James DuBose#DuBose Entertainment

Born and raised in the Southern US city of Greensboro, North Carolina,{{Cite web |date=2021-09-04 |title=NC native had dark days on road to become entertainment exec |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-92ef4091a4cec08f9d05dc6c8e034959 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=AP News |language=en}}{{Cite book |title=This Week in Black History |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |year=2008 |volume=113 |issue=4 |pages=20 |issn=0021-5996}} during a turning point of the civil rights movement and throughout the pinnacle "desegregation and integration" era of Greensboro,{{Cite news |date=November 7, 2007 |title=Stay Tuned For More From TV Producer |work=News & Record |url=http://www.greensboro.com/life/stay-tuned-for-more-from-tv-producer/article_a2539c9e-2bfa-53c4-94ec-5b9ebafff744.html}} He was raised as an only child by his mother, Mary Ann DuBose, a single parent who was employed at the local AMP plant.{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Dawn |date=August 27, 2021 |title=Greensboro's James DuBose went through some dark days on road to successful career as entertainment executive |url=https://greensboro.com/news/local/watch-now-greensboros-james-dubose-went-through-some-dark-days-on-road-to-successful-career/article_651bb6f0-f572-11eb-a9ec-a39f77972195.html |website=Greensboro News & Record}}

DuBose attended Northeast Guilford Middle School before he transitioned to Northeast Guilford High School in McLeansville, North Carolina. He gained recognition as an elite athlete on both the football field and the basketball court. As a result, he received a full athletic football scholarship at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with Communications as his focused major of study. DuBose was a major team player of WSU's college football roster, as a defensive end for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/james-dubose-1.html|title=James DuBose|website=College Football Statistics and History}} As a senior, he was co-captain of the 1989 Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team.{{Cite web |title=James DuBose |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/james-dubose-1.html |website=Sports Reference}} On May 21, 1990, DuBose was officiated as a member of the Wake Forest University Graduating Class of 1990,{{Cite web |title=Commencement News Archive 1990 |url=https://commencement.news.wfu.edu/1990s/c1990/ |website=Wake Forest University}} presented with a Bachelor of Communications.{{Cite web |last=Relations |first=Office of Communications & External |date=2009-02-26 |title=Weathering Wake: The African-American Experience |url=http://news.wfu.edu/2009/02/26/weathering-wake-the-african-american-experience/ |access-date=2024-04-30 |website=Wake Forest News |language=en}}

Before launching DuBose Entertainment, DuBose served as president of Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs' Bad Boy Television under the Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment brand. DuBose is credited for his executive eye in captivating audiences while generating top-billing numbers.{{Cite web|url=http://www.langfieldentertainment.com/03-12-09-JDUBOSE.htm|title=Reality Check: Producer Re-Writing The Reality TV Rules|publisher=EuroWeb}}

In 2006, DuBose founded DuBose Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=ENSPIRE |first=Team |date=2022-02-19 |title=International Streaming Channel FOX Soul Celebrates Its Second Successful Year – ENSPIRE Magazine |url=https://enspiremag.com/2022/02/international-streaming-channel-fox-soul-celebrates-its-second-successful-year/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |language=en-US}} Within the first two years of operation, the Los Angeles production company had 45 employees.{{Cite web|url=http://news.wfu.edu/2010/11/19/life-is-reality-kick-for-alum/|title=Life is reality kick for alum|date=November 19, 2010|website=Wake Forest News}} Projects under the DuBose Entertainment banner include ComicView: One Mic Stand with Kevin Hart, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Monica: Still Standing, Tiny and Toya, Toya: A Family Affair, Trey Songz: My Moment, The Michael Vick Project, and Hell Date.{{Cite web |title=30 Minutes with James DuBose |url=https://summit.realscreen.com/2022/speakers/965392/jamesdubose/ |website=ReelScreen Summit}}

Efforts to form a music branch under the DuBose Entertainment banner led DuBose to join forces with rapper MC Lyte.{{Cite web|url=http://www.creativeloafing.com/news/article/13044763/bmfs-big-meech-approves-biopic-rights|title=BMF's Big Meech approves biopic rights|website=Getty Images}}{{Cite news|url=http://hiphopdx.com/news/id.9050/title.mc-lyte-named-executive-vp-of-dubose-entertainment|title=MC Lyte Named Executive VP of DuBose Entertainment|work=Hip Hop DX}} On August 27, 2009, MC Lyte took to her blog to announce the merger.{{Cite web|last=Lyte|first=MC|date=August 27, 2009|title=DUBOSE ENTERTAINMENT|url=http://okaysister.blogspot.ca/2009/08/dubose-entertainment.html}} "There is no doubt that James DuBose is a prolific producer," she wrote, "who has become the go to guy for some of today's biggest names." Two years later, the pair signed dancehall reggae artist Beenie Man to the music label.{{Cite news|url=http://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20160311/beenie-man-signs-us-rapper|title=Beenie Man signs US rapper|work=The Star}} That same year, R&B singer Tweet joined the growing artist roster of DuBose Music Group.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-tweet-explains-hiatus-20160224-story.html|title=R&B singer Tweet explains why it took her a decade to release a new album|date=February 25, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times}} In 2013, Tweet released a five-track EP, Simply Tweet, under the DuBose banner.

On January 13, 2020, DuBose led the official live-streamed launch of Fox Soul, a digital television network and streaming service operated by Fox Television Stations, audience-accessed through various digital streaming platforms including YouTube, YouTube TV, Fox Now, Samsung +, Roku, Tubi, Amazon Fire TV, The Web, Apple TV, Stirr, FuboTV, IOS, Android, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.{{Cite web |title=FOX Soul Watch Anywhere |url=https://foxsoul.tv/anywhere/}}

In May 2021, with a reported 44-million count of viewers, Fox Soul was green-lit to expand its Black culture-fuelled programming. With DuBose as head of programming, the streaming service successfully entered its second season.{{Cite web |date=May 4, 2021 |title=FOX SOUL Expands Original Programming To Push The Culture Forward |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fox-soul-expands-original-programming-to-push-the-culture-forward-301283541.html |website=PR Newswire}} "The partnerships with black talent and creators that we have been able to forge to date, speaks [sic] volumes to how the community is feeling about us here at FOX SOUL," DuBose told PR and mainstream media outlets.https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fox-soul-expands-original-programming-to-push-the-culture-forward-301283541.html

On September 30, 2022, Deadline Hollywood published word of FOX Soul's further expansion with a return of original flagship series on the network including The Black Report, The Book of Sean (hosted by Rev. Dr. Sean H. McMillian), The Business of Being Black with Tammi Mac, Cocktails with the Queens (co-hosted by Claudia Jordan, Vivica A. Fox, LisaRaye McCoy and Syleena Johnson),{{Cite web |title=FOX Soul Shows, Cocktails with the Queens |url=https://foxsoul.tv/shows/cocktails-with-queens/ |website=FOX Soul|date=September 6, 2020 }} and TEA G-I-F (co-hosted by Claudia Jordan, Al Reynolds and Funky Dineva aka Quentin Latham).{{Cite web |last=Complex |first=Valerie |date=September 30, 2022 |title=Fox Soul Releases New Fall 2022 Weekly Slate; The Platform Expands To Include Music, Sports, Finance Programming |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/fox-soul-releases-new-fall-2022-weekly-slate-the-platform-expands-1235132031/ |website=Deadline Hollywood}} "Fox Soul continues to expand on genres that we love, in a unique way. This fall, we are tapping further into music, sports and finance," said James DuBose, general manager and Head of Programming. "Fox Soul will continue to provide programming that tells the story behind the stories as we remain resolute in our mission to entertain, educate and inspire."

In February 2023, Fox Soul was recognized by the Biden White House as a game-changing network of choice trusted by 46th president of the United States of America Joe Biden.{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2023-02-10 |title=White House Says It's "Inaccurate" That Biden Will Sit Down for Pre-Super Bowl Interview With Fox |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/fox-news-joe-biden-skips-super-bowl-interview-1235322288/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} "The President was looking forward to an interview with Fox Soul to discuss the Super Bowl, the State of the Union, and critical issues impacting the everyday lives of Black Americans," read an announcement posted to the official Twitter account of 35th White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, surrounding the widely publicized pre-Super Bowl 57 presidential interview.{{Cite web |title=Fox, White House at odds over traditional pre-Super Bowl interview with President Biden |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/president-biden-super-bowl-interview-unlikely/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=February 12, 2023 |language=en-US}} "We’ve been informed that Fox Corp has asked for the interview to be cancelled."{{Cite web |date=2023-02-10 |title=The White House says Fox's pre-Super Bowl interview with President Biden is off |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-02-10/president-biden-bypasses-fox-news-for-pre-super-bowl-interview-on-fox-soul |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Jean-Pierre's social media announcement was highlighted by all mainstream media outlets including ABC, CBS, NBC,{{Cite web |title=White House and Fox struggle to agree on Biden Super Bowl interview |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/white-house-says-fox-canceled-bidens-super-bowl-interview-rcna70147 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=NBC News |date=February 11, 2023 |language=en}} and CNN.{{Cite web |last=Klein |first=Oliver Darcy,Betsy |date=2023-02-10 |title=White House says Biden's Super Bowl interview with Fox is off {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/10/media/biden-fox-news-super-bowl/index.html |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=CNN |language=en}} "The White House seeking out Fox Soul was seen as a way to have the president avoid appearing with a Fox News personality while still going through with an interview," wrote Politico California Bureau Chief Christopher Cadelago. "Biden’s team worked on landing an agreement with Fox Soul, a streaming outfit part of Fox’s TV stations division and geared toward a Black audience. White House officials had arranged for the interview to be conducted by Fox Sports host Mike Hill and actress Vivica A. Fox. Fox Soul general manager James DuBose had planned to produce the interview.{{Cite web |last1=Patten |first1=Ted Johnson,Dominic |last2=Johnson |first2=Ted |last3=Patten |first3=Dominic |date=2023-02-10 |title=Joe Biden Pre-Super Bowl Interview In Doubt Again As White House Has Yet To Re-Commit To Fox Soul Interview |url=https://deadline.com/2023/02/joe-biden-super-bowl-interview-fox-news-snub-1235255323/ |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} All three flew Friday from Los Angeles to Washington for the interview."{{Cite web |last=Cadelago |first=Christopher |title=Biden's Super Bowl interview appears off — for good |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/10/bidens-super-bowl-interview-00082428 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=POLITICO |date=February 10, 2023 |language=en}}

DuBose spent three years at Fox Soul, which launched in early 2020, before leaving in 2023 to set up ITBN.{{Cite web |title=James DuBose’s In the Black Network adds array of FAST channels to line-up |url=https://www.c21media.net/news/james-duboses-in-the-black-network-adds-array-of-fast-channels-to-line-up/ |access-date=2024-10-06 |website=C21media |language=en-us}}

On June 23, 2023, Deadline Hollywood announced that DuBose had founded In The Black Network, an advertisement-based video on demand streaming service "that highlights Black voices and original stories."{{Cite web |date=2023-06-23 |title=Former Fox Soul General Manager James DuBose Launches AVOD Streaming Platform In The Black Network |url=https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/former-fox-soul-general-manager-160000153.html |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-CA}} "Since its inception in October 2023 by CEO James DuBose, In The Black Network TV (“ITBN") has aimed to become the leading platform for Black creators and diverse audiences," wrote Nickie E. Robinson for Madamenoire.com. "Its goal is to create a destination that highlights stories in a celebration of authenticity and unity."{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Nickie E. |date=2024-09-18 |title=Black Business Month Is Every Month With Samantha Johnstone Of In The Black Network TV |url=https://madamenoire.com/1423123/black-business-month-is-every-month-with-samantha-johnstone-of-in-the-black-network-tv/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=MadameNoire |language=en-US}} In an interview with the National Newspaper Publishers Association's Let It Be Known morning news show,{{Cite web |last=NNPA |date=2024-02-12 |title=James DuBose Ignites a Streaming Revolution, Uplifting Black Voices Globally with In The Black Network |url=http://sacobserver.com/2024/02/james-dubose-ignites-a-streaming-revolution-uplifting-black-voices-globally-with-in-the-black-network/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=The Sacramento Observer |language=en-US}} DuBose described In The Black Network as "a cultural phenomenon set to house a rich tapestry of entertainment meticulously curated from the vault of Fox Television Stations."{{Cite web |last=Complex |first=Valerie |date=2023-06-23 |title=Former Fox Soul General Manager James DuBose Launches AVOD Streaming Platform In The Black Network |url=https://deadline.com/2023/06/james-dubose-launches-avod-streaming-platform-in-black-network-1235423190/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Within six months of the initial launch, a music division was formed.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-26 |title="Game 7" Available Now via EVEN |url=https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/game-7-available-now-via-140000038.html |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-CA}} On February 26, 2024, In The Black Music, a division of James DuBose's In The Black Network—in collaboration with the label Red Eye Lifestyle—released a ten-track album titled Game 7 by North Carolina hip-hop lyricist Joshua Gunn. DuBose and Gunn shared executive producer credits over the "Pay What You Want" marketed sound recording.{{Cite web |title=EVEN: Joshua Gunn – Game 7 |url=https://even.biz/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=even.biz}}

On March 22, 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that Holly Davis Carter had announced her "family, faith and lifestyle-focused MergeTV would be launched and carried on ITBN.{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2024-03-22 |title=Dr. Holly Carter's MergeTV Launches On In The Black Network; Slate Includes DeVon Franklin Series 'Food For Thought' & More |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/holly-carter-mergetv-in-the-black-network-devon-franklin-series-1235866156/ |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} A social media campaign featured DuBose and Carter celebrating the newly established platform-partnership, aiming to present audiences with "elevated content, redeeming conversations and inspired entertainment" over INBN.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/drhollycarter/reel/C5JRSv5ROxf/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=www.instagram.com}}

A 2024 article by RollingOut.com cited InTheBlackNetwork.tv's "community-driven" content of influential value creating a "cultural legacy". The author drew a comparison to similarly constructed yet seasoned networks including Kathy Hughes' TV One and Oprah Winfrey's OWN.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=In The Black Network TV debuts, advancing the legacy of Black-owned media |url=https://rollingout.com/2024/09/18/in-the-black-network-tv-black-voices/ |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=rollingout.com |language=en-US}}

DuBose officiated his role as a film producer with the February 11, 2018 release of the Damon Dash-directed Lionsgate film Honor Up.{{Cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/US/movie/id1347334964|title=Honor Up|date=February 2018|publisher=iTunes Store}} According to the Los Angeles Times, "Damon Dash directed and stars in this crime drama about an OG trying to protect his family after a shootout in Harlem."{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-ca-list-0211-movie-openings-20180211-story.html|title=L.A. movie openings, Feb. 14–16|last=Crust|first=Kevin|date=February 11, 2018|work=Los Angeles Times}}

DuBose reportedly plans to launch a television production camp for children of low-income families.{{Cite news|url=http://www.greensboro.com/life/stay-tuned-for-more-from-tv-producer/article_a2539c9e-2bfa-53c4-94ec-5b9ebafff744.html|title=Stay tuned for more from TV producer|work=News & Record}}

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the James DuBose Scholarship Program was created as a charitable resource for qualified candidates to gain financial assistance for post-secondary study in the US across multiple disciplines.{{Cite web |title=Scholarship Application Requirements |url=https://jamesdubosescholarship.com/requirements/ |website=The James DuBose Scholarship}}

On September 8, 2022, DuBose was named a trailblazing figure at the Sheen Magazine Awards show.{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=Jackie |date=August 26, 2022 |title=The 8th Annual SHEEN Magazine Awards will honor entertainment trailblazer James DuBose (GM/Head of Programming for FOX Soul) |url=https://www.blackprwire.com/press-releases/bprw-the-8-annual-sheen-magazine-awards-will-honor-entertainment-trailblazer-james-dubose-gm-head-of-programming-for-fox-soul-iconic-comedy-pioneer-bob-sumner-co-creator-of-def-comedy-jam-film-visionary-melvin-childs-member-of-award-winning-singing-group-b2k-entrepreneur-author-omarion-lifestyle-influencer-aaliyah-jay |website=Black PR Wire}} In a press release, the Black PR Wire published word of the event held in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by Dish Nation commentator Headkrack, the awards show was streamed live from the Sheraton Hotel Atlanta over the Fox Soul streaming network.{{Cite web |last=Ro |first=Vicky |date=September 9, 2022 |title=Sheen Magazine Awards honors entertainment industry trailblazers |url=https://www.accessatlanta.com/atlanta-entertainment/sheen-magazine-awards-honors-entertainment-industry-trailblazers/UC36MVOXNRGWNFVTP7IIFDFBBU/ |website=Access Atlanta}}

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Category:1969 births

Category:Living people

Category:African-American film directors

Category:African-American film producers

Category:African-American television producers

Category:Wake Forest Demon Deacons football players

Category:Players of American football from Greensboro, North Carolina

Category:Businesspeople from North Carolina

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century American businesspeople