Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of The Premiere Networks nationally syndicated daily radio show “The Breakfast Club,” is the subject of an extensive cover story in Variety — which proclaims the 46-year-old South Carolina native (born Lenard Larry McKelvey) has “vaulted… into the elite company of boldface entertainers who are known for their skill at juggling more than one media gig at a time.”
While his national profile has continued to rise as his media footprint grows, the podcaster, author, commentator, comedian, and actor plans to keep radio as his home base. The cornerstone of Charlamagne’s world is indeed “The Breakfast Club,” which reaches millions weekly via radio, online, podcast, and TV platforms, from 6 to 10am weekdays. He co-hosts with DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious.
“When you look at Mario Lopez or Steve Harvey or Ryan Seacrest, Howard Stern, Bobby Bones — these people still get up every day to do morning radio because it’s literally the foundation that we all stand on,” Charlamagne says. “How many people have watched ‘American Idol’ because Ryan was on morning radio telling them to watch it?”
Variety’s report says Charlamagne’s ascendancy in media is emblematic of the industry’s digital revolution — especially as the host credits the internet as the great leveler that let his voice shine through. It’s a mindset that underscores his approach to his portfolio of various imprints, which include books, podcasts, and feature films. His mission: create artistic opportunities and jobs for Black people.
“Literally, I live by the motto that if what you build only benefits you, it’s not big enough,” Charlamagne tells Variety. “I always want to live up to my full potential as a Black man on this planet.”
His signature “Breakfast Club” opening, which he frequently offers near the top of each show: “I am blessed, Black and highly favored and happy to be here another day to serve our beautiful listeners.”
“Charlamagne has something that’s very unusual in that he’s both right brain and left brain,” Bob Pittman, Chairman and CEO of iHeart Media, says in the report. “He’s both a wildly creative guy, but also a really great businessman. He really understands business and understands that side of the world.”
Pittman continues, “What we’ve been able to do is support Charlamagne as he says, ‘Look, I’ve got an idea for this, I’ve got an idea for that.’ As a host, Charlamagne understands who other great talents are, and he’s able to relate to them. He’s able to help them shape their ideas.”
On the business side, Charlamagne owns 51% of the Black Effect podcast network, which he launched in a partnership with iHeartMedia in 2020. He’s also a minority owner in Reasoned Choice Media, another iHeart-backed podcast network, which launched last year and focuses on politics and policy issues.
The Black Effect podcast network was established during “The Breakfast Club” contract renewal talks in 2020. iHeartMedia’s Digital Audio Group CEO Conal Byrne tells Variety it was an easy decision for iHeart to make.
“Charlamagne came to us and said he sees a crisis of underrepresentation beginning to happen in podcasting,” Byrne says. “He said, ‘I think I have a solution to this. I just need iHeart’s support.’ What I think he really meant was, ‘I just need iHeart to follow my lead and try to keep up’,” says Byrne.
Five years later, Black Effect Podcast Network has surpassed more than 1 billion downloads in total across its titles.
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