March 23, 2021
Issa Rae’s Company Raedio Signs Partnership Deal with ViacomCBS
Issa Rae’s train just keeps picking up steam! ViacomCBS and MTV Entertainment Group have announced that they have signed a multiyear partnership with Issa Rae’s Raedio.
Through this partnership, which will be led by Raedio’s president Benoni Tagoe, will be allowing the audio-everywhere company to provide the global entertainment and content company with library catalog access and original music for the affiliated brands across its portfolio.
“At its core, Raedio is an audio-everywhere company that prides itself on not only reaching audiences across multiple mediums including film, television and podcasts, but also providing emerging artists with an opportunity to have their voices heard,” said Tagoe, president of Raedio in a written statement. “We’re excited to launch this partnership, which will give untapped talent an opportunity to have their work featured across the ViacomCBS portfolio. This relationship has been a natural progression as Raedio continues to cement itself as a dynamic leader in the music industry.”
The deal will kick off with the MTV Entertainment Group, under President Chris McCarthy. This will include MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, and CMT, with further plans to expand across the additional brands under ViacomCBS, including Showtime, BET, Nick, and more.
“We are thrilled about this unique collaboration with Raedio that not only will connect our audiences to fresh new music and voices but also create opportunities for up and coming artists,” said Bruce Gillmer, ViacomCBS president of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events.
ViacomCBS will have access to Raedio’s bespoke library, run by Vice President of Music Supervision & Library, Phillippe Pierre. The library features an array of musical genres from hip-hop to classical, pop to hybrid score, nostalgic R&B, Latin trap—and everything in-between.
ViacomCBS will also partner with Raedio to host writing camps to create original music for their programming. Raedio will also music supervise various installments across VH1’s Love & Hip Hop franchise, which is set to kick off later this year.