Jann Wenner's Misunderstanding of Black Music's Depth

Jann Wenner, cofounder of Rolling Stone, faced backlash after admitting in an interview that he excluded pioneering Black artists and female artists from his collection of interviews with musical legends because they were not part of his "zeitgeist" or "articulate enough on an intellectual level." Wenner's comments highlight the entrenched privilege and biases in the music industry and media gatekeeping. His remarks led to his removal from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation board and distancing from Rolling Stone. The incident underscores the need for an overhaul of systems that perpetuate exclusion and the importance of digital platforms in providing opportunities for underrepresented artists.