Cardi B Is Giving Playboy The Business...Literally

Business is blooming for Playboy, and the company recently showed the receipts to prove it. So far, all of their business decisions and strategies seem to benefit them, including naming rapper Cardi B as their first-ever creative director in residence.

On May 10, PLYBY Group disclosed its first-quarter 2022 financial results, highlighting that the revenue increased 63% year-over-year to $69 million. The direct-to-consumer revenue increased 125% year over year to $49.6 million.

“Our strong first quarter with 63% year-over-year growth, robust demand for our iconic brand and consumer products, and continued progress on our digital roadmap for Centerfold are coming together into one cohesive Playboy ecosystem creating a flywheel driving long-term growth,” PLBY Group’s Chief Executive Officer Ben Kohn said. “With Playboy’s massive global reach and Centerfold as a valuable engine for organic customer acquisition, we believe we can drive significant growth across PLBY Group’s product offerings.”

In a press release, the parent company of Playboy Magazine first announced the “Bodak Yellow” rapper’s new position in the company back in December of 2021. Not only is cardi B the founding creative director, but also the founding member of the company’s creator-led platform, CENTERFOLD, which launched on Dec. 20, 2021.

“It is a dream come true to officially join the Playboy family. I can’t believe this is real,” Cardi B said. “For as long as I can remember, I’ve felt connected to Playboy. It’s truly the original platform for uncensored creativity, and I’m inspired by its incredible legacy of fighting for personal freedoms. I have so many ideas already – I can’t wait!”

She continued, “I’m also excited to launch our new creator-led platform, CENTERFOLD. Creators today deserve to express themselves freely and unfiltered. They deserve to feel safe in their creativity and sexuality. And they deserve to own their future. This is what CENTERFOLD is all about. For all those creators out there doing bold, revolutionary, truly culture-shifting things, come join me.”