85 South Media

What 85 South Media does

85 South Media Co. is a privately-held, Atlanta-based comedy entertainment company operating a multi-platform content business anchored by the flagship podcast "The 85 South Show," hosted by DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean. The company operates Channel 85, a proprietary video streaming platform hosting original comedy programming, alongside a portfolio of branded podcast series including Broken Play (hosted by Navv Greene), English Majors (hosted by Clayton English), Five On It, Run 1, Rebel Radio, and Pour Minds. Its managed talent roster extends beyond the core trio to include comedians such as Moneybag Mafia, Lewis Belt, Justin Whitehead, and Pour Minds.

The business produces content across audio podcasts (distributed on SoundCloud, iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts), video streaming (Channel 85, YouTube), and live events. Production infrastructure is centered at 85 Wayz Studios, which houses Pour Minds Studio, Broken Play Studio, the 85 South Show Studio, and editing suites; the studios are also offered for external booking. The company's first Netflix comedy special, "85 South: Ghetto Legends," premiered globally on June 20, 2023, filmed at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, marking its entry into premium streaming distribution and mainstream validation. The company has since appeared at the Netflix Is a Joke Festival at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles and operates an active national touring schedule, including the Spin The Block Tour across markets such as Charlotte, Dallas, Birmingham, Chicago, Fairfax, New Orleans, Raleigh, Austin, Baton Rouge, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Los Angeles, with individual talent tours including Karlous Miller's Raleigh residency (Aug 2026) and Chico Bean's Long Hair Don't Care Tour 2026.

Revenue is generated through five primary streams: podcast advertising and sponsorships, direct-to-consumer merchandise via 85 Apparel Company (85apparelco.com), talent bookings and management for live performances, Netflix licensing for comedy specials, and subscription revenue from Channel 85. The go-to-market motion is community-led and event-driven, monetizing a fan community ("85%ers") across audio, video, live, and merchandise touchpoints. The customer base consists of comedy and urban entertainment enthusiasts (primarily African American audiences seeking freestyle and unfiltered comedy content) and event promoters/venues seeking high-engagement comedy talent. No public financials, funding rounds, or ownership disclosures beyond the core talent are available.

Name

85 South Media

Legal name

85 South Media Co.

Website

https://85southshow.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

85 South Media is an Atlanta-based, privately-held comedy entertainment company producing multi-platform comedy content anchored by The 85 South Show podcast and a managed roster of comedians, monetizing via Netflix specials, the Channel 85 streaming platform, national live tours, merchandise, and talent bookings for urban comedy audiences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Comedy Entertainment Media

NAICS

Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (51212)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Transactional VOD Distribution (TVOD) (MPADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Free TV / Syndication Distribution (MPADAJAI)

Keywords

• Comedy podcast production
• Live comedy tours
• Video streaming platform
• Talent management services
• Branded merchandise sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Atlanta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Podcast Advertising and Sponsorships: Revenue from podcast advertising across their multiple shows distributed on SoundCloud, iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
2. 85 Apparel Merchandise: Direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through 85apparelco.com featuring apparel branded with their logo and designs.
3. Talent Bookings and Management: Management and booking of comedians including Justin Whitehead, Navv Greene, Moneybag Mafia, Lewis Belt, and Pour Minds for live performances, appearances, and tours.
4. Netflix Comedy Specials: Netflix distribution deal for comedy specials including '85 South: Ghetto Legends' premiered June 20, 2023, filmed at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta.
5. Channel 85 Subscriptions: Subscription-based streaming platform for original comedy content, featuring exclusive episodes and live show recordings.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

85 South Media is a multi-platform comedy entertainment company that produces and distributes original comedy content through podcasts (The 85 South Show, Broken Play, English Majors, Five On It, Pour Minds), a proprietary video streaming platform (Channel 85), and a Netflix comedy special. The company also operates a branded merchandise line (85 Apparel Company), offers production studio rentals (85 Wayz Studios), and provides talent management and booking services for its roster of comedians.

Product overview

85 South Media is a comedy entertainment company operating as a multi-platform content business. The core product is The 85 South Show podcast hosted by DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean, which serves as the flagship of a broader content network. The company operates Channel 85 as its dedicated video streaming platform, alongside multiple branded podcast series including Broken Play (sports/entertainment hosted by Navv Greene), English Majors (comedy interview show hosted by Clayton English), and Five On It (comedy specials). Additional talent properties include Moneybag Mafia and Pour Minds podcast. The company generates revenue through live comedy tours (Spin The Block Tour), a merchandise line (85 Apparel Company), talent booking services, and studio production capabilities at 85 Wayz Studios. Their first Netflix comedy special '85 South: Ghetto Legends' premiered in June 2023, marking their debut on major streaming platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The 85 South Show Flagship comedy podcast hosted by DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean featuring freestyle conversations, celebrity guests, and unfiltered comedy. Distributed on SoundCloud, iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.
• Channel 85 Proprietary video streaming platform featuring original comedy content from The 85 South Show network, including exclusive episodes, live show recordings, and content from managed talent such as Desi Banks, Moneybag Mafia, and Navv Greene. Available on a subscription basis.
• Broken Play Sports and entertainment podcast hosted by Navv Greene, featuring discussions on sports, culture, and celebrity conversations. Distributed weekly on Channel 85 and podcast platforms.
• English Majors Comedy interview series hosted by Clayton English featuring celebrity guests and comedic conversations.
• Five On It Comedy special series featuring live performances and audience interactions from the 85 South Show talent, including live shows at YouTube Theater during the Netflix Is a Joke Festival.
• Pour Minds Podcast co-hosted by Drea Nicole and Lex P featuring weekly conversations about relationships, music, and life in your 30s, with industry guests.
• 85 Apparel Company Direct-to-consumer merchandise line featuring branded apparel including t-shirts, hoodies, and accessories, sold via 85apparelco.com.
• 85 Wayz Studios Production studio available for booking, featuring multiple studios including Pour Minds Studio, Broken Play Studio, 85 South Show Studio, and editing suites for multi-format content creation.
• Talent Booking Services Talent management and booking services representing established and rising entertainment stars including Pour Minds, Moneybag Mafia, Lewis Belt, Navv Greene, and Justin Whitehead for live performances, appearances, and tours.
• 85 South: Ghetto Legends (Netflix Comedy Special) Netflix comedy special featuring DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean, marking their first global streaming comedy debut. Filmed at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta.
• Spin The Block Tour National comedy tour featuring live performances by DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller, and Chico Bean at major venues in Charlotte, Dallas, Birmingham, Chicago, Fairfax (Virginia), New Orleans, Raleigh, Austin, Baton Rouge, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Los Angeles.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Netflix comedy special '85 South: Ghetto Legends' premiered globally June 20, 2023

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• NetflixcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 June 2023Netflix streaming deal for '85 South: Ghetto Legends' comedy special premiered globally June 20, 2023. The special was filmed in December 2022 at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, directed by Stan Lathan. This partnership provides mainstream distribution and validates the talent's mainstream appeal.
• Channel 85coreTechnology or IntegrationProprietary streaming platform that hosts all original comedy content including The 85 South Show, Broken Play, English Majors, Five On It, and other managed talent content. Provides direct-to-consumer access for subscribers.
• TicketmastermajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary ticketing partner for live comedy tour events including Karlous Miller Raleigh residency and other national tour dates.
• Podcast Distribution PlatformsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAudio content distribution partnerships with SoundCloud, iHeart, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts for podcast content availability.
• 85 Apparel CompanymajorOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerMerchandise partner for branded apparel including tees, hoodies, and accessories. Earn Your Leisure (EYL) and other creators have been featured wearing 85 South branded merchandise.
• Comedy Venues (Funny Bone, Uptown, Stardome)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremier comedy venues hosting 85 South managed talent for live performances and residencies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kill Tony: Long-form improv comedy podcast featuring rotating guests and live tour tie-ins, monetized through live shows and video content. Closely comparable as a personality-driven comedy podcast that converts podcast audience into a national live touring business.
• The Breakfast Club: Morning radio show and podcast covering hip-hop culture, celebrity interviews, and urban entertainment. Directly comparable as a personality-driven urban-culture audio brand that monetizes across digital and live channels.
• All Things Comedy: Comedy podcast network founded by Bill Burr and Al Madrigal that produces and distributes multiple comedy podcasts under a shared brand. Directly comparable to 85 South Media's model of running a flagship show alongside managed-talent spin-offs with a unified comedy brand.
• Vibe: Urban entertainment media brand covering hip-hop, R&B, and Black culture across digital, social, and video. Comparable as a media company serving the same urban/Black entertainment audience with multi-format content and lifestyle extensions.
• Barstool Sports: Multi-platform digital media company spanning podcasts, video, social, and merchandise around distinct personalities. Comparable as a personality-first media business that converts audience affinity into live events, merchandise, and owned content verticals.

Others

• Netflix: Global streaming service that licensed 85 South's first comedy special. Directly comparable as a distribution and monetization partner rather than a competitor, and a benchmark for the premium streaming tier 85 South aspires to access with additional specials.
• Spotify: Global audio streaming platform and one of 85 South's primary podcast distribution channels. Relevant as the dominant podcast/audio discovery surface whose algorithm and economics materially affect 85 South's audience acquisition.

Broad incumbents

• Def Jam Recordings: Historic hip-hop and urban music label under Universal Music Group. Comparable as an established urban-entertainment IP holder targeting the same core demographic through recorded content, live experiences, and brand extensions.
• iHeartMedia: Largest US radio broadcaster and podcast publisher, owner of iHeartPodcasts. Comparable as the operator of one of 85 South's primary distribution platforms and a producer of comparable personality-driven urban audio content.
• Comedy Central: Major cable and streaming comedy brand producing stand-up specials, scripted content, and live events. Comparable as a much larger incumbent that monetizes comedy IP across TV, streaming, and live channels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC4m46pCBkMEyy8gk26WKqbA
• Facebookfacebook.com/85southshow
• Instagraminstagram.com/85southshow
• Xx.com/85SouthShow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-85-south-show

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 85 South Media