Liza Lentini Becomes SPIN’s First Permanent Editor-in-Chief Under Current Ownership

Six years after joining SPIN as Features Editor, Liza Lentini has been elevated to Editor-in-Chief — the first permanent editorial chief the publication has had since Jimmy Hutcheson’s Next Partners group acquired the magazine. The promotion formalizes a direction that was already visible in the publication’s output.

Lentini arrived at a challenging moment for legacy music titles. SPIN had cycled through ownership changes and interim leadership, including former Acting Editor-in-Chief Bob Guccione Jr., who remains with the company as a consultant and editor of the revived print edition. Under Lentini’s tenure, the site has leaned into long-form storytelling and artist-focused features rather than chasing the news cycle. She brought in new writers and developed distinct editorial franchises, including “5 Albums I Can’t Live Without” and the catalog-focused “Deep Cut Friday.”

That editorial identity matters because it suggests what SPIN wants to be now: a publication built on sustained curiosity about musicians rather than aggregation or engagement bait. Kunj Shah, the company’s chief strategy officer, framed the promotion as a recognition of that foundation. “Liza has helped shape what people come to SPIN for: great stories, a distinct point of view, and a real curiosity about the artists behind the music,” he said.

For a title that once defined alternative music coverage, the question of who steers the editorial voice has been unresolved for years. With Lentini’s appointment, the answer is no longer provisional.