Joe Budden Network on Track for $20M in 2025, Fueled by Patreon and Ad Independence

Joe Budden’s pivot from mainstream music to independent podcasting continues to pay off in major ways. The former rapper turned media mogul is reportedly on track to earn more than $20 million this year through his Joe Budden Network, according to a recent profile in The New York Times.

The revelation comes months after Budden shared a screenshot of his Patreon dashboard back in June, showing earnings of over $900,000, a figure that now appears to represent only a portion of the network’s total monthly income.

Budden’s Patreon channel currently pulls in more than $1 million per month, driven by a tiered subscription model offering fans access to exclusive episodes and spinoff content. Subscriptions range from $5 to $50, while two standard episodes of The Joe Budden Podcast are still made available weekly for free.

In contrast to many popular podcasts, the Joe Budden Network sells its own advertisements, keeping full control over sponsorship revenue. The company is also completely independent, with no ties to major media firms or podcasting platforms.

“The bigger the money gets, the more strings that are attached,” said CEO Ian Schwartzman. “We wanted someone to acknowledge how valuable we were by showing that they would be comfortable giving us skin in the game.”

That philosophy influenced Budden’s decision to part ways with Spotify, where he had previously signed a licensing deal reportedly worth less than $2 million annually.

The deal did not include ad revenue sharing or stock options, and it required exclusivity. Budden later declined a $44 million two-year offer that would have forced the removal of all show content from YouTube.

Today, the network supports more than 30 independent contractors, with most expenses going to production staff and on-air talent.

When the leaked Patreon earnings caused a stir online, Budden responded in typical fashion, joking on Instagram, “Now everybody’s asked for a raise.”