We’re heartbroken to share that The FADER’s co-founder and co-CEO, Rob Stone, passed away yesterday. Rob had chosen to keep private his battle with cancer. He was 55.

Rob was a legend in the music industry. Alongside Jon Cohen, his friend since the seventh grade, he built Cornerstone into a game-changing marketing agency and grew The FADER into a thriving independent publication. He was a relentless champion of new sounds and ideas, whether working closely with Biggie Smalls early in his career or pushing everyone at The FADER to take risks and follow their instincts until the end. His tireless energy will be greatly missed at the magazine he built with his friends.

“Music defines who we are,” Rob wrote in the 100th issue of The FADER. “It brings out the best in us, comforts us, and accompanies us on our life’s journey. Listening to a new amazing song is personal — it becomes critical to our lives. It gets in our DNA. We’ll always shine the light on artists that we believe will make a difference.”

The thoughts of everyone at The FADER are with Rob's wife, Lauren, and their three children.