Joe Budden, the prominent independent podcaster, is entering true-crime media through a new weekly video podcast called 'Crime in America.' The venture combines Budden's Prime Crime Productions (with partner Ian Schwartzman) with Wolf Entertainment—known for Law & Order franchises—and Advance Local's network of journalists and Headline Studio platform. The collaboration merges Budden's audience reach with established crime storytelling expertise and a national network of local reporters.

The format focuses on cases that are actively developing or breaking nationally, allowing the series to surface stories from local newsrooms, track developments weekly, and provide ongoing context. Rather than pursuing traditional media buyers, Budden and Schwartzman self-financed the project, which premieres August 11 across podcast platforms. The approach emphasises original local reporting and community-embedded journalism, positioning the podcast as a channel for local investigative work to reach national audiences.