charlamagne tha god

iHeartMedia Also Names Charlamagne Tha God

Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming

New York, NY – December 8, 2020 – iHeartMedia announced today that it has renewed and extended its relationship with the phenomenal culture-shifting multimedia mogul Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of New York's Power 105's wildly popular and nationally syndicated hit radio show "The Breakfast Club," heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. One of the world’s most well-informed, authoritative, and distinctive media personalities, Charlamagne Tha God has become a crucially important and influential voice in culture. Under the new five-year agreement, Charlamagne will continue his uninhibited, trademark interview style on the award-winning radio show with his relentless effort to unveil truth by asking the questions audiences most want to hear, weekdays from 6-10:00 a.m. EST, as well as “Weekends with The Breakfast Club,” alongside co-hosts Angela Yee and DJ Envy.

“The Breakfast Club,” celebrating its 10-year milestone this month, has become the bullhorn for modern culture and widely regarded as the most informative and entertaining top-rated contemporary Hip-Hop/R&B morning show today. Charlamagne Tha God, Angela Yee, and DJ Envy are known for their unrivaled interviews with celebrities and recording artists. Guests on the show have ranged from former President Barack Obama, President-elect Joe Biden, and VP-elect Kamala Harris to Snoop Dog, Jay-Z, and Dr. Anthony Fauci. The crew also host “Weekends with The Breakfast Club,” a 3-hour weekly program featuring a countdown of the top 20 songs on the charts and signature interviews. “The Breakfast Club” was inducted this year into the Radio Hall of Fame in the Active Network/Syndication (10 years or more) category.

"I give my sincerest thanks to iHeart for empowering me over the past decade to be the best talent that I can be, and for honoring me as an owner and executive,” said Charlamagne. “I love the audio business and iHeart is the biggest and best audio company in the world. As Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of the Black Effect Podcast Network and now Senior Creative Officer of Cultural Content and Programming at iHeart, all I want to do for the next 5 years is continue to move the culture of radio and podcasting forward by curating a new era of voices, programming, and events. GOD IS GREAT! Now, it's time to get back to work."

“The Breakfast Club” has raised over 1.7 million dollars over the last three years for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Gathering for Justice Movement, and Project 375 with their 24-hour radiothon Change4Change (one of Charlamagne’s many initiatives).

As the new Senior Creative Officer of Culture Content and Programming, Charlamagne will be discovering and curating new talent and programming for radio and podcasts and developing productions and community initiatives. In September, iHeartMedia and Charlamagne announced a historic joint podcast publishing venture, The Black Effect Podcast Network, the world’s largest podcast publisher dedicated to Black listeners, 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. Also, in addition to the Breakfast Club, Charlamagne will be developing a show where he will lead exclusive one-on-one interviews with some of the most notable artist, athletes, and voices in our society. The conversations would air quarterly across various iHeartRadio stations, podcasts and other digital platforms.

“Charlamagne is a multiplatform talent, creator and innovator and we are excited to extend our existing partnership on the nationally syndicated morning show “The Breakfast Club,” while also creating successful new historical ventures like the Black Effect Network,” said Thea Mitchem, EVP of Programming for iHeartMedia. “His voice continues to be unique and authentic and a driving force and influence in today’s hip hop and pop culture. He, along with the entire Breakfast Club, continue to have the incredible ability to connect with audiences and artists alike, delivering the most entertaining and informative content and programming to listeners throughout the country.”

As a cultural cannon continuing to expand his awe-inspiring entertainment empire Charlamagne announced the launch of Black Privilege Publishing his new partnership imprint from Atria Books at Simon & Schuster that aligns with his mission to bring crucial, culturally-relevant content to the marketplace from emerging and renowned Black voices around the world. The inaugural release on Black Privilege Publishing will be trailblazing movement strategist and social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory’s eagerly anticipated publishing debut, State of Emergency, due out in May 2021.

Charlamagne Tha God will also debut a talk show on Comedy Central in 2021.

ABOUT CHARLAMAGNE THA GOD

Charlamagne Tha God, also known as Lenard McKelvey, is one of the most potent, influential, and authoritative voices in media today. He is the widely-coveted, outspoken, thought-provoking co-host of the hottest nationally-syndicated radio show in the U.S., “The Breakfast Club,” heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. Charlamagne’s production company, CTHAGOD World Productions, discovers and advocates for original, emerging talent who resonate with popular culture long before they become mainstream. A cultural architect and executive producer, Charlamagne is the co-host of the popular podcast, “Brilliant Idiots.” He is a New York Times bestselling author of the book, Black Privilege and global bestseller Shook One, which propelled him to become one of the world’s leading voices in the mental health discussion. In 2020, Charlamagne launched The Black Effect Podcast Network, an unprecedented, historic 50-50 joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia. He achieved another groundbreaking milestone when he signed a global multi-year, multi-project development, production, and audio licensing partnership with renowned comedian, actor and writer Kevin Hart, and Audible Inc., the world’s largest producer and provider of original spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks. Charlamagne announced the launch of Black Privilege Publishing, his new partnership imprint from Atria Books at Simon & Schuster, in alignment with his mission to bring crucial, culturally-relevant content to the marketplace from emerging and renowned Black voices around the world. The inaugural release on Black Privilege Publishing will be trailblazing movement strategist and social justice leader Tamika D. Mallory’s eagerly anticipated publishing debut, State of Emergency, due out in May 2021. Charlamagne Tha God will also debut a talk show on Comedy Central in 2021.

New 8-Episode Podcast Series Launches Today, November 9th

The Recession 2, The Sequel To Jeezy’s Classic 2008 Album The Recession, To Explore The Pandemic, Economic Crisis & More

November 9, 2020 – NEW YORK - Jay ‘JEEZY’ Jenkins, the Grammy®-nominated multi-platinum rap superstar, entrepreneur and philanthropist has partnered with media mogul and radio hall of famer Charlamagne Tha GOD and iHeartMedia’s The Black Effect Podcast Network for “The (Re)Session Podcast by Jeezy a new weekly 8-episode limited podcast series launching today, November 9th.  The podcast takes its title from THE RECESSION 2, JEEZY’s upcoming new album via Def Jam Recordings. Fans can listen to “The (Re)Session Podcast by Jeezy” now on iHeartRadio and everywhere podcasts are heard.
 
Episodes of “The (Re)Session Podcast by Jeezy” will take their cues from song titles with subjects such as mental health, economics, prison reform, police brutality, grief, systemic racism, community, and spirituality.  Confirmed guests include Tony Robbins, who will be featured on the premiere episode, with others to be announced in the weeks ahead. More information available HERE.  
 
“I’m excited to partner with my trusted friend Charlamagne and the Black Effect Podcast Network/iHeart media team,” said JEEZY. “As I make the next moves in my career, I can think of no better partner to help amplify my voice and expand my reach than my brother Charlamagne, who has built an incredible, groundbreaking brand in the media space.”
 
"Jeezy has been a motivator with his words for years,” said Charlamagne Tha God. “His life experiences have inspired so many through music and now he will do the same with his podcast. It feels great to have him as a partner and hopefully we can make the list of extraordinary plugs that he's had throughout his many lives!"
 
JEEZY – who will ‘battle’ T.I. in the next episode on VERZUZ on November 19th - recently issued the aptly titled new single + video “Back” featuring Yo Gotti.  The track is the first advance music from the eagerly awaited THE RECESSION 2, JEEZY’s tenth studio album.  Its 2008 predecessor, The Recession, also dealt forcefully with the economic upheaval of a memorably tumultuous year.
 
The podcast news follows the premiere earlier this month of “Worth A Conversation,” JEEZY’s new weekly talk show airing Wednesday nights at 10:00 p.m. (EST) / 7:00 p.m. (PST) on the new live, interactive streaming channel FOX Soul.  “Worth A Conversation” was praised by REVOLT for presenting “the businessman, who has been vocal about his thoughts on President Donald Trump… [JEEZY] and his guests will chat about various topics ranging from politics to entertainment.”
 
With more than a dozen RIAA gold, platinum, and multi-platinum hits to his credit, JEEZY has amassed over 6.5 billion catalog streams, and over 960 million YouTube channel views.
 
Entrepreneurial business ventures for JEEZY include his fitness water Defiance Fuel, which is launching a new sports drink in addition to their ultra-hydration water; his partnership in the Atlanta location of American Cut Steakhouse; and his ongoing incentivized partnership with  Avion Tequila. 
 
JEEZY’s social profile includes over 4.4 million Instagram followers, over 1.29 million Twitter followers, over 1.31 million YouTube channel subscribers, and over 6.8 million Facebook likes.

 About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, radio hall of famer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose distinctive perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners amplify their voice in culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, educate and empower.

The Historic First-Of-Its-Kind Joint Venture Partnership Between iHeartMedia and Radio Hall-Of-Famer Charlamagne Tha God Was Developed To Amplify Black Voices, Celebrate Black Creators And Invest In The Black Community, With Culturally Relevant Content Across A Variety Of Genres

New York – September 17, 2020 – The Black Effect Podcast Network announced today that Dollie S. Bishop has been named President of Production and Creative Development, effective immediately. Announced earlier this month and set to launch this fall, The Black Effect Podcast Network is a historic joint venture partnership between iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God that is positioned to become the world’s largest podcast publisher dedicated to Black listeners, 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.

As the President of Production and Creative Development, Bishop will work directly with Charlamagne Tha God and oversee the team of producers as well as the editorial direction of the new multi-genre network including its podcast lineup and luminous roster of marquee culture-shifting voices. In addition, Bishop will assist with identifying and recruiting new creators and talent to develop limited series podcasts to support upcoming films, music releases and other related projects.  

“Dollie is a creative force who motivates and inspires people to be the very best version of themselves,” said Charlamagne. “Her creative instincts and recruiting and development skills are exactly what we need to ensure that The Black Effect Network becomes an unparalleled leader in podcasting. Dollie is a talent magnet. She brings a unique expertise that will help shape our way forward. It’s a genuine privilege to have her at the helm as we continue to grow and evolve The Black Effect Podcast Network.”

Bishop’s new position at The Black Effect Podcast Network marks her first role in the audio industry. She is an accomplished TV and events producer whose experience ranges from development to post-production, with an eye for creating innovative projects that appeal to a diverse audience. Bishop is the creator and producer of Oxygen’s 2016 hit docu-series, “Like A Boss,” which follows the assistants of some of the biggest urban media power players in Atlanta. She has worked on a wide range television formats including reality TV, docu-series, in-studio productions and live broadcasting. Her extensive production background includes having produced on “TeenNick Top 10,” a weekly roundup of the hottest music videos, the MTV Video Music Awards and MTV's hit shows “Ridiculousness” and “Wild ‘N Out.” Bishop also worked on Lifetime’s hit reality television series, “Married at First Sight.” Previously, she worked for Nick Cannon’s NCredible Entertainment, where she developed and shot pilots and sizzles; oversaw live events; and built and maintained relationships with external producers and production companies.

"I’m grateful for the opportunity to embark on this unprecedented journey with The Black Effect Podcast Network,” said Bishop. “As the head of the Network, I’m privileged to be able to give Black voices the creative and cultural freedom to speak unapologetically in a space where their voices can be real, where their creativity and talent can be rewarded, and where our listeners can be uplifted and informed, respected and appreciated. I cannot thank Charlamagne enough for his visionary leadership in this timely, critically important, history-making endeavor."

All shows on The Black Effect Podcast Network will be distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network which is home to more than 750 original podcasts. With over 225 million downloads each month, iHeartRadio is the leading podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with a substantial lead over the next largest commercial podcaster. iHeartPodcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between – making iHeartRadio the largest publisher of podcast content in the world. iHeartPodcasts are distributed on all major podcast platforms, including the iHeartRadio app.

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform and empower 

About Charlamagne Tha God

Charlamagne Tha God is one of the most potent, influential, and authoritative voices in media today. He is the widely coveted, outspoken, thought-provoking co-host of the hottest nationally-syndicated radio show in the U.S., ‘The Breakfast Club,’ heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. Charlamagne’s production company, CTHAGOD World Productions, discovers and advocates for original content and emerging talent who resonate with popular culture long before they are recognized mainstream. A cultural architect and executive producer, Charlamagne is the co-host of the popular podcast, ‘Brilliant Idiots,’. He is a New York Times bestselling author of the book, ‘Black Privilege’ and global bestseller ‘Shook One,’ which propelled him to become one of the world’s leading voices in the mental health discussion. Charlamagne will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in October.

A historic first-of-its-kind joint venture partnership developed to amplify Black voices, celebrate Black creators and invest in the Black community, with culturally relevant content across a variety of genres

New York – September 9, 2020 - iHeartMedia, the No. 1 commercial podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, and Charlamagne Tha God,one of the most influential and authoritative voices in media, announced today a historic joint venture partnership to launch The Black Effect Podcast Network.

The Black Effect Podcast Network is positioned to become the world’s largest podcast publisher dedicated to Black listeners, 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.

The multi-genre venture will feature a luminous roster of marquee talent and culture-shifting voices committed to enlightening, educating and entertaining audiences curated by Charlamagne himself. The programming will provide a bridge to understanding information and interaction rooted in diverse perspectives.

"Blackness has an immediate, culture shifting effect on everything,” said Charlamagne. “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, American attorney and TV Host Eboni K. Williams and many more. 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.

Additionally, Charlamagne’s wildly popular, co-anchored, nationally syndicated radio show, “The Breakfast Club,” will bring its replay podcast to The Black Effect Podcast Network as its flagship show, effective immediately. With over 4.5 million weekly listeners, “The Breakfast Club” has become the most sought after media destination for A-list talent and influential thought leaders.

“As our country’s number one 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 and 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.”

The Black Effect Podcast Network will also produce exciting limited series podcasts in conjunction with various high wattage creators and talent, musical artists, actors, actresses, sports and literary superstars to support their upcoming films, music releases and related projects.

All shows on The Black Effect Podcast Network will be distributed through the iHeartPodcast Network which is home to more than 750 original podcasts. With over 225 million downloads each month, iHeartRadio is the leading podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with a substantial lead over the next largest commercial podcaster. iHeartPodcasts span every category from business, sports, spirituality and technology to entertainment, family, comedy and true crime – and everything in between – making iHeartRadio the largest publisher of podcast content in the world. iHeartPodcasts are distributed on all major podcast platforms, including the iHeartRadio app.

PepsiCo Beverages, in collaboration with its agency partner OMD, has signed on as an inaugural partner of The Black Effect Podcast Network with others to be announced. “We knew we wanted to support this groundbreaking partnership as soon as Charlamagne and iHeart shared their vision for the network. This opportunity connects our brands to consumers through the newer trusted medium of podcasting, and more importantly, supports the overall PepsiCo strategic initiative to invest in Black communities and support diverse voices,” said Katie Haniffy, PepsiCo Beverages Head of Media. “We’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with Charlamagne in the past and look forward to our continued partnership with him and iHeartMedia on this incredibly exciting venture.”

The Black Effect Podcast Network launch lineup will include:

"Drink Champs" with N.O.R.E and DJ EFN

"All The Smoke" with Matt Barnes

“The 85 South Show” with Karlous Miller, DC Young Fly and Chico Bean

"Whoreible Decisions" with Mandii B and Weezy

"Dropping Gems" with Devi Brown

"Holding Court" with Eboni K. Williams

"Carefully Reckless" with Jess Hilarious

"Street Politicians" with Tamika Mallory and Mysonne

"Hot Happy Mess" with Zuri Hall

"Untitled" with Bonang Matheba

"Hello Somebody" with Senator Nina Turner

"P.O.D." with Ashley and Tammy

"Straight Shot No Chaser" with Tezlyn Figaro

"Laugh and Learn" with Flame Monroe (executive produced by Tiffany Haddish)

"Checking In" with Michelle Williams

"Cut To It" with Steve Smith Sr.

"No Ceilings" with Glasses Malone

"Gangster Chronicles" with MC Eiht, Norman Steele and James McDonald

Fans can go to iHeart.com/apps to download and listen on all their favorite devices — including smart speakers, digital auto dashes, tablets, wearables, smartphones, virtual assistants, televisions, gaming consoles and more.

About Charlamagne Tha God

Charlamagne Tha God is one of the most potent, influential, and authoritative voices in media today. He is the widely coveted, outspoken, thought-provoking co-host of the hottest nationally-syndicated radio show in the U.S., ‘The Breakfast Club,’ heard by over 4.5 million listeners each week. Charlamagne’s production company, CTHAGOD World Productions, discovers and advocates for original content and emerging talent who resonate with popular culture long before they are recognized mainstream. A cultural architect and executive producer, Charlamagne is the co-host of the popular podcast, ‘Brilliant Idiots,’. He is a New York Times bestselling author of the book, ‘Black Privilege’ and global bestseller ‘Shook One,’ which propelled him to become one of the world’s leading voices in the mental health discussion. Charlamagne will be inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in October.

About The Black Effect Podcast Network

The Black Effect Podcast Network is a transformative network founded by renowned cultural architect, executive producer, bestselling author, and media mogul Charlamagne Tha God. In a historic joint venture with the world’s number one commercial podcast publisher, iHeartMedia, Charlamagne and iHeartMedia created the groundbreaking first-ever Black Effect Podcast Network, celebrating the most important Black culture-shapers on the planet—in education, politics, entertainment, sports and pop culture. The Black Effect Podcast Network gives rise to emerging and established content creators and storytellers whose perspective and creative vision have been marginalized and overlooked while serving an audience that has been underserved. The Black Effect Podcast Network helps its partners define their place in culture through influence, ideas, and experiences that engage, inspire, inform and empower.