- Born
- Birth nameJan Simon Wenner
- Jann Wenner is Editorial Director of Wenner Media and the founder of Rolling Stone.
From its inception in 1967, Rolling Stone became the voice of a generation, and is one of the most successful and iconic magazines in publishing history, with numerous accolades including 15 National Magazine Awards. Wenner's commitment to quality journalism has kept Rolling Stone in the forefront of the popular dialogue, both recording and shaping the zeitgeist through definitive music coverage, provocative interviews, award-winning photography and incisive investigative and political reporting.
Currently, Rolling Stone has evolved into a multi-platform content brand with unrivaled access and authority, which reaches over 60 million people per month.
Throughout his career, Wenner has demonstrated an intuitive understanding of the changing interests of his readers. In 1977, he founded Outside, America's first contemporary outdoor magazine, selling the title two years later to another publisher.
In 1985, Wenner purchased Us magazine, and repositioned the monthly publication as "Us The Entertainment Magazine," a cutting-edge source, featuring intimate celebrity interviews with award-winning journalists, and lush portfolios by esteemed photographers. In 2000, Us was relaunched as a weekly, and quickly established itself as the ultimate authority in celebrity journalism. Wenner sold the brand to another publisher in early 2017.
Wenner launched Men's Journal in 1992, targeting active men interested in sports, travel and adventure. He sold the brand to another publisher in 2017.
In April 1997, Wenner became the youngest inductee in the history of the American Society of Magazine Editors Hall of Fame. In 1994, he was named Publishing Executive of the Year by Adweek, a leading industry trade publication. In March 2004, Wenner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement. In 2010, he received The Norman Mailer Center's Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Magazine Publishing. In 2014, Wenner received the LennonOno Grant for Peace award.
In addition to his publishing work, Wenner devotes himself to numerous important causes. He is chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, Inc., a 30-year-old nonprofit organization which honors artists and music industry professionals who have made significant contributions to rock & roll.
Wenner is the father of six children. He resides in New York City.- IMDb Mini Biography By: PMC Official Site Bio
- SpouseJane E. Schindelheim(July 1, 1968 - October 12, 2011) (divorced, 3 children)
- After Jim DeRogatis published a negative review for an album by Hootie & the Blowfish, Wenner had the review pulled. Asked by the New York Observer if Wenner was a fan of Hootie & the Blowfish, Derogatis responded that he "is a fan of any band that sells eight million records." Wenner fired Derogatis the next day.
- In 1967 he and Ralph J. Gleason co-founded Rolling Stone magazine. When Gleason died in 1975, Wenner took over as publisher, a position he still holds.
- Left his wife for model-turned-fashion designer Matt Nye. Wenner and his wife were separated in 1995. After a 43-year marriage, their divorce was finalized on 12 October 2011. They had three children, Alex (adopted), Theo, and Gus Wenner (Edward Augustus).
- Has been a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation since 1983. As a member, he has endured controversy as fans and supporters of several artists have placed a large amount of blame on him for keeping them out of the Hall of Fame. They claim he has lobbied to keep them from consideration and nomination to the Hall of Fame based on personal bias and a dislike for their music. Peter Tork has stated that feels the reason that The Monkees are not in the Hall of Fame is because of Wenner. In 2023, Wenner was removed from the Hall of Fame Board of Directors following disparaging comments he made about female and black musicians.
- Had a falling out with Hunter S. Thompson after he cancelled an report what appeared to be the closing of the Vietnam War, which left Thompson in Vietnam without health insurance or additional financial support. Thompson's story about the fall of Saigon would not be published until ten years later.
- [on female musicians] Insofar as the women, just none of them were as articulate enough on this intellectual level. It's not that they're not creative geniuses
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