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children of
magazines
Jann Wenner's Missing Accent
An associate of Jann Wenner says the Us Weekly owner—rumored to be ready to sell the title to a magazine group such as Condé Nast—isn't so attached to the celebrity weekly. It's vastly profitable but doesn't really understand the modern pop culture from which Us Weekly plucks its stars. The source tells today's WWD: "It's not really his world, not like Rolling Stone, a world he instinctually understands." But just how clueless is the 62-year-old former hippie, who founded Rolling Stone at the age of 21 after dropping out of Berkeley? His minions joke that Wenner's musical evolution ground to a halt some two decades ago. He's never quite figured out that Us Weekly staple Beyoncé has one of those accents at the end of her name. Wenner refers to her as be-yons, much to colleagues' amusement. One hopes he doesn't refer to his hoped-for buyer as "cond-nast".
magazines
Will Wenner Sell Us Weekly?
Last week Charlie Rose wondered if Conde Nast was trying to buy Rolling Stone. Now Keith Kelly reports that they're actually trying to buy Us Weekly, Jann Wenner's other, more valuable but less cherished property. The "price tag could hit $750 million," according to the Post. Which would give Wenner enough cash to continue running Rolling Stone into the ground for decades to come. Us does seem like a more likely target for Conde Nast, but the high price and the overall print market these days are cause for skepticism. And though Charlie Rose may have gotten it wrong on that particular issue, that interview's main benefit stands: it is still accurate to call Graydon Carter a "self-described pussy." [NYP, Previously]
rumormonger
Is Conde Nast Trying To Buy Rolling Stone?
FOLIO magazine spotted a juicy bit at the very end of a Charlie Rose interview earlier this week with Vanity Fair chief Graydon Carter and Rolling Stone editor Jann Wenner. Rose casually asks, "What's this story that Conde Nast wants to buy Rolling Stone?" That triggers a look of sheer terror on Graydon Carter's face, and a great deal of forced laughter and jabbering between the guests. We think we can hear Graydon saying, "We'll see." What it does not trigger is a denial. RS would certainly be a decent pickup for Conde Nast, but what the hell would Jann Wenner do with himself if he sold out? (Then again, Jeff Bercovici thinks Wenner's company is in a permanent decline, and he should cash out). Click to watch the clip, and parse the reactions carefully. [If you have any further info, email us.]
creative underclass
Rolling Stone Copying Perez Hilton?
We're hearing something fairly horrifying — that Rolling Stone senior editor Austin Scaggs is starting a "Perez Hilton-esque" music blog for the magazine next month. It's not clear how, exactly, this new creation would ape Hilton's crude celebrity gossip site, but the initiative is said to be an outgrowth of Scaggs' own infrequent Smoking Section music news blog. Jann Wenner has approved the project, but the magazine mogul hasn't provided any budget, so "Scaggs is hiring six unpaid interns to staff the whole thing—and they have to work 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday" said our tipster. NB to desperate young intern candidates: Just launch your own music news site. You won't get to say you write for Rolling Stone, but you'll have no trouble reaching Perez Hilton quality levels, and at least you'll retain ownership in exchange for all your free labor.
marketing
Buy A Rolling Stone T-Shirt. It's Iconic Or Something
Rolling Stone, America's most frustrating magazine (yay, Matt Taibbi; boo, excruciating music coverage) has been having some trouble selling ads lately. So to help revitalize its "iconic and revolutionary brand," the magazine has slapped some of its classic covers on t-shirts. They're for sale at Macy's for $36 each. Eh, not really worth it. Oh, wait: each shirt comes with a free subscription to Rolling Stone. Eh, still. Better idea: make the magazine better so it sells. "The new collection of Rolling Stone tees appeals to today's cross-channel lifestyle, bringing together the influences of fashion, music, celebrity and entertainment," says a Macy's exec. "Macy's is honored to be exclusively bringing back these covers in a new, wearable way." OH NOW I GET IT. [via Ad Age]
the hills
Heidi, Lauren, and Co. Gather No Moss
Hey, look. The girls from The Hills (tears are streaming down my face right now) are on the cover of this month's Rolling Stone rock and roll, modern times, Peter Travers poop fest magazine. It's the first time that Lauren and Heidi (who hate each other so goddamn much they think about it sometimes when they are driving and want to run over a pigeon or forget it all and move to Rhode Island and teach the third grade and eat fried clams sometimes in the summer and maybe fumble towards Happy) have been at the same photo shoot in like fucking forever. Apparently it was cold, but civil and everyone got through it OK. More »
memo to rolling stone
Hunter S. Thompson Is Dead, You're No Longer Edgy
After teabagging Barack Obama for the past nine months, Rolling Stone political writer Matt Taibbi still considers the magazine's political coverage Gonzo-esque: "We have the license to talk about things that other people won't because we're a music magazine and we don't have to worry about access for anything." While it is true that Rolling Stone's access is shit, Obama's only fear in talking to them would be not getting a halo drawn over his head. Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail was about the 1972 election. But maybe Rolling Stone has license to talk about things that they think other people won't because it's irrelevant. [MediaBistro]
media
Internet To Save/Destroy Traditional Media; Britney Spears, You To Help
Magazines are dying and the web is surging, but maybe there is a web ad bust on the way, and also maybe the web is what is killing magazines, or maybe no one reads anymore, and (former Gawker managing editor) Choire Sicha is trying to figure it all out in today's Observer. He's also trying to figure out Rolling Stone's Britney Spears cover and New York's Lindsay Lohan cover, the two most important magazine covers of this century. But, about that Rolling Stone piece—we all saw the good bits, because they were leaked, by RS, to Perez, but maybe we mostly missed the more "important" thinky bits of Vanessa Grigoriadis' story, because RS only put the first 606 words on their website? Regardless, Rolling Stone had their "best week ever in the history of the Web site," even without the story. So maybe all they needed were the photo galleries? "Until the people on the business side are sure they're going to replace that revenue, that's how it's going to be," says an editor. Maybe we don't actually need content anymore, just the idea of content? That will save everyone a bit of time and money! More »
celebrity-industrial complex
Britney Spears' Goons Wanted $2 Million From Poor, Innocent Rolling Stone
The writer who profiled Britney Spears for last week's Rolling Stone just cannot believe the audacity of Spears' handlers. One handler tried to sell her Spears access for $2 million, editorial control over her article and the right to name the cover photographer, the writer said on CNN today. This handler is called Klaus, and the Rolling Stone writer, Vanessa Grigoriadis, thinks he is "just really naive" and doesn't "understand the way that United States media works at this point." After the jump, Grigoriadis' full description of the cash demand and why she is, of course, dead wrong about the American media. More »
news you can use
Is Karen Danziger The Best Media Headhunter?
Today Kent Brownridge, Jann Wenner's former right-hand man and the honcho of new Alpha Media, the former Dennis Publishing, shouts the praises of media headhunter Karen Danziger. She's the exec vice president of Howard-Sloan-Koller Group, and she was the one who suggested somewhat frightening former Rolling Stone guy Jim Kaminsky as the new editor of Maxim. Brownridge tells Portfolio: "Karen Danziger, the only headhunter in the editorial world that I think is worth anything, and she's worth a lot — I love her; she's my sister, shrink, priest, whatever — she gives me a list of people that I should go see, and on it is Jim, and I think, oh, well, Jim." Heh. That's how we felt about Jim too—but then Kent got all frothy on him, and hired him. We've met Karen—she's fun, mouthy, doesn't like idiots, and she dresses like the high-end version of a sharp Long Island lady. But is she all that? Your experiences sought, anonymity guaranteed.
children of
Gus Wenner. (Following in some footsteps.)
Evan Springsteen.
Max Spielberg.
Either Cydney, Caley, or Emily (daughter-of-Chevy) Chase.
Bernie Taupin's step-daughter. Thank God they didn't get their claws on that nice Elizabeth Hanks.
An Incomplete List Of This Year's Crop Of 'Rolling Stone' Interns
Can you help us finalize this very imperfect list?
The revolving door at Wenner Media spins again, as Rolling Stone publisher Tim Castelli moves to Google. Associate publisher Ray Chelstowski is expected to be promoted today. [NYP]
gawker book club
'But Enough About Me,' Let's Talk About Stevie Nicks
Jancee Dunn's memoir But Enough About Me is new in paperback, and we highly suggest you grab a couple if you're remotely interested in how your celeb-profile sausage gets made. Jancee worked at Rolling Stone for years and interviewed every single person you've ever wished to meet. (Or wished not to!) In our favorite part of the book, she sits down with everyone's favorite Nightbird, Stevie Nicks, to look through her "velvet-covered, poetry-filled diaries from 1979's Tusk tour." If that last sentence didn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, well... you're probably heterosexual. Now you know! More »
mysteries
Did Jann Wenner Make Sure His Son's Wedding Announcement Didn't Go Online?
As I perused the New York Times Weddings section on Sunday under the watchful eye of my mother ("Do you know that girl? I thought you might know her. Didn't you go to college with that guy? He's young! I didn't know he was a lawyer!" OMG, shut up, Mom! I'm never coming home again!), I noticed one Alexander Wenner's wedding announcement. He got married in the Hamptons! He's 22! He was an intern at Electronic Arts, the video-game designer! But then when we went to post about it yesterday, it was, mysteriously, not online! Was Jann worried that the internets would post about his son? Hmm! Anyway, we've reproduced the announcement, so you wouldn't miss it. Also, his son really looks like a video game designer, but my mom and dad don't have a scanner (Google Image Search was no help), so you'll just have to trust us on this one. (He doesn't really look like Jann, though. So no help!) More »
chuck klosterman has a ladyfriend
'New York' Culture Blogger Flees To 'Rolling Stone'
We're hearing that music writer and editor Melissa Maerz—most recently co-editor of New York's brand-new "Vulture" blog, former Spin editor, and current girlfriend of Chuck Klosterman—is leaving Adam Moss's tender embrace for that of Jann Wenner. Hopefully Chuck's taught her how to keep her cubicle clean. More »
rolling stone
Hey Dad, Your 'Rolling Stone' Came!
We know that expecting relevance or currency from Rolling Stone is a lot like writing Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" in the snow with your piss—either way, your unit is going to fall off before it happens. Even so, Pink Floyd? On the cover? In 2007? Did that Bill Haley & The Comets story not make the cut? More »
joel madden
