Latest news with #HOT97
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Angie Martinez Speaks on Her New ‘IRL' Podcast and the Importance of Vulnerability in Her Interviews
How did Angie Martinez become The Voice of New York? She remained true to Angie Martinez. After beginning her tenure at HOT 97 as a teenager answering phones, Martinez skyrocketed to fame with 'The Angie Martinez Show.' Interviewing hip-hop icons such as The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac Shakur, Jay-Z, the show quickly became one of urban radio's most influential programs. Martinez has continued at Power 105.1, her 'Voice of New York' nickname hard won after years of being as authentic as possible within radio's parameters. On June 2, Martinez took the leap into podcasting to break out of those parameters. Titled IRL, the weekly pod aims to further expand on the radio host's signature brand: Exploring the human truth that binds us all together. More from Billboard 'Democracy Forward' Compilation Features Tracks From Michael Stipe, Wilco, Brandi Carlile, John Prine and Tyler Childers Gracie Abrams Shares Snippet of New Music & Gets Support From an Excited Olivia Rodrigo Cardi B Blasts Donald Trump's 'Dictatorship Vibe' Over ICE Raids & National Guard Deployment 'What is the truth of that?' Martinez tells me over Zoom. 'It sounds basic and simple, but [that question] really is what motivates me and pushes me. That's the button I'm always looking to hit. What's real here? What can we really get into?' While IRL was initially a grassroots-led effort via Martinez herself, she has now joined forces with The Volume to take this self-financed passion project to the next level. Having helped create some of hip-hop media's most successful podcasts (Club Shay Shay, Joe and Jada, Rory and Mal), The Volume will turn Martinez podcast into a weekly endeavor, with a big budget and even bigger expectations. 'I'll be honest, it is a little scary,' Martinez admits. 'Cause I don't ever wanna not give it the full effort that I'm giving to them now. There will need to be a little more time and effort to make sure every episode delivers in the same way, at a higher volume.' Regardless, Martinez reaffirms that she's up to the challenge. Below, Billboard talks with The Voice of New York about her pod, some of her favorite interviews so far and how reflections on her own mortality inspired her to enter the crowded podcasting sphere. How did IRL come together and how are you feeling about podcasting so far? It's been exactly what I wanted it to be. I started quietly and was self-funding it at first because I really wanted to control the creative and the narrative because it was special to me. I really wanted to have meaningful conversations. I had a really bad car accident five years ago and, you know, when something like that happens and you're reminded of your mortality, you ask yourself those important questions: 'What do you really care about?' 'What do you really wanna do?' I just wanted to have more meaningful conversations on that level. So that's why Lauren London was my first guest. She set the tone of the type of conversations I wanted to have, and people really resonated with it. I just did it from a place of purpose. That's interesting what you said about having authentic conversations, because to me that's been the Angie Martinez brand for years now. How have these conversations been different from the ones you have on radio? Any conversation I have whether on the podcast or radio or in my real life I'm always searching for authenticity. That's the core of who I am, so that's gonna be with me no matter where my conversation is, but the difference is radio is more about what's happening today. What is current? What is trending? What is the news story of the day? It's very current, and I love that! But the conversations on the podcast are specifically designed to be tools for people in their real life. So yes, somebody happens to be really famous or talented, but these are the things real life has taught them. It's a very specific conversation that's different than what we're doin on the day to day with radio. How have you navigated the challenges of carving your own lane in the podcast space? It feels like everyone's got a podcast. It really has gotten bloated, even from the time we launched to now! But you can't worry about that. It's the same thing as music. There's a lot of music out, but there's podcasts of certain things people need from certain artists. I just think people who know me and know my brand they know what they're gonna get. Actually — how's this for a name drop? — I was talking to Michelle Obama the other day. Casual. That might be the coolest thing I've ever said! She was calling into my show, because she has [a show too] and she told me there's always white space, there's always a need. There's always people out there — even though it's busy in a lot of spaces. When you have a unique perspective and viewpoint, there's space for that. So I try not to [overthink], I'm gonna let the Volume deal with that. When I get in the chair I just try to make content that matters to someone. Tell me more about this deal with Volume, how is this gonna bring the podcast to the next level? We're definitely gonna be regular now. [IRL] kinda just came when the wind came and we had time to shoot it, now this will be a weekly podcast, for sure. You're gonna know when to expect us. After all your years talking to people, what do you think the key is to conducting a good interview? I don't think there's one thing, but I think it starts with listening. Sometimes you can have an agenda, or a thought like, 'Oh this would be a really cool thing to talk about with this person.' That person sits in the chair and that's not where they're at in their life! Or they just had something happen in their life the day before — which, if you're not paying attention to them, listening to their story or being present with them, you could miss it. But also, I find my best interviews are when there's something going on in my life that connects. I try to find the common denominator, the little piece of life that this person and I can look at and see each other. It goes back to meeting people at an honest place. What are a few of your favorite moments on the podcast so far? Some of my favorite conversations so far have been one's where it's not an interview at all. I did an interview with Kelly Rowland, [she] had a very similar situation where she grew up without her father, reunited with him later in life. I shared an experience with her that I just recently had where I found out my father was alive when I thought he was dead. The way Kelly saw me, it became two women talking about a situation we both felt deeply and could understand. There's so many great ones, Kelly Clarkson was great. Lauren London taught us so much about grief and how to survive on the other side of that, because I was coming off of having lost some family members while I was launching this pod. So talking about that was really the blueprint for how I wanted this show to go. I had an interesting conversation with Mike Tyson about anger and rage, Mike was telling me they did a scan of his brain and you could literally see rage in his brain. Something about knowing that you can see the rage inside Mike Tyson on a brain scan, it made me look at him in a different way. Knowing he walks around life trying to manage that. On other radio programs like , there are other people to bounce off of in these environments. But it's been just Angie Martinez the whole time. With people coming to specifically for you and your takes, how do you make sure the goal of the pod gets met while also keeping your personal boundaries stay in tact? Yes, thank you for noticing that! Honestly, If I take anybody to a certain place, I have to be prepared to go there with them. We're in the boat together, and it's come up a lot more in the pod. But at this point in my life, I'm not afraid to share, so I feel the pod is giving me that opportunity to dig into that a little more…you're either in it or you're not, and I'm in it! If not me, then whom — and if not now, then when? Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Business Wire
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
HOT 97 Celebrates Success of the 31st Annual Summer Jam
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HOT 97 (WQHT), the world's premier destination for hip hop culture and music, is proud to celebrate the resounding success of the 31st Annual Summer Jam, which took place on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. From the Who's Next Festival Stage in the afternoon to a sold-out evening inside the arena, Summer Jam 2025 brought out the culture's biggest stars and brightest newcomers. With over 15,000 fans in attendance, the stacked main stage lineup featured A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Gunna, GloRilla, Muni Long, Asake, Ayra Starr, Ja Rule and Friends, and more, delivering unforgettable performances. The 32nd Annual Summer Jam is scheduled to return in June 2026, promising to be even bigger. 'Summer Jam 2025 was a smash hit and as part of our partnership with Afro-urban media powerhouse Trace, HOT 97 brought a new voice to the main stage with three standout African artists—underscoring the global rise of Afrobeats and reinforcing HOT 97's position as a cultural leader in music,' said Kudjo Sogadzi, EVP, HOT 97. 'With this momentum, HOT 97 is already looking ahead to Winter Fest this December in Brooklyn and an even bigger and bolder Summer Jam in 2026.' HOT 97's digital platforms played a key role in amplifying the event's reach far beyond the arena. The station's unique HOT97 app and all major social media channels streamed a live special, Summer Jam Backstage with Miabelle, featuring real-time coverage, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and artist interviews, resulting in record-breaking engagement. Social engagement was up by over 1,000% reaching over 38 million users worldwide and on the HOT 97 web and app platform unique visitors were up nearly 80% over prior year. 'We're creating a new era of Summer Jam that lives across every screen,' said Jim Carr, SVP of Digital Product & Innovation for MediaCo. 'From livestreams on Twitch and exclusive YouTube drops to viral TikTok moments and interactive backstage chats with artists, we're connecting hip hop fans everywhere—not just in the seats, but in their feeds.' Between sets, fans were also treated to a sneak peek of the upcoming release of HOT 97 TV, a brand-new Connected TV platform designed for fans of hip hop, R&B, Afrobeats, and all things music, lifestyle, and culture. The growth and success of video content has led to the launch of HOT 97 TV FAST Channel this summer. 'We have seen so much engagement with our social and streaming video content that we are going even bigger with Connected TV video and launching the Hot 97 TV FAST Channel this summer, 'said MediaCo Chief Operating Officer René Santaella. 'HOT 97 fans are telling us they want more and HOT 97 TV will be the place where Hip Hop and Afro culture live 24/7 with real stories, music, entertainment programming and live events.' ABOUT HOT 97 & MEDIACO HOT 97 parent company MediaCo Holding Inc. (Nasdaq: MDIA) is a diverse-owned, diverse-targeted media business. MediaCo stands at the forefront of entertainment and news, uniquely positioned as a leader in reaching multicultural audiences. Through its diverse portfolio of digital, television and radio properties including EstrellaTV, Estrella News, HOT 97, WBLS and Que Buena LA, MediaCo engages over 20 million people every month, delivering a dynamic mix of free, ad-supported streaming and terrestrial entertainment, music, and news across all major media platforms and on all devices.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
MediaCo Unveils Estrella Media 2025 Programming Slate, Launches HOT 97 FAST Channel
At MediaCo's IAB Newfronts, the company highlighted Estrella Media show "Don Cheto Al Aire Live" and ... More the launch of a 24/7 HOT 97 TV FAST Channel. MediaCo MediaCo unveiled its 2025 programming slate and a shift in its business strategy at this year's IAB NewFronts, positioning itself as a multicultural, multiplatform media company targeting Hispanic and Black audiences. Among the key highlights, the company is launching a HOT 97 TV FAST Channel and showcased EstrellaTV's featured programming: Don Cheto Al Aire Live , reality talent show Tengo Talento Mucho Talento: Nueva Era , and Tigres Liga MX Soccer. It also announced expanded content distribution and advertising partnerships. Following the completion of its acquisition of Estrella Media's operations and broadcast assets on May 1st, MediaCo is looking to bolster its profile and reach by capitalizing on the combined strength of its Spanish-language radio, television and streaming properties across the country, alongside New York urban stations HOT 97 and WBLS, now reaching over 20 million people monthly. "It's a new day for Estrella Media, Hot 97, and WBLS — now together under MediaCo. We have built an organization capable of delivering unparalleled solutions across video, audio, and events for national and local advertisers on all platforms, reaching vibrant multicultural Hispanic and Black audiences," says Albert Rodriguez, Interim CEO. Most of MediaCo's assets are Estrella Media broadcast and streaming properties whose content is in Spanish. The change in course boils down to economics, explains René Santaella, COO of MediaCo. "In today's new media and entertainment environment where you are competing against big players and independent creators, success is driven by achieving massive scale with lower operating margins," states Santaella, a former former Sony and Disney ad sales and media executive hired to overhaul Estrella Media's digital division in 2020. "The broader content story doesn't mean you are pivoting from your roots. It means you are being smarter, faster and more innovative on how you are meeting audiences where they are consuming content.There are three critical success factors that drive our focus every day: scale, differentiation and hustle." A key component of MediaCo's strategy is its expansion into streaming through FAST channels.The new 24/7 HOT 97 TV FAST Channel will feature hip-hop and Afro culture programming, including Summer Jam coverage and Ebro in the Morning . It plans to replicate the Don Cheto Al Aire Live TV and streaming video best practices for Ebro in the Morning . "The launch of HOT 97 TV is taking an iconic radio brand and making sure it rides the wave of CTV streaming growth," says Santaella,"We are capitalizing on our brands but also our expertise in streaming TV, distribution, monetization and operations." The company is currently building a new New York studio with specs and capabilities based on what has been done in Burbank for Don Cheto Al Aire , while working closely with talent. The "new era" of talent show "Tengo Mucho Talento" returns to EstrellaTV after a two-year hiatus. MediaCo MediaCo also announced new EstrellaTV affiliates in Boston, Springfield (MA), Colorado Springs, and San Angelo (TX), as well as distribution and advertising partnerships with Hemisphere Media, Curiosity Stream, and DO IT Outdoors, further expanding its reach across platforms and audiences. Here's MediaCo's programming lineup: EstrellaTV Don Cheto Al Aire: L.A.'s nationally syndicated morning show, featuring Don Cheto and co-hosts Said, Gisselle, and Chino. now live across EstrellaTV Network, FAST Channel, App, YouTube and Facebook with real-time fan interaction. Tengo Talento, Mucho Talento: Nueva Era: The talent competition returns after a two-year hiatus with judges Pepe Garza, Los Dos Carnales, Pancho Barraza, and guests. Tigres Liga MX Soccer: Live Spanish-language coverage of men's and women's Tigres matches on EstrellaTV platforms with expert commentary . Alarma TV: Viral news show returns with new hosts Hany Portocarrero and Cynthia Alesco, airing nightly at 9PM on EstrellaTV. L to R: Laura Stylez, Ebro Darden and Peter Rosenberg, hosts of "Ebro in the Morning." MediaCo HOT 97 TV FAST Channel Summer Jam Live Special: Exclusive coverage of Hot 97's music festival featuring red carpet arrivals, backstage interviews with top Hip Hop stars. Ebro in the Morning: Popular morning show now live on both Hot 97 radio and TV, hosted by Ebro Darden, Laura Stylez, and Rosenberg. Trace Awards 2026: Global celebration of Afro music and culture following the successful 2025 Zanzibar edition that garnered 500 million impressions. Nessa On Air: Radio personality Nessa brings her voice from radio to screen in a TV show format. Funk Flex Freestyles: Half-hour series hosted by DJ Funk Flex showcasing iconic hip-hop freestyle sessions past and present, features behind-the-scenes insights. Bridging Cultures: New Trace series exploring intersections between Afro and Hip Hop culture and their influence worldwide.
