Jen Boyles
American writer, editor, and digital media CEO
Jen Boyles
Boyles in 2025
Born (1979-04-17) April 17, 1979 (age 46)[1]
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Alma materHamline University
OccupationsCEO, writer
Websitewww.jbd.agency

Jen Boyles is an American writer, editor, and digital media CEO from Minnesota.

Early life

Boyles was born in 1979 in Minneapolis.[1] She graduated from Anoka High School. She majored in English at Hamline University, where she was editor-in-chief of both the literary journal and the college newspaper, graduating in 2001.[2][3]

Career

Journalism

For more than a decade starting in the early 2000s, Boyles worked as a music and culture journalist, specializing in hip-hop, EDM and dance music. A 2005 profile on Boyles in Minneapolis publication Industry Magazine noted her influence in helping establish DJ culture as a serious art form, noting that she "helped to put Minneapolis on the map [for] electronic music." In the interview, Boyles described her writing style as "conversational and personal", looking for details that bring out a subject's "personality as well as their idiosyncrasies and especially their humanity."[4] Her work includes interviews and profiles on dozens of electronica artists, coverage of major EDM festivals including Glastonbury (for Spin)[5] and the annual Winter Music Conference for electronic music in Miami, Florida,[6][7] and news articles on anti-drug legislation such as the RAVE Act and its detrimental effect on EDM culture.[8] She was included in a 2003 article in Columbia Journalism Review on young, up-and-coming journalists.[9][10]

Boyles was a writer and editor for Twin Cities alt-weekly City Pages for more than a decade, expanding the newspaper's coverage of the dance and electronic-music scene, as well as fashion, culture, and digital journalism. Her articles included a 2008 cover story on the Beastie Boys[11] as well as features on prominent EDM and other musical artists including Sasha and Digweed,[12] Tricky,[13] The Herbaliser,[14] Fischerspooner,[15] Diplo,[16] Wu-Tang Clan,[17] Bootsy Collins, Hercules and Love Affair,[18] DVS1,[19] and Richie Hawtin,[20] as well as profiles of rock musicians such as Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham[21] INXS’s Andrew Farriss,[22] Def Leppard’s Phil Collen,[23] and Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries.[24][25]

She was also a senior contributor to national magazines URB and BPM.[10][4] At URB, her feature articles included cover stories on Kid Sister & Flosstradamus and the burgeoning Chicago club scene,[26] and Derrick Carter and Mark Farina.[27] She profiled artists including Bad Boy Bill,[28] High Contrast,[29] Roni Size,[30] Brother Ali,[31] Danny Howells,[32] DJ Klever,[33] Kaskade,[34] Mylo,[35] King Kooba,[36] Tall Paul,[37] DJ Dan,[38] Bassnectar,[39] and King Britt.[40] She regularly contributed album reviews, concert reviews, and coverage of the Miami Winter Music Conference[7][41] for eight years. At BPM, she profiled Aeon Flux animator Peter Chung[42] and house musicians Felix Da Housecat[43] and Booka Shade,[44] among others.

Boyles moved to Chicago in 2006, where she was web editor for NBC News. She returned to Minneapolis in 2008 and reprised her role as web editor for City Pages.[2][45] Her work included expanding the paper's roster of blogs, as well as the popular City Pages Photobooth at local club First Avenue, which contributed to site traffic and relevance with younger audiences.[46][47]

She has also written for Spin,[5] Remix Magazine,[48][49] Rosebud, Resonance Magazine,[50] No Cover Magazine,[51][52] UR Chicago,[53] Newcity,[54] Request Magazine,[55][56] the Dallas Observer,[57] Insomniac Magazine,[58] Industry,[59][60] the Minneapolis Star Tribune,[61] Buzzine Los Angeles, CuePoint,[62] and CNET’s download.com.[3]

Boyles was a bridal columnist for Mpls.St.Paul Magazine in 2013.[63][64] She also wrote about fashion for several publications, including producing two fashion issues for City Pages[65][66] and overseeing its fashion blog The Dressing Room,[67][68][69][70] as well as articles in Industry,[71] and the Star Tribune.[72]

Boyles co-founded several entrepreneurial startup publications, usually focusing on nightlife and electronica. In 2003, Boyles launched the Twin Cities-based electronica music and culture website Illypses.com.[73][3] In 2007, she was editor-in-chief of Progressive Life & Style Magazine in Chicago, which covered topics such as music, fashion, and nightlife.[74]

In 2020, to keep people connected to dance music artists during the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched a weekly music discussion series, "10 With Jen", via Facebook video. Her first guest was the Florida-based DJ and producer Dieselboy.[75]

Awards

For her work as web editor of City Pages, Boyles won two Society of Professional Journalists Page One Awards for Best Website in 2011 and 2012. She was also creative director for the publication's Mad Men-themed Best Of The Twin Cities issue in 2011, which won an award for Best Issue, Newspaper 50,000+ Circulation.[76][77][78]

Marketing

Starting in 2012, Boyles transitioned into marketing and advertising starting with the Minneapolis-based agency Olson, where she was content and social strategy director and founded the agency's first Content Lab, which created immersive digital content for brands such as Bauer Hockey, Bissell, Supercuts and Commerce Bank.[79][80][81][2] She also contributed insights on Internet branding and content strategy to publications including Forbes,[82][83] IZEA Worldwide,[84] and Digiday.[85] Business blog Total Entrepreneurs highlighted her campaign for the vacuum company Bissell, which focused on a photo series of pet owners and their animals to build brand awareness.[86]

In 2018, she founded the digital communications agency and consulting firm JBD, which specializes in social media and digital communications strategy for large and mid-sized corporations.[87][88][89] The agency's campaigns have included work for Paisley Park, Marvin Windows, Baker McKenzie, Borden Cheese, Great Clips, Plugrá Butter, M Health Fairview, and Medtronic.[90]

Other work

Boyles is part of the house-music DJ duo Bunnymob, which she formed in 2012 with her husband Ian Traas, who is also a former dance music writer.[91][92][93]

Personal life

Boyles married Traas in 2013; they have a son.[2][93]

References

  1. ^ a b "Jen Boyles". BPM. May 2006. p. 53.
  2. ^ a b c d Boyles, Jen (December 19, 2013). "Jen Boyles". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  3. ^ a b c "Contact Illypses". Illypses.com. Archived from the original on 2003-02-12. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  4. ^ a b Engelbretson, Jamie (April–May 2005). "An Interview With an Interviewer: Jen Boyles". Industry Magazine. No. 5. Minneapolis. p. 52.
  5. ^ a b Boyles, Jen (June 28, 2010). "The Best Moments of Glastonbury 2010". Spin Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  6. ^ Boyles, Jen (2001-04-18). "Miami Sound Machine: Music., mayhem, materialism—experiencing the rhapsody and the industry of Miami's Winter Music Conference". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 49. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  7. ^ a b Boyles, Jen (June 2003). "Miami Madness: Winter Music Week '03—Xylophone Jones Recordings Showcase". Urb Magazine. No. 105. West Hollywood, California. p. 31.
  8. ^ Boyles, Jen (2002-08-21). "Generation Ecstasy Comes Down: Congress thinks the RAVE Act is a natural high for the War on Drugs, but ravers aren't smiling". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. pp. 24–27. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  9. ^ "Imagine: Sixty-Seven Young Journalists and the Newspaper of Their Dreams". Columbia Journalism Review. Vol. 41, no. 5. January–February 2003. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  10. ^ a b The Music Index: A Subject-Author Guide to Music Periodical Literature. Warren, Michigan: Harmonie Park Press. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-89990-132-9. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  11. ^ Boyles, Jen (2008-10-29). "No Sleep Till Washington". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 56.
  12. ^ Boyles, Jen (2002-04-17). "General Electric". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 52. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  13. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-03-11). "Gimme Noise: Tricky". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  14. ^ Boyles, Jen (2008-11-12). "Gimme Noise: Herbaliser". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  15. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-05-27). "Casey Spooner Speaks!". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 44. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  16. ^ Boyles, Jen (2008-10-22). "The Mad Scientist". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 47. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  17. ^ Boyles, Jen (2011-01-11). "Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang talks to City Pages (VIDEO)". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2013-05-29. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  18. ^ Boyles, Jen (2008-12-24). "Gimme Noise: Hercules and Love Affair". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  19. ^ Boyles, Jen (2001-08-08). "White Russian: Drinking at Nye's with techno impresario DVS1 on the eve of his Ascension". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 44. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  20. ^ Boyles, Jen (2005-10-26). "King Richard I". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 76. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  21. ^ Boyles, Jen (2011-09-14). "Lindsey Buckingham talks about the possiblity of a Fleetwood Mac reunion". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 42. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  22. ^ Boyles, Jen (2011-07-27). "INXS founder Andrew Farriss talks songwriting, new album & remembers Michael Hutchence". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2011-08-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  23. ^ Boyles, Jen (2011-08-24). "Most Def". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 42. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  24. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-11-25). "The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan talks family, future, and accepting the past". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  25. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-11-25). "The Cranberries' Dolores O'Riordan: The extended interview". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2020-04-30. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  26. ^ Boyles, Jen (April 2007). "Kid Sister & Flosstradamus: Hot Sauce". Urb Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 145. West Hollywood, California. pp. 42–48. Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  27. ^ Boyles, Jen (October 2004). "Brothers in arms". Urb Magazine. Vol. 14, no. 120. West Hollywood, California. pp. 68–72.
  28. ^ Boyles, Jen (October 2003). "Still Bangin'". Urb Magazine. West Hollywood, California. pp. 56–58.
  29. ^ Boyles, Jen (December 2004). "High Contrast: Jungle Is In the House". Urb Magazine. Vol. 14, no. 122. West Hollywood, California. pp. 88–89.
  30. ^ Boyles, Jen (January 2005). "Roni Size: Giving Up the Ghost". Urb Magazine. Vol. 15, no. 123. West Hollywood, California. pp. 76–78.
  31. ^ Boyles, Jen (January 2007). "The Passenger (interview with Brother Ali)". Urb Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 143. West Hollywood, California. pp. 64–65.
  32. ^ Boyles, Jen (July 2005). "Danny Howells: Bark at the Moon". Urb Magazine. Vol. 15, no. 129. West Hollywood, California. pp. 74–75.
  33. ^ Boyles, Jen (2008-02-19). "DJ Klever: With Teeth". Urb Magazine. West Hollywood, California. p. 59. Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  34. ^ Boyles, Jen (Spring 2003). "Next 100: Kaskade". Urb Magazine. No. 104. West Hollywood, California. p. 70.
  35. ^ Boyles, Jen (December 2005). "Disco Sucks: Can't Mylo make a good album without "saving" dance music?". Urb Magazine. Vol. 15, no. 134. West Hollywood, California. pp. 68–69.
  36. ^ Boyles, Jen (November 2002). "B-Sides: King Kooba". Urb Magazine. No. 99. West Hollywood, California. p. 52.
  37. ^ Boyles, Jen (July 2002). "How's the Weather Up There?". Urb Magazine. No. 94. West Hollywood, California. pp. 86–87.
  38. ^ Boyles, Jen (October 2002). "Flying High Again: DJ Dan". Urb Magazine. No. 98. West Hollywood, California.
  39. ^ Boyles, Jen (June 2007). "Bassnectar: Resistant flowerchild". Urb Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 147. West Hollywood, California. p. 41.
  40. ^ Boyles, Jen (September 2006). "Vice precedent". Urb Magazine. Vol. 16, no. 139. West Hollywood, California. p. 100.
  41. ^ Boyles, Jen (April 2004). "Dance City Heaven: Jen Boyles runs down some of Miami winter music week's highlights". Urb Magazine. Vol. 14, no. 114. West Hollywood, California. p. 26.
  42. ^ Boyles, Jen (2006). "The Chung and the Restless". BPM. San Francisco. p. 40.
  43. ^ Boyles, Jen (July 2004). "Razzle Dazzle". BPM. pp. 22–23.
  44. ^ Boyles, Jen (May 2006). "Slave to the Rhythm". BPM. p. 53.
  45. ^ Brauer, David (2008-12-01). "Another staffer leaves City Pages". Minnpost. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  46. ^ "Too Much Love at First Avenue: Photobooth madness". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2010-05-04. Archived from the original on 2011-02-10. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  47. ^ Brauer, David (2009-04-21). "Star Tribune, City Pages web numbers". Minnpost. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  48. ^ Boyles, Jen (May 2004). "Shoptalk: Steve Lawler at Let It Be Records and Vital Vinyl, Minneapolis". Remix Magazine. Vol. 6, no. 3. pp. 28–29. Archived from the original on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  49. ^ Boyles, Jen (September 2006). "Shoptalk: Colette and DJ Heather at Vital Vinyl, Minneapolis". Remix Magazine. Vol. 8, no. 9. pp. 22–23.
  50. ^ Boyles, Jen (August 2006). "Cross-Platform Compatibility: Berlin-based Ellen Allien teams up with fellow beatster Apparat to give IDM a human touch". Resonance Magazine. No. 50. Seattle. p. 33.
  51. ^ Boyles, Jen (May 2003). "Q&A with Paul van Dyk". No Cover Magazine. pp. 14–15.
  52. ^ Boyles, Jen (2003). "Atmosphere: Doin' the Midwest Proud". No Cover Magazine.
  53. ^ Boyles, Jen (2007). "Roan If You Want To". UR Chicago. p. 59.
  54. ^ Boyles, Jen (2007-10-18). "The Gold Rush". Newcity. p. 10.
  55. ^ Boyles, Jen (September–October 2001). "Electronica reviews: Orbital, The Crystal Method, Utah Saints, Pete Tong, Juan Atkins, DB, Uberzone". Request Magazine. pp. 44–45.
  56. ^ Boyles, Jen (November–December 2001). "Review: Jamiroquai, A Funk Odyssey". Request Magazine. p. 39.
  57. ^ Boyles, Jen (November 6, 2008). "Hollertronix Co-Founder Diplo Talks Touring, Politics and M.I.A." Dallas Observer. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  58. ^ Boyles, Jen (2015-04-27). "How to Talk to Your Kids About G-house". Insomniac Magazine. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  59. ^ Boyles, Jen (June–July 2005). "DJ Colette: Don't Gotta Fake It To Make It". Industry Magazine. No. 6. p. 52.
  60. ^ Boyles, Jen (September 2003). "Vibin' With Migs". Industry Magazine. pp. 86–89.
  61. ^ Boyles, Jen (2003-05-16). "Gunz control". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. E4. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  62. ^ Boyles, Jen (2015-01-28). "EDM Needs An Intervention". Cuepoint. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  63. ^ Boyles, Jen (December 19, 2013). "Bridal Eyelash Extensions with Jett Makeup". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  64. ^ Boyles, Jen (December 19, 2013). "The Blithe Bride: The Importance of Hiring a Wedding Planner". Mpls.St.Paul Magazine. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  65. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-06-17). "Doing Summer in Style: Summer Fashion Challenge". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 12.
  66. ^ Boyles, Jen (2010-06-23). "A Mid-Summer's Dream". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 11. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  67. ^ Boyles, Jen (2010-04-08). "Dressing Room: Adam Garcia: Designer for Nike, Rhymesayers and Arcade Fire (interview)". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2010-04-18. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  68. ^ Boyles, Jen (2011-04-11). "Dressing Room: Envision Artopia Spring 2011 at Graves 601 4/10/11". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2013-03-30. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  69. ^ Boyles, Jen (2010-12-23). "Dressing Room: Kevin Kramp: Extended interview with the fashion designer". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. Archived from the original on 2011-01-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  70. ^ Boyles, Jen (2009-04-15). "Gimme Noise: Anna Lee of Voltage Fashion Amplified". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. 4. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  71. ^ Boyles, Jen (2005). "Found Fashion: Consignment shopping at Cloth and other local shops". Industry Magazine. No. 9. pp. 88–92.
  72. ^ Palmer, Kim (2010-12-05). "Holiday style? Anything goes. And we're OK with that". Star Tribune. Minneapolis, Minnesota. p. E1-13. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  73. ^ "About Illypses". Illypses.com. Archived from the original on 2003-04-08. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  74. ^ "Media Kit" (PDF). Progressive Life & Style. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  75. ^ Harris, Keith (2020-05-14). "A classic 1985 Prince concert and other great local music streams to watch this week". City Pages. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
  76. ^ Zaragoza, Jason (June 8, 2011). "City Pages (Twin Cities) Wins 11 First-Place SPJ Awards". Association Of Alternative Newsmedia. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  77. ^ "2011 Page One Award Winners Announced". Society for Professional Journalists. June 8, 2011. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  78. ^ "2012 Page One Award Winners Announced". Society for Professional Journalists. June 21, 2012. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  79. ^ Redbooks Advertisers & Agencies. New York City: Redbooks. 2016. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  80. ^ "Case Study: Hockey Never Sleeps". Olson. Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  81. ^ Gabler, Jay (August 15, 2012). "Q: Who IS that? A: Jen Boyles, PR pro with a view". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  82. ^ "Want To Scale Content Creation? Agency Professionals Share Their Best Insider Tips". Forbes. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  83. ^ "How To Produce Quality Content With Limited Resources And Time". Forbes. 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  84. ^ "3 Things You Need to Know About the Facebook Algorithm". Izea. September 11, 2015. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  85. ^ "Marketers: We struggle to get internal buy-in for branded content". Digiday. May 15, 2015. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  86. ^ Nwokike, Francis (25 September 2020). "3 Things People Don't Understand About Social Media Marketing". Total Entrepreneurs. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  87. ^ "Stories & Insights: Meet Jen Boyles". Canvas Rebel. March 4, 2024. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  88. ^ "Meet Jen Boyles". Bold Journey. August 8, 2023. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  89. ^ "CEO Jen Boyles on entrepreneurship". JBD. 2024-02-11. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  90. ^ "Meet Jen Boyles, Founder + CEO". JBD. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  91. ^ "Bunnymob". First Avenue. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  92. ^ "Bunnymob". MN Vibe. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  93. ^ a b "Meet the DJs". Dance Church. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
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