Wenner Media history

Wenner scored a major coup in October 1968 when he published photos of Beatle Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono in the nude (taken from the cover of their controversial Two Virgins record album), and sold out several printings of the issue.

In early 1969, with additional funding from rocker Mick Jagger, the company began to publish British Rolling Stone, but sales did not meet expectations and it was soon folded.

In 1970, at the same time that the company was moving to new offices, still another new magazine, Earth Times, was started.

1971: Straight Arrow Books division is formed to publish Lennon Remembers.

Thompson's unconventional coverage of the 1972 McGovern presidential campaign was a media sensation and resulted in increased sales for each issue it was featured in.

In 1974 Rolling Stone opened a Washington Bureau, for the purpose of increasing the magazine's political content, but the operation soon proved too expensive and was shut down.

Since the company's move to New York City in 1977, Rolling Stone has become more glossy, more celebrity-driven, and more profitable, and has successfully focused its energies on wooing younger generations of readers.

Rolling Stone Press was formed in 1978, as a new book publishing arm that superseded the dormant Straight Arrow Books.

In 1979 Jann Wenner was hired by French publisher David Filipacchi to edit the floundering Look magazine.

1985: Company purchases 25 percent of US magazine; Rolling Stone-inspired film Perfect is released.

In 1986 Straight Arrow started Marketing Through Music, a newsletter which was intended to help advertisers get their messages to music fans by such means as the sponsorship of concert tours.

1989: Remaining 75 percent of US is acquired.

1991: Men's Journal is founded.

The year 1994 saw US reportedly nearing its first money-making year ever, while Rolling Stone circulation hit 1.2 million.

In the summer of 1995 Wenner announced that Rolling Stone would be expanding its coverage of new artists.

1996: Rolling Stone launches web site.

1998: Alliance with JAMTV to add features to web site is announced.

In 2001, Jann Wenner sold a 50 percent stake in Us Weekly to the Walt Disney Company for $40 million, then borrowed $300 million five years later to buy back the stake.