Jann 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. 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 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. 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. In 2023 he was removed from the Board of Directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation in response to comments in a New York Times interview in which he diminished the contributions, genius and impact of Black and women artists. Wenner is the father of six children. He resides in New York City.