The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has taken Jann Wenner, one of the co-founders of Rolling Stone magazine, off its board of directors.
The organization confirmed that they removed Jann Wenner from the board in a statement to CNN on Sunday. This happened after The New York Times published an interview with Jann Wenner, who is 77 years old on Friday.
In the interview, he talked about his upcoming book, “The Masters”, which includes interviews he did with several musicians over the years. Notably, the musicians featured in several books are White men, including John Lennon, Mick Jagger, Bono, Pete Townsend, and Bruce Springsteen.
Jann Wenner landed in controversy over his remarks on Blacks
When asked why he did not feature interviews with women or people of color in his book, the music journalist gave a response that faced strong criticism. He said that the people he included had to meet certain criteria, but it mostly came down to his personal interest and adoration for them. Regarding women, he felt that none of them were as articulate on an intellectual level as the others.
Jann Wenner also downplayed the contributions of Black musicians, saying that when it comes to Black artists like Stevie Wonder, who is undoubtedly a genius, Wenner feels that the issue is with the broad term ‘master’ that he used. Perhaps Marvin Gaye or Curtis Mayfield could fit in, but he felt they did not express themselves at the same intellectual level.
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Wenner explained to the newspaper that he chose the interviews for the book based on his instincts, even though he was aware that some people might criticize his selections.
He mentioned in the interview that for the sake of public relations, he should have deliberately included one Black and one female artist who did not quite meet the same historical standard, just to avoid this kind of criticism.
Jann Wenner extended an apology for his remarks
In response to the increasing criticism stemming from his interview with The New York Times, Jann Wenner issued an apology on Saturday night through the book’s publisher, Little, Brown and Company.
According to CNN, in his statement, Wenner explained that “The Masters” is a compilation of interviews he conducted over time, which, in his view, captured the essence of rock ‘n’ roll’s influence on his personal world. These interviews were intended to encompass all of the music and its many diverse and significant contributors. Instead, they aimed to showcase the highlights of his career and the interviews that he believed showcased the depth and richness of that career.
The statement went on to say that these interviews do not fully represent his respect and admiration for the countless iconic artists who have had a profound impact on the world with their music and ideas. Wenner holds their work in high regard and will continue to honor and support them throughout his life. He completely grasps that his poorly chosen words would cause controversy, and he sincerely apologizes for them, acknowledging any consequences that may arise.
Jann Wenner co-established Rolling Stones in 1967 and held the position of magazine editor until 2019. He was also a co-founder of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1983.
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