Blane's World

Blane Nicholas, or Just Blane, is a visionary leader and a pioneer in the audio industry. He is the founder and CEO of Ride The Wave Media, a podcast network company that champions creators and their voices. With a remarkable career spanning over two decades, Just Blane has produced over 10,000 audio programs for the industry’s giants, such as NBC Sports Radio, iHeart Radio, Big Boy’s Neighborhood, PodcastOne, Westwood One, STROMBO, Apple Music, Meta, and more. He has also left his mark on the gaming world, as a producer for popular video games, such as EA’s Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, and various VR/AR projects for Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse, such as Horizon Worlds VR.

Just Blane’s love for audio began when he got Music Maker 2000 as a Christmas gift. He followed his dream of working in radio while studying at the University of Memphis, where he joined a powerful heritage station, Q107.5 WHBQ, instead of the college station. He was mentored by industry legend Karson With A K and learned the secrets of the radio business. He then relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, where he worked in sales for a Clear Channel radio station, Mix 96.9 KMXP. However, he soon discovered that he did not enjoy the corporate side of the industry, and decided to concentrate on the creative side instead. He returned to Memphis and became a producer for a national network, where he produced shows that came from all over the world.

Just Blane was also a very popular electronic DJ in the US, going by the name of DJ Hollywood. He played at colleges and clubs across the southern states, and eventually moved to Hollywood Blvd. While DJing in LA, he also worked on his video game credits, and then switched back to radio when he was hired by Westwood One. He was a key contributor to the launch of NBC Sports Radio, his first of four successful launches. He also launched NBC Sports Radio’s podcast network and was the Executive Producer of former New England Patriot safety Rodney Harrison’s ‘Safety Blitz’.

Just Blane’s career took a major turn when he was referred by his co-worker, legendary radio disc jockey Joe Grande, to the hip-hop icon and radio hall of famer Big Boy, who had just left Power 106 for iHeart Radio’s Real 92.3. He was in the studio 12 hours later with Big Boy, and quickly became the editor, associate producer, and executive producer of the nationally syndicated airing of Big Boy’s Neighborhood, one of the most popular and influential hip-hop radio shows in the country. He also helped launch Big Boy’s Neighborhood’s Podcast Network, which included numerous daily podcasts in addition to the daily live show. This opened up new avenues for revenue generation and audience engagement.

Just Blane also produced podcasts for PodcastOne, where he leveraged his former pro wrestling career in the N.W.A. to work with former WCW/WWE writer Vince Russo. He also produced special episodes for PodcastOne that featured wrestling legends such as Stone Cold Steve Austin and Chris Jericho.

Just Blane worked for Big Boy’s Neighborhood for five years, during which he produced thousands of shows and worked with hundreds of celebrities. Near the end of his tenure, he received words of wisdom that would shape the course of his future. While attending a high-profile birthday party for Big Boy at a $100 million home in Brentwood Estates, CA, Just Blane told the host, “I’m just a dude who grew up on a farm in the middle of nowhere…I don’t know what I’m doing here.” The host looked Just Blane in the eyes and said, “You’re here because you’re supposed to be here.” That host was none other than Dr. Dre himself.

After that moment, Just Blane never questioned his purpose or his potential.

In 2020, right before the pandemic, he joined Apple Music as the Executive Producer for Apple Music Hits, a new radio station that features the best songs from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s. He was also in charge of producing George Stromboulopolous’s new live radio show, which aired daily in 165 countries and featured interviews with iconic artists and celebrities. While at Apple Music, he was given a Herculean task: to make a piece of audio content that will “live forever”. He rose to the challenge and created Apple’s first audio docuseries, “iMiss Punk”, which tells the story of the origins of punk music and its impact on culture and society. The docuseries was a huge success and received rave reviews from critics and fans alike.

While at Apple Music, he amplified the voices of diverse and marginalized communities, producing audio programs for events such as “International Women’s Day”, “International Transgender Day Of Visibility”, numerous pro- LGBTQIA+ programs during Pride Month, as well as showcasing indigenous and other underrepresented groups.

In 2023, after seeing the tech world layoff hundreds of thousands of talented people, he decided to disassociate himself from the corporate world. Company loyalty is a thing of the past and the he decided to start his own podcast network company, Ride The Wave Media, with the vision of empowering creators and providing them with the best tools, resources, and opportunities to succeed in the podcast industry. Ride The Wave Media is more than just a podcast network, it is a movement that aims to inspire, educate, and entertain millions of listeners around the world. Just Blane is the leader of this movement, and he is ready to ride the wave of the future.