‘The Breakfast Club’ Joins Podcasting’s Billion Download Club.

The billion download club has another member as iHeartMedia and The Black Effect Podcast Network say “The Breakfast Club” podcast has surpassed that milestone. The on-demand version of iHeart’s “Power 105.1” WWPR-FM New York morning show has been posting its content online since 2014, first with some of its biggest interviews, and eventually posting the entire morning show as a podcast.

“A billion plus downloads of The Breakfast Club podcast is proof that radio continues to evolve,” host Charlamagne Tha God said in a statement. “The Breakfast Club started on the radio, but we grew by meeting our audience wherever they are—not just on podcast, YouTube, and social media but in real life, having real conversations. Whether we're talking hip hop, politics, or mental health, we've never been afraid to embrace the real issues that matter to the Black community and America as a whole. Gratitude to our listeners!"

By hitting one billion lifetime downloads, The Breakfast Club joins a list of podcasts that includes shows like fellow iHeart production Stuff You Should Know, NBC News’ true crime series Dateline NBC, Dave Ramsey’s financial advice series The Ramsey Show, The Joe Rogan Experience, and the New York Times morning news series The Daily.

“Reaching this incredible milestone is the direct result of the unique personal connection Charlamagne, Envy and Jess have with their dedicated listeners, who know they’ll always get the realest of real when they tune in,” said Thea Mitchem, Executive VP of Programming for iHeartMedia. “This show is a cultural force that has captivated audiences for nearly 15 years, and it’s only getting bigger and bolder.”

“The Breakfast Club” debuted on the radio in 2010, pairing Charlamagne with co-hosts hosts DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious. In August 2013, “The Breakfast Club” become a nationally syndicated morning radio show syndicated by Premiere Networks on more than 100 stations nationwide. The show has become a headline-maker as well as a must-stop destination for musicians, entertainers, and politicians. Guests have included former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Jay-Z, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, Future, 50 Cent, Lizzo, Will Smith, and Alicia Keys, among many others.

“We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who’s tuned in, supported, and helped make this milestone possible,” said DJ Envy. “A billion views is more than just a number — it’s a testament to the culture, the conversations, and the community we’ve built together.”

In 2020, “The Breakfast Club” replay podcast served as the flagship show for the launch of The Black Effect Podcast Network co-founded by iHeartMedia and Charlamagne Tha God. It has become a leading platform for Black creators in the podcast space. Curated by Charlamagne Tha God himself, The Black Effect has debuted more than 40 shows since its launch and features a roster of shows focused on social justice, pop culture, sports, mental health, news, and comedy.