That may be a contentious matter of opinion. Personally, I don’t think so, but Rogan, along with many others, certainly benefited from an improved climate change within The Comedy Store after he was allowed to return around 6 or 7 years ago. For anyone not familiar with that, Rogan had a falling out with his representation after calling out one of the Store’s biggest stars at the time, Carlos Mencia, as a habitual and unapologetic joke thief, the unforgivable sin of the stand up world. Rogan’s call out and confrontation with Mencia was supported by the working comics, but not by the the club manager, and he wouldn’t be welcome there until years later. On the other hand, I’m sure The Comedy Store has received a lot of positive exposure to more people because of all the different successful podcasts hosted by LA comics who work out of that club. That club has been iconic since way before the likes of Joe Rogan, but having a podcast with that reach surely doesn’t hurt.
I don’t want to hijack the thread, but the thing that interests me about “the Rogan effect” is how or if his move to Austin will affect the comedy scene here. Like you mentioned, him and his buddies, as well as other LA comics/podcasters, talk up The Store with the fondness of it as their local gym. They talk about it being an inclusive environment with a tight not community that encourages and fosters comedians. I don’t see Rogan, and others, coming to Austin without some confidence of being able to create a comparable creative comedy scene that will attract more established and up and coming talent. It will be interesting to follow what happens with comedy in Austin.