Wenner Books Announces Venture with Hyperion

Posted on May 14, 2004

Wenner Media, publisher of Rolling Stone, Us and Men's Journal magazines, announced that their newly formed book imprint, Wenner Books, has entered into a partnership with Hyperion Books in which Hyperion will print, sell and distribute all Wenner titles. The announcement was made jointly by Jann S. Wenner, Chairman and CEO of Wenner Media, and Robert Miller, President of Hyperion Books.

Wenner Books is headed by Robert Wallace, who was named Editor-in-Chief and a Vice President of Wenner Media last fall. Previously, Wallace served as Editor of Men's Journal. Before that, he spent 15 years at Rolling Stone where he was Vice President and Executive Editor. Wallace was also Editor-in-Chief of St. Martin's Press and an Emmy-winning producer at ABC News.

"For us, this partnership represents a return to our roots," said Jann Wenner. "With our original book imprint, Straight Arrow, we published books by marquee authors such as Hunter S. Thompson, Joe Eszterhas, and Jon Landau. It's good to be back in the book business. Because of our ability to promote our list, a number of publishers had courted us, but we found Hyperion to be the best fit. Robert Miller has done an outstanding job of leading his company; we wanted to be part of the growth and dynamism he brings to the table."

Wenner Books will have books available in the spring of next year. Wenner said they plan to start with ten books for next year and grow the list from there. The list will be focused primarily on nonfiction, specifically contemporary music, politics, culture and style, adventure and biography. The book division has already signed up nonfiction works by Rolling Stone writer Evan Wright, represented by ICM; Men's Journal writers Sam Sheridan, represented by Kuhn Projects, and Brad Regan and Michael Kaplan, represented by Witherspoon Associates.