Jann Wenner’s ‘The Masters’ debuted at 7,639th on Amazon Books following his disastrous interview in the New York Times. Wenner, one of the co-founders of the iconic Rolling Stone magazine, has recently released a book titled “The Masters.” It features artists like Bono, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. But what stands out isn’t just who’s in the book—it’s who isn’t.

A Glaring Omission

As many have noted, the book fails to include any women or people of color. Given Wenner’s choice of artists, it’s hard to ignore the absence of groundbreaking musicians like Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Curtis Mayfield. These artists have made significant contributions to the music industry and culture at large. Yet they are glaringly missing from Wenner’s selection.

Now, we have no problem with people having their preferences. However, this is a powerful issue that has had considerable influence on the media and music landscape for decades. So, why did the list only include white male artists?

Wenner’s Disastrous Response

Jann Wenner apologized for making comments that people perceived as diminishing the contributions of Black and female musicians. In an interview with The New York Times, Wenner said he selected the interviews featured in his book based on his own personal interests and stated that they “just fell together that way.” He added that none of the women or Black artists he considered were “articulate at that level.” Essentially still, he’s implying that women and people of color, are not smart enough to be in his book.

What About the Contributions of Women and People of Colour?

Wenner’s comments are not just offensive; they’re also wildly incorrect. Are we to believe that the contributions of women and black artists to music are negligible? How can anyone overlook the powerful voice and contributions of artists like Stevie Nicks or the genius of Stevie Wonder?

The iconic Black rockers Living Colour also had something to about this controversy:

“Jann Wenner’s recent statements indicate a persistent bias within the music industry that we at BMAC are working to combat. He’s shown what many industry leaders still think about Black and female musicians, and his choice of words are an affront to the creativity and genius exhibited by so many artists. The TRUE masters are the Black creators of the rock and roll genre; those by which each interviewee in the book has been touched and influenced.”

Many white musicians like Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, and Bill Haley, were heavily influenced by Black musicians. Elvis, in particular, was often accused of appropriating Black music, as blues and gospel heavily influenced his style. His first hit, “That’s All Right,” was a cover of Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup’s blues song.

The Rolling Stones took their name from a Muddy Waters song, “Rollin’ Stone,” and were heavily influenced by the blues. Led Zeppelin’s early material included several blues covers, and they’ve been accused of not properly crediting some of the original Black artists.

While white artists often gained more fame and money, their Black and female counterparts were less recognized. Wenner failed to acknowledge Black musicians’ key role in shaping rock and roll. This oversight is disappointing. It also highlights the issue of racial gatekeeping and white male privilege.

Rolling Consequences

The controversial remarks led to Wenner’s removal from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation board. Although Wenner had stepped away from the day-to-day operations at Rolling Stone in 2017, his influence is undeniable. His comments also sparked widespread criticism. In a later statement, Wenner apologized.

‘I apologize wholeheartedly for remarks that belittled the genius and influence of Black and women artists.’

Jann Wenner

He added that his book was meant to showcase key interviews from his career. It was not intended to cover the full range of music’s diverse and impactful artists. He acknowledged the poor choice of words and accepted the ensuing repercussions.

The Root of the Issue

Wenner’s words reflect a broader, systemic issue in the industry. This isn’t just about one man’s opinion; it’s a mirror reflecting how ingrained racism and sexism are within the music and publishing worlds. To say that no woman or person of color could meet his “criteria of intelligence” is to belittle the achievements and struggles that these groups have overcome to make lasting impacts on music history. The gatekeeping behavior and politics of people like Jann Wenner contribute to a status quo that systemically undermines the contributions of these artists.

It’s a problem that extends well beyond Wenner and permeates the whole institution. The public acknowledgement of his controversial views is just the tip of the iceberg; what lies beneath is a long-standing culture of exclusion and bias that has shaped perceptions of musical value and importance for decades. The fact that Wenner was only removed from the board after public outcry reveals the complacency within the institution. This speaks volumes about how these organizations operate: they will only take action when they absolutely have to, usually when the public’s gaze forces their hand. This kind of reactive behavior indicates a lack of an internal ethical compass and a reliance on public opinion to dictate what should be fundamental moral imperatives.

Concluding Thoughts

The legacy of Rolling Stone magazine has long been revered, and many still consider it an institution in music journalism. But Wenner’s recent comments and the exclusionary nature of his book put a damper on that legacy. It’s a sharp reminder that no matter how far we think we’ve come in the fight for equality, we still have a long way to go.

The continued disregard for the foundational role that Black musicians and female artists have played in shaping genres like rock and roll, hip-hop, and soul is more than just an oversight—it’s an erasure. The selective memory of institutions like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame perpetuates a distorted narrative that fails to give credit where it’s due. Artists like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding, and countless others have been monumental in shaping the landscape of modern music, but their significance is often diluted or marginalized.

Discover more from Feminegra

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.