UrbanGeekz 50 2024: Digital Media

Devon Johnson – Bleu Media Group / BOMASI

Devon Johnson is a media and marketing maven with a mandate of inclusivity and diversity. He is passionate about the importance of print media, especially in communities of color, and advocates for media equity and sustainability.

Devon co-founded the Black Owned Media Equity & Sustainability Institute (BOMESI), a non-profit organization that supports and empowers Black-owned media outlets to thrive and grow. 

The Ivy-league Harvard graduate in Journalism started his career at Def Jam Records and moved on to Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Atlantic Records, collaborating on projects for artists like Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Mariah Carey, Trey Songz, and Rihanna. 

He then published Bleu Magazine, the aspirational lifestyle magazine for multicultural men serving diverse audiences worldwide. Devon expanded it into a media empire called BleuLife Media Group with a global reach and scope. The full-scale media company speaks to the modern and aspirational multicultural male audience through print, digital, podcasts, events, and influencers.

BleuLife Media Group’s platforms now include Bleu Magazine, its sister digital platform, Bombshellbybleu.com, Bleu TV, a podcast network, a geo-targeting mobile ad platform, and an agency representing digital influencers.

He has participated in the JP Morgan Chase Founders Forward Program, Graduate Financial Scalability Program, and Graduate Pipeline Accelerator.

Byron Allen – The Grio / Allen Media Group 

Byron Allen is an American entrepreneur, film and television producer, and comedian. As a teenager, he started his long and illustrious career in comedy and entertainment. He founded Entertainment Studios, a U.S. media company interested in television production, broadcasting, film production, and digital media.

The company, founded in 2003, has grown through a series of acquisitions, including film distributor Freestyle Releasing, TheGrio, HBCU GO, The Weather Channel, an equity stake in Sinclair Broadcast Group’s acquisition of the Fox Sports Networks, and more than two dozen ABC, NBC, CBS, and Fox network affiliate television stations. In 2022, the company was valued at over $4.5 billion.

Now 62, Allen made headlines this year for his mammoth $14.3 billion offer for Paramount Global. If his bid is successful, Allen plans to sell the Paramount film studio, real estate, and some other intellectual property. He intends to keep the TV channels, including the Paramount+ streaming service, and run them more cost-efficiently. 

His philanthropic work includes hosting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s annual Dinner of Champions. Allen has received numerous awards, including a Daytime Emmy for hosting Cars. TV., and was named one of the Bloomberg 50 in 2018. 

In 2023, he was awarded the USC McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative Champion Award in recognition of his leadership in media. In February 2023, the African American Student Union of the Harvard Business School presented Allen with its inaugural “Legendary Honor.

Charles D. King – Macro

Charles D. King is a producer, visionary, trailblazer, angel investor, entrepreneur, and dedicated philanthropist. He is the founder and CEO of MACRO, a multi-platform media company representing the voices and perspectives of people of color. 

The company has multiple business verticals, including a film and television studio, talent and influencer management divisions, a branding and creative agency, and an affiliated venture firm.

Before launching MACRO in 2015, Charles formerly was a Partner/Agent in the Motion Picture Department at William Morris Endeavor (WME). He is the first African American to rise from the BH office film and TV group training program to Partner in that company’s 100+ year history and the first African American partner of any major talent agency.

Charles has been recognized in Fortune, The New York Times Magazine, Fast Company, NPR, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Complex, Essence, and countless other publications. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. 

He sits on several nonprofit boards, including the Sundance Institute, the NBA Players Association, Think 450, and College Track, where he serves as National Vice President. Charles holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and a Juris Doctor from Howard University School of Law.

 Munson Steed – Rolling Out

A media visionary, Munson Steed, has spent over 27 years shaping Rolling Out, a leading urban lifestyle brand, into a multifaceted platform. Steed, the founder and CEO, champions Black voices and achievements that are often overlooked elsewhere. Rolling Out has transcended its magazine roots, celebrating Black success stories and fostering community empowerment through education and outreach initiatives like the Steed Society. Committed to inclusivity, Steed inspires future generations through children’s books and other ventures, encouraging Black youth to embrace their heritage and become leaders. He is a tireless advocate for increased representation of African Americans in media.

Main Image: Rhonesha Byng–Founder and CEO of Her Agenda