Mojo (magazine)

Mojo
February 2008 issue of Mojo
EditorJohn Mulvey (Nov 2017–present)
CategoriesMusic magazine
FrequencyMonthly
Total circulation
(Dec 2022)
62,733
First issueNovember 1993
CompanyBauer Media Group
CountryEngland
Based inLondon
LanguageEnglish
Websitemojo4music.com
ISSN1351-0193

Mojo (stylised in all caps) is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom, initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title that would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music. The magazine was designed to appeal to the 30 to 45-plus age group, or the baby boomer generation.[1] Mojo was first published on 15 October 1993.[1] In keeping with its classic rock aesthetic, the first issue had Bob Dylan and John Lennon as its first cover stars. Noted for its in-depth coverage of both popular and cult acts, it acted as the inspiration for Blender and Uncut. Many noted music critics have written for it, including Charles Shaar Murray, Greil Marcus, Nick Kent, David Fricke, Jon Savage and Mick Wall. The launch editor of Mojo was Paul Du Noyer[2][3] and his successors have included Mat Snow, Paul Trynka, Pat Gilbert and Phil Alexander. The current editor is John Mulvey.

While some criticise it for its frequent coverage of classic rock acts such as the Beatles, David Bowie and Bob Dylan, it has nevertheless featured many newer and "left-field" acts. It was the first mainstream magazine in the UK to focus on the White Stripes, and it continues to cover emerging acts. Modern cover stars of recent years have included Lana Del Rey and Arctic Monkeys. Every issue of Mojo published since its inception (apart from Mojo #88 and Mojo #125) has featured an article on Colin Blunstone.

Mojo regularly includes a covermount CD that ties in with a current magazine article or theme. It introduced the Mojo Honours List, an awards ceremony that is a mixture of readers' and critics' awards, in 2004.

In early 2010, Mojo was involved in a controversial move by its new parent company, Bauer, to unilaterally impose a new contract on all photographers and writers, taking away their copyright, and offloading liability for libel or copyright infringement from the publisher onto the contributor. Two hundred photographers and writers from Mojo and Bauer's other music magazines, Kerrang! and Q, were reported as refusing to work under the new terms.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Q team targets oldies market". Music Week. 14 August 1993. p. 7.
  2. ^ "Paul Du Noyer". Penguin Books UK. Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. ^ Carlin, Peter Ames (3 November 2009). Paul McCartney: A Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781416562238. Archived from the original on 27 June 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  4. ^ Armstrong, Stephen (19 April 2010). "Bauer's freelancers up in arms over new contracts". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.