iHeart, Charlamagne Launch Podcast Network
• iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of the Premiere-syndicated The Breakfast Club have joined forces to launch The Black Effect Podcast Network, “bringing together the most influential and trusted voices in black culture for stimulating conversations around social justice, pop culture, sports, mental health, news, comedy and more.
“Blackness has an immediate, culture shifting effect on everything,” said Charlamagne, shown here on video making the on-air announcement of The Black Effect Podcast Network. “Blackness controls the cool. Blackness is the culture, but Black Voices are not monolithic. The only way to appreciate the diversity of thought and experiences in Black culture is to build a platform for those voices to be heard. Unapologetically Black experiences, unapologetically Black thought, unapologetically Black ideas. Black, Black, Blackity Black, Black, Black, Black. Everything Black. Black Everything. The vision for The Black Effect is to amplify, elevate, and empower emerging and established talent. Our goal is to shift the narrative from Black creators signing transactional deals, to instead forming legacy partnerships that build generational wealth while allowing each creative to have an equitable stake in their future. As a long-time partner of iHeart, it’s an honor to make history with them.”
The Black Effect Podcast Network creatives will include comedian/actress Jess Hilarious, social justice activist Tamika Mallory, attorney/TV host Eboni K. Williams and many others. The Black Effect Podcast Network has also partnered with other widely successful podcasts like All The Smoke, Drink Champs and The 85 South Show, and will debut with 18 podcasts this fall on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are available. And there’s more — The Breakfast Club will bring its replay podcast to The Black Effect Podcast Network as its flagship show, effective immediately.
“As our country’s No. 1 audio company and podcaster, we have both the responsibility and the opportunity to give new voices a massive audience platform for creativity and innovation — and for important ideas that need to be heard,” said Bob Pittman, Chairman & CEO of iHeartMedia. “Charlamagne Tha God is an unparalleled multi-platform creator whose impact extends across radio, digital, social, TV, events and podcasts. He is uniquely qualified to bring The Black Effect Podcast Network to life, and we are lucky and honored to be his chosen partner and to continue our successful partnership of over a decade in this exciting and fast-growing arena.”
All shows on The Black Effect Podcast Network will be distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network. PepsiCo Beverages, in collaboration with its agency partner OMD, has signed on as an inaugural partner of The Black Effect Podcast Network with others TBA.
