has been trying to improve both its Web presence and its standing among millennial readers. As sites like Vice and Vox have attracted huge investments, Pitchfork looked to be a natural candidate for a similar infusion.

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Ryan Schrieber founded Pitchfork in 1995 as an independent music review site. The site quickly became one of the most influential voices in music criticism, known for its often scaborous reviews (and sometimes florid praise) of indie rock and other more experimental genres.

As it grew, the site began to reflect more contemporary tastes, upping its interest in hip-hop, electronic music and a more diverse staff of contributors. It established a quarterly print magazine, and also moved beyond criticism and reviews into high-end video production and the live events business. Pitchfork produces several popular festivals in Chicago and Paris that showcase many of the acts it champions.

Schreiber told the New York Times in a statement that “Pitchfork is incredibly fortunate to have found in Conde Nast a team of people who share our commitment to editorial excellence. Their belief in what we do, combined with their additional expertise and resources, will allow us to extend our coverage of the artists and stories that shape the music landscape on every platform.”

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