Three years after its launch, the Black Effect Podcast Network has had more than 800 million and over 2.3 million downloads according to iHeartMedia, which launched the Black-targeted podcast network with syndicated radio personality Charlamagne Tha God. Since then, Black Effect has launched more than 30 podcasts, including Carefully Reckless, All The Smoke and Reasonably Shady that cover a wide range of topics and amplify diverse voices and perspectives with President of Production and Creative Development Dollie S. Bishop leading the team.
“As we celebrate three years of The Black Effect Podcast Network, we honor the power of representation, the resilience of our community, and the unwavering commitment to truth and excellence,” said Charlamagne Tha God. “Together, we’ve amplified voices and paved the way for a future where our narratives flourish,” he said in a statement.
When iHeart and Charlamagne Tha God announced Black Effect’s launch in September 2020, they said the vision for the network was to “amplify, elevate, and empower” emerging and established talent with a variety of Black voices with content across a variety of genres. The network stems from a years-long relationship between Charlamagne and iHeart, which syndicates his morning radio show, “The Breakfast Club,” from flagship hip-hop/R&B “Power 105.1” WWPR-FM New York. The replay podcast of the radio show serves as the flagship podcast for The Black Effect Podcast Network.
PepsiCo Beverages, in collaboration with its agency partner OMD, signed on as an inaugural partner of the network and during the past several years several other brands have also lined up to be associated with Black Effect. The list includes advertisers like AT&T, Nissan, State Farm, American Express, and Molson, which iHeart says indicates the trust and respect The Black Effect has earned in the industry.
The network has also found support for its live events business. Nissan partnered with Black Effect to create the Thrill of Possibility Summit which brought together 50 HBCU students from disciplines such as science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics for a weekend of networking with Nissan employees. It also held the Black Effect Podcast Festival, which brought together a community of thousands of podcast creators and enthusiasts to celebrate the power of storytelling.
“These milestones reflect The Black Effect Podcast Network’s commitment to excellence and its tremendous impact on the podcasting landscape,” said Conal Byrne, CEO of iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group. “As we look to the future, we're excited to continue pushing boundaries, elevating diverse voices, and making a difference through our content.