NEW YORK, N.Y. – January 10, 2023 – iHeartMedia, the number one audio company in America, today announced “iHeartRadio Presents: 50 Years of Hip-Hop,” a yearlong celebration of hip-hop and its impact on today’s society and culture. iHeartMedia will dedicate its multi-platform assets including broadcast radio, streaming, podcast and nationally recognized events and massive reach to share the story of artists and creators who pioneered the hip-hop sound, and the iconic superstars that followed who created the sounds that dominate music and culture today.

“Over the last five decades hip-hop has evolved from a burgeoning fringe genre to one of the biggest selling formats in music and a leading force in global culture,” said Doc Wynter, President of Hip-Hop and R&B Programming for iHeartMedia. “We look forward to celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout the year with the artists and creators that shaped this genre.”

Beginning this February 2023, iHeartRadio will launch a yearlong, 12-part iHeartPodcast series, “50 Years of Hip-Hop,” with iconic hip-hop pioneer Fab 5 Freddy, sharing the stories of the people and events that changed the culture forever.

iHeartRadio will continue the celebration of hip-hop’s anniversary by creating memorable moments throughout 2023 across its platforms and live events including:  

• In February and in conjunction with Black History Month, iHeartRadio will create custom vignettes with top recording artists including 50 Cent, Diddy, E-40, French Montana, GloRilla, Ice Cube, NLE Choppa, T.I., Toosii, Young Dro and more, sharing personal stories of what made them fall in love with hip-hop that will air across its broadcast stations and on the iHeartRadio App.
• In March, during the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards, iHeartRadio will pay a special tribute to Def Jam Records, the world’s first Hip-Hop record label. Additionally in March, iHeartRadio will shine a light on the women of hip-hop as part of its celebration of International Women’s Day set to air on March 8, 2023.
• Throughout the spring and summer, and in conjunction with Black Music Month in June, iHeartRadio will produce vignettes highlighting how hip-hop has inspired some of today’s biggest artists to air across broadcast stations and the iHeartRadio App.
• In August, “iHeartRadio’s Living Black!” returns, celebrating the power of Black culture and its impact on the world. The celebration culminates with an hourlong special produced by Emmy and Grammy Award winning, Rikki Hughes. The event will be promoted on over 550 stations, honoring the Black community and paying homage to modern day history makers and trend setters who have shaped culture, along with performances from some of the biggest names in music.

The yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop will culminate with special tributes to hip-hop and once in a lifetime performances at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Festival in September and at the iHeartRadio Jingle Ball Tour 2023 in December.