Jann Wenner, one of the co-founders of Rolling Stone magazine and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has been removed from the hall’s board of directors following his derogatory remarks about Black and female musicians. Wenner issued an apology shortly after his comments were published.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced on Saturday that Wenner had been removed from the board of directors in response to his remarks. This came a day after his comments were featured in an interview with The New York Times.
Wenner faced backlash while publicizing his new book, “The Masters,” which includes interviews with musicians such as Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Townshend, and U2’s Bono – all of whom are white and male.
When questioned about the absence of women and Black musicians in his book, Wenner responded by saying, “It’s not that they’re inarticulate, although, go have a deep conversation with Grace Slick or Janis Joplin. Please, be my guest. You know, Joni Mitchell was not a philosopher of rock ‘n’ roll. She didn’t, in my mind, meet that test,” as reported by The New York Times.
Furthermore, Wenner stated, “Of Black artists – you know, Stevie Wonder, genius, right? I suppose when you use a word as broad as ‘masters,’ the fault is using that word. Maybe Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield? I mean, they just didn’t articulate at that level.”
On Saturday, Wenner issued an apology through his publisher, Little, Brown and Company. He stated, “In my interview with The New York Times, I made comments that diminished the contributions, genius, and impact of Black and women artists, and I apologize wholeheartedly for those remarks.” He also acknowledged the inflammatory nature of his words and accepted the consequences.
While Wenner co-founded Rolling Stone in 1967 and served as its editor or editorial director until 2019, he also played a significant role in the establishment of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which was launched in 1987.
In the interview, Wenner seemingly admitted that he expected to face criticism. He stated, “Just for public relations sake, maybe I should have gone and found one Black and one woman artist to include here that didn’t measure up to that same historical standard, just to avert this kind of criticism.”
Last year, Rolling Stone magazine published its list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, with Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” ranking at No. 1, Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” at No. 3, Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life” at No. 4, Prince and the Revolution’s “Purple Rain” at No. 8, and Lauryn Hill’s “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” at No. 10.
Rolling Stone carved its niche in the world of magazines with a combination of authoritative music and cultural coverage along with hard-hitting investigative reporting.
Unique Perspective:
Jann Wenner’s controversial remarks about Black and female musicians have rightly sparked backlash and have resulted in his removal from the board of directors of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The music industry, like any other, should celebrate and recognize the contributions of artists from diverse backgrounds. It is disappointing to see such dismissive and disrespectful comments made by a figure of influence in the industry. However, it is heartening that there has been swift condemnation and accountability for Wenner’s remarks. This serves as a reminder that we must continue to push for inclusivity and equality in all aspects of society.
