How a British music magazine became the definitive voice for classic rock fans
In short: Launched in 1993 to capture the baby boomer generation's obsession with classic rock, Mojo evolved from a niche monthly into a cultural arbiter. By blending deep-dive journalism with eclectic lists and special editions, it shaped how we categorize the most influential music of the twentieth century and beyond.
Mojo was established in the United Kingdom on 15 October 1993, following the success of the magazine Q. Its publishers, Emap, sought a title that would cater to the burgeoning interest in classic rock, specifically targeting readers aged 30 to 45-plus. The inaugural issue set the tone for its aesthetic by featuring Bob Dylan and John Lennon on the cover. Over the decades, the magazine has maintained a reputation for in-depth coverage of both popular and cult acts, influencing subsequent publications like Blender and Uncut.
While the magazine is synonymous with classic rock staples like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it has consistently championed newer and left-field artists. It was the first mainstream UK magazine to focus on the White Stripes and has featured modern cover stars such as Lana Del Rey. The magazine is also well known for its recurring 'Top 100' lists, which cover everything from protest songs to the most miserable tracks ever recorded. In 2007, it famously compiled 'The Top 100 Records That Changed the World,' a project involving an eclectic panel of superstars including Björk and Tom Waits.
The publication has also expanded into book publishing and radio. Its special editions, such as the series on the Beatles published between 2002 and 2003, were later collected into the 2004 book The Beatles: Ten Years That Shook The World. Despite its editorial success, the magazine faced significant internal friction in 2010 when its parent company, Bauer, attempted to impose new contracts that stripped contributors of copyright and offloaded legal liability onto them. This led to a protest by two hundred photographers and writers. Today, under editor John Mulvey, the magazine continues to serve as a bridge between the legends of the past and the emerging sounds of the present.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Mojo (magazine)
- Also: Wikidata — Mojo (magazine) · CC0
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