Rolling Stone Names Sean Woods and Shirley Halperin Co-Editors In Chief

Rolling Stone announced on Thursday the appointment of Sean Woods and Shirley Halperin as its new co-editors in chief. Woods, Rolling Stone’s longtime executive editor, steps into the role effective immediately and will continue to be based in New York. Halperin, a veteran music journalist and co-editor in chief of The Hollywood Reporter, will assume her new position on Sept. 1, serving as both co-editor in chief and head of music, and splitting her time between New York and Los Angeles. Together, Halperin and Woods will work closely with Rolling Stone CEO Julian Holguin to shape the editorial direction of one of the world’s most iconic media brands. 

“Sean and Shirley are unmatched in their expertise and passion for storytelling, and their partnership will play a pivotal role in shaping Rolling Stone’s future,” said Holguin in a statement. “Both bring exceptional vision and a deep understanding of the brand’s legacy. Their leadership will continue to drive the world-class journalism and culture-shaping conversations that Rolling Stone’s audience has come to expect.”

Sean Woods has been with Rolling Stone for more than 20 years, most recently serving as executive editor. During his tenure, he has overseen award-winning investigations and feature stories that have earned three National Magazine Awards, two George Polk Awards, and numerous other accolades, including GLAAD, DART, and LA Press Club Awards. In 2023, Woods helmed a multimedia investigation, The DJ and The War Crimes, that earned Rolling Stone its first Emmy nomination. For several years, Woods also served as a contributing editor at Men’s Journal, where he wrote the “Last Word” column, interviewing everyone from Anthony Bourdain to Mel Brooks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, among others.

“Rolling Stone is embarking on an exciting new era,” Woods said. “Julian and Shirley bring a lot of fresh ideas, passion, and energy. We are going to be trying different formats and approaches — while sticking to our core principles of in-depth reporting, breaking news, gripping feature writing, and sharp cultural criticism.”

Shirley Halperin, who is the first woman to be named editor in chief of Rolling Stone, has more than two decades of experience in entertainment and music journalism. She has held leadership roles at Variety, Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, and Los Angeles Magazine, where she helped spearhead initiatives such as Variety’s Hitmakers event and Billboard’s annual No.1s franchises. Halperin’s work has earned numerous LA Press Club awards, and she is the author of three books.

“I’m very proud — personally and professionally — to help usher in the next era of the world’s most formidable music brand as its first female editor-in-chief,” said Halperin. “And to share the title and work shoulder-to-shoulder with Sean Woods, who has steered Rolling Stone’s editorial and fortified its place as a leader in journalism over the last two decades, is an added honor. I’m excited to see Julian’s vision for Rolling Stone come to life and to continue this legacy brand’s culture-shifting, conversation-sparking, music-loving ethos in a new media landscape that’s ripe for innovation and disruption.”