Hollywood Unlocked
Provider of a platform intended to offer Hollywood news and social contents of music, fashion, lifestyle, shows and video.
| Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| investor | €0.0 | round | |
* | $1.7m | Seed | |
| Total Funding | 000k | ||
Hollywood Unlocked operates as a multi-faceted digital media and entertainment company, focusing on celebrity news and pop culture with an emphasis on Black culture and representation. The company was founded in 2015 by Jason Lee, a media personality who leveraged his experience from reality television shows like "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" into a significant entrepreneurial venture. Lee's personal journey, marked by a challenging upbringing in Stockton, California—including experiences in the foster care system and family tragedies—fueled his ambition to build a platform for authentic voices. Prior to his media career, Lee worked as a labor union director, where he began cultivating relationships with Hollywood figures.
The company's business model is diversified across several revenue streams. It generates income through digital advertising on its news platform, programmatic ads on its YouTube content, and merchandise sales. Hollywood Unlocked also engages in brand partnerships and culture consulting, helping brands connect with its engaged, millennial-heavy audience. The business operates a portfolio of media products, including its flagship website, which provides breaking news and articles, and a strong social media presence with millions of followers. A key asset is its original programming, most notably "The Jason Lee Show," a talk show featuring candid interviews with A-list celebrities that is distributed on platforms like Revolt TV and Zeus Network. Another significant venture is the annual Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, a high-profile event that honors influential figures in media, music, and film, which also provides sponsorship opportunities and content for the Zeus Network.
In early 2023, Hollywood Unlocked secured approximately $1.7 million in a seed funding round from investors including Hidden Empire Film Group, Brown Venture Group, and Black Capital, which valued the company at over $50 million. This capital was earmarked for expanding its digital platform, business operations, and educational initiatives. These initiatives include the "Millionaire Media Unlocked" online course, designed to teach others how to build successful blogs and podcasts, and philanthropic efforts through the Hollywood Cares Foundation to support at-risk youth.
Keywords: Jason Lee, celebrity news, pop culture, Black culture, digital media, entertainment news, The Jason Lee Show, Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards, media platform, gossip blog, celebrity interviews, brand partnerships, culture consulting, Revolt TV, Zeus Network, Black-owned media, social commentary, entertainment industry, pop culture analysis, media mogul