Joe Budden is proving that independent media can be a powerhouse business model. The rapper turned media mogul has revealed that his podcast network is on track to bring in more than $20 million in 2025.
$20 mil? Well, sheesh.
While Budden unintentionally made headlines in June by posting a screenshot of his Patreon stats showing over $900,000 in earnings, that figure was just the tip of the iceberg. In a recent interview with The New York Times, Joe’s chief executive Ian Schwartzman confirmed that The Joe Budden Network is generating over $1 million per month from Patreon alone.
Subscribers pay between $5 and $50 monthly for access to bonus episodes, exclusive content, and spinoff shows. While two main podcast episodes are released for free each week, much of the revenue comes from these paid tiers, along with a steady stream of ad income.
Schwartzman explained the business mindset behind the growth. “The bigger the money gets, the more strings that are attached,” he said. “We wanted someone to acknowledge how valuable we were by showing that they would be comfortable giving us skin in the game.”
Budden’s network operates fully independent of any outside podcasting platforms or media conglomerates, and now supports more than 30 freelancers and contributors. Its largest ongoing expenses are the talent and the people behind the scenes who help run the operation.
When the Patreon numbers began circulating, Budden responded with humor on the Gram, posting, “Now everybody’s asked for a raise.”