Pat Gilbert
Mojo magazine has promoted Pat Gilbert to be its new editor.
Gilbert, previously deputy editor, said he was thrilled to be following in the footsteps of former editors such as Paul Du Noyer, Mat Snow and Paul Trynka, whom he succeeds.
He added that being given the Mojo editorship was like "being handed a beautifully crafted aeroplane to fly".
Gilbert has been standing in as acting editor for the past three months after Trynka moved up to become editor-in-chief of Mojo and Q.
Gilbert is now hoping to increase Mojo’s presence overseas.
"There are a lot of battles to fight on the home front to raise UK newsstand sales and to make big inroads overseas," he told Press Gazette.
"We sell a lot of copies in the US and we plan to sell a lot more. Mojo is in a fantastic position at the moment. There is a lot of work to do but sales are nearing 100,000 and we have just got to keep driving the magazine upwards and onwards."
Gilbert said Mojo would continue to cover world music, jazz, blues and soul but he also intends to highlight the magazine’s coverage of new bands.
Mojo claims to be the first magazine to champion minimalist US rock group The White Stripes.
"Sometimes Mojo is perceived as essentially a rock mag concerned with big, timeless bands.
"Obviously, we do Nirvana and Radiohead but the magazine’s coverage of new artists is very important. It’s a case of making people aware that we do that," he said.
Gilbert started writing for Mojo five years ago. Since 1998, he has held several positions, including reviews editor, associate editor and deputy editor. before joining Mojo he was assistant editor of Record Collector and also contributed to The Guardian and The Times.
Mojo will be publishing its 100th issue in February and to celebrate it Emap will host the Mojo 100th Festival from 27 January to 8 February at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
Among those expected to appear are Elliot Smith, Stereolab Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys.
By Ruth Addicott
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog