Behind The RS 100 List: Selecting the Agents of Change

Radiohead, Tina Fey, Sacha Baron Cohen, LeBron James, J.J. Abrams, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Banksy and Barack Obama all have something in common: they're forward-thinking individuals on Rolling Stone's RS 100 list of agents of change. Perhaps you've perused the list and wondered how the RS editors selected these folks — if so, don't miss deputy managing editor Nathan Brackett breaking down our methodology in a behind-the-scenes video, above.

Then count down the Top 20 Agents of Change and check out Change on the Cover of Rolling Stone, a look back at members of the RS 100 club's past features in the magazine.

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  MUSIC 100 Greatest Debut Albums
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  MOVIES 'Star Trek' Is Crazy Good
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  TV
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  POLITICS No Price Big Banks Can't Fix

Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

More Song Stories entries »

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