Uproxx
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital media, Entertainment |
| Founded | 2008 |
| Founder | Jarret Myer, Brian Brater |
| Headquarters | Culver City , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Jarret Myer (CEO and Publisher), Rich Antoniello (Partner and Executive Chairman), will.i.am (Partner, Investor, Chief Visionary Officer), Benjamin Blank (former CEO) |
| Products | Digital content, original video productions, branded entertainment |
Number of employees | 110 (2017) |
| Parent | Uproxx Studios (independent since 2024) |
Uproxx Studios (branded as UPROXX) is a U.S.-based digital platform and content studio specializing in music, entertainment, and popular culture. It was launched in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater. Following its acquisition by Woven Digital in 2014—an entity later rebranded as Uproxx Media Group—it joined the Warner Music Group portfolio in August 2018, with Myer maintaining his role as publisher leading day-to-day operations.
In April 2024, Myer collaborated with Rich Antoniello and will.i.am to establish the independent firm Uproxx Studios. This new company took ownership of Uproxx along with HipHopDX and Dime Magazine after acquiring them from Warner Music Group.
History
Founded in 2008 by Jarret Myer and Brian Brater—who previously co-founded the hip hop label Rawkus Records in 1996—Uproxx quickly positioned itself within digital media.
Woven Digital purchased Uproxx in April 2014. That same year, Woven secured $18 million in Series A funding aimed at expanding Uproxx’s workforce and video production capabilities. Myer joined Woven Digital as general manager of publishing. As Woven’s flagship brand, Uproxx attracted an audience of 40 million monthly visitors. The company’s headquarters were located in Culver City, supported by production hubs in New York City and Chicago, operating a comprehensive production studio that developed original sponsored video content.
Seeking to broaden its portfolio, Uproxx acquired Dime Magazine in January 2015 to enhance its sports journalism. The expansion continued with the purchase of HitFix in 2016, marking entry into film and television coverage. By March 2017, the team had grown to 110 employees. Benjamin Blank assumed the CEO role in November 2016.
In August 2018, Warner Music Group acquired Uproxx and its associated assets for an undisclosed amount; prior investments totaling roughly $43 million provide insight into the company's valuation range. In February 2024, Warner announced intentions to divest its media properties to concentrate on core music operations. Subsequently, Myer, Antoniello, and will.i.am acquired Uproxx, HipHopDX, and Dime Magazine to form the newly independent Uproxx Studios. The venture also secured a contract to manage Warner Music’s YouTube media sales within the United States. Leadership roles included Myer as CEO; Antoniello as partner and executive chairman; will.i.am joining as partner, investor, and chief visionary officer. Journalist Elliott Wilson was appointed editorial director responsible for hip-hop content across all three brands.
Content
Uproxx’s editorial scope encompasses entertainment and popular culture, covering areas such as fashion, music, and sports. Video content represents a core focus, featuring both original productions and branded partnerships. Following acquisition by Woven Digital, Uproxx intensified its video strategy by launching web series alongside longer-form projects designed to boost market engagement.
The platform’s inaugural original series, Luminaries, debuted in 2015 spotlighting emerging scientists and inventors; it amassed 18.5 million views within four months and earned a nomination for a Webby Award. That year also saw growth in sponsored video series including Human, which showcased artisans and was sponsored by Coors Banquet, as well as Uncharted: Power of Dreams, a music-centric program created in collaboration with Honda that received a Clio Award in 2016. In 2017, Uproxx produced branded content for Checkers featuring rapper Rick Ross, exemplifying its leadership in branded entertainment.
In June 2021, Uproxx partnered with Pilot Boy Productions to launch People's Party with Talib Kweli, a podcast co-created by rapper Talib Kweli and Jarret Myer. This weekly interview format aired on the Luminary podcast network. The following year saw the premiere of Fresh Pair, a web series hosted by hip-hop producer Just Blaze alongside sneaker designer Katty Customs; the show returned for a second season in 2023, underscoring Uproxx’s ongoing dedication to culturally relevant programming and digital media expansion.
Uproxx Music Critics Poll
Beginning in 2018, Uproxx has been organizing the Uproxx Music Critics Poll, which compiles rankings from selected music critics in a manner reminiscent of the former Village Voice Pazz & Jop survey. The poll has highlighted several distinguished albums and tracks as its top selections:
- Albums
| Year | Artist | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Kacey Musgraves | Golden Hour |
| 2019 | Lana Del Rey | Norman Fucking Rockwell! |
| 2020 | Fiona Apple | Fetch the Bolt Cutters |
| 2021 | Japanese Breakfast | Jubilee |
| 2022 | Beyoncé | Renaissance |
| 2023 | Boygenius | The Record |
- Songs
| Year | Artist | Song |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Ariana Grande | "Thank U, Next" |
| 2019 | N/A | N/A |
| 2020 | Phoebe Bridgers | "I Know the End" |
| 2021 | Olivia Rodrigo | "Good 4 U" |
| 2022 | Beyoncé | "Break My Soul" |
| 2023 | Boygenius | "Not Strong Enough" |