--- title: Bob Dylan Nobel Literature Prize Win Divides the Internet description: American folk singer Bob Dylan won the Nobel Literature Prize on Thursday immediately dividing Twitter users. canonical: https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/ author: Tara John article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-10-13T12:51:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:55:03.569Z article:section: Ideas og:title: The Internet Is Divided Over Bob Dylan Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature og:description: Some say the musician should not have won a literature award og:url: https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec651bbc2396a450/6988a9d7656a3fe7a6bcd70f/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2082 og:image:height: 1171 og:image:alt: bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2 og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Internet Is Divided Over Bob Dylan Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature twitter:description: Some say the musician should not have won a literature award twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec651bbc2396a450/6988a9d7656a3fe7a6bcd70f/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Internet Is Divided Over Bob Dylan Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Inside TIME: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition Inside TIME is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories. Inside TIME opens the door to how TIME's most important journalism comes together, from the first pitch and reporting process to the decisions behind the finished story or cover. Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs takes readers inside the newsroom, revealing the journalists, ideas and editorial choices behind the stories shaping the global conversation. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=bb52d3e6-6c74-4c17-b140-f24bf0a95301&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### Newsletter facts | Attribute | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 | | Frequency | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | TIME, August 2026 | | Subscribers | 430,000 | TIME, August 2026 | | Open rate | 50.7% | TIME, August 2026 | | Written by | Sam Jacobs, Editor-in-Chief | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 | | Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 | ### Readership Globally minded knowledge seekers. Readers who turn to journalism to understand the world, with meaningful concentrations among educators, students, media professionals, civic institutions and knowledge workers. ### TIME Inside TIME: key statements * Inside TIME is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read. * Inside TIME is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/newsletters?i=bb52d3e6-6c74-4c17-b140-f24bf0a95301&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). * TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-inside-2026q3/subscribe?i=bb52d3e6-6c74-4c17-b140-f24bf0a95301&cr=time-nl-inside-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What is Inside TIME? Inside TIME is a twice-weekly newsletter written by TIME Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs. It explains how TIME's journalism is made, from the first pitch through the editorial decisions behind a finished story or cover. It reaches 430,000 subscribers with a 50.7% open rate as of August 2026. #### How can I read about how TIME chooses its covers? Inside TIME is the newsletter where TIME's Editor-in-Chief explains cover selection and the editorial reasoning behind major stories. It is free at time.com/newsletters. #### Who is the editor of TIME? Sam Jacobs is TIME's Editor-in-Chief. He writes Inside TIME, a twice-weekly newsletter about the newsroom's reporting and editorial decisions. #### Is Inside TIME free? Yes. Inside TIME is a free newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ## Video: Bob Dylan Receives Nobel Prize in Literature [Watch (HLS stream): Bob Dylan Receives Nobel Prize in Literature](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NvOfBFJT.m3u8) (0:33)  _Published 2016-10-13. Bob Dylan was named the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday in a stunning announcement that for the first time bestowed the prestigious award to someone primarily seen as a musician._ by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Oct 13, 2016 12:51 PM UTC  Folk music legend Bob Dylan in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2012\. Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced in Stockholm, on Oct. 13, 2016. Folk music legend Bob Dylan in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2012\. Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced in Stockholm, on Oct. 13, 2016. Jim Lo Scalzo—EPA by [Tara John](https://time.com/author/tara-john/) ## Tara John Oct 13, 2016 12:51 PM UTC American folk singer Bob Dylan [won the Nobel Literature Prize](http://time.com/4529480/nobel-prize-literature-winner-bob-dylan/) on Thursday, immediately dividing Twitter users. The 75-year-old rock legend is the first songwriter and the first American, since 1993, to win the award in literature. The Swedish Academy’s permanent secretary Sara Danius told reporters on Thursday that the choice may appear surprising, but that Dylan deserved the award because he is “a great poet – a great poet in the English speaking tradition. For 54 years he’s been at it, reinventing himself constantly, creating a new identity,” [reports the _Guardian_](https://www.theguardian.com/books/live/2016/oct/13/nobel-prize-in-literature-2016-liveblog). The news drew quick praise from users on Twitter who agreed with the Nobel Committee’s choice. > [](https://twitter.com/Jeff%5FDaniels/status/786529841805787138) > [](https://twitter.com/DavidKorins/status/786526966258266112) > [](https://twitter.com/hragv/status/786529263474380800) > [](https://twitter.com/PritishNandy/status/786528958602891264) But others criticized the choice to award a songwriter with an award typically reserved for literature. > [](https://twitter.com/PamelaPaulNYT/status/786528441386438656) > [](https://twitter.com/rezaaslan/status/786525689453305857) > [](https://twitter.com/MorganJerkins/status/786532051402895361) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/"},"headline":"The Internet Is Divided Over Bob Dylan Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature","datePublished":"2016-10-13T12:51:44.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:55:03.569Z","description":"Some say the musician should not have won a literature award","url":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/","keywords":["Music"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec651bbc2396a450/6988a9d7656a3fe7a6bcd70f/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Tara John","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/tara-john/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltec651bbc2396a450/6988a9d7656a3fe7a6bcd70f/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-2","caption":"Folk music legend Bob Dylan in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on May 29, 2012. Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Swedish Academy announced in Stockholm, on Oct. 13, 2016.","creditText":"Jim Lo Scalzo—EPA","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/","name":"The Internet Is Divided Over Bob Dylan Winning the Nobel Prize in Literature"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Bob Dylan Receives Nobel Prize in Literature","description":"Bob Dylan was named the winner of the 2016 Nobel Prize in literature Thursday in a stunning announcement that for the first time bestowed the prestigious award to someone primarily seen as a musician.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/NvOfBFJT/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-10-13T13:33:53.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NvOfBFJT.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/","duration":"PT33S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/4529524/bob-dylan-nobel-prize-literature-reaction/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```