Mr. Music Is My Business

Wally Lockard III, J.D. | Mr. Music TV & Sports

Award-Winning Executive Producer • Media Executive • Founder of Urban Grind TV

Wally Lockard III, J.D. is an award-winning executive producer, media executive, entrepreneur, and U.S. Army veteran known as “Mr. Music, TV & Sports.” With more than 24 years of experience in entertainment, business, and brand development, he has built a reputation as a visionary leader at the intersection of music, television, sports, and culture.

He is the Founder and Executive Producer of Urban Grind TV, the longest-running hip-hop television show in the Midwest. Now in its 32nd season and 17th consecutive year on weekly television, Urban Grind TV has produced more than 800 one-hour episodes and earned 29 awards, becoming a respected platform for artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders. The show airs weekly in Chicago on Comcast and Astound TV Channel 25 and streams on platforms including Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV.

Wally is also the Co-Founder of Urban Grind Management, where he leads media strategy, production, partnerships, artist development, and brand growth initiatives. He currently serves as Executive Producer and Co-Host of Legends in Session with Horace Grant, a television series featuring legendary athletes, major cultural figures, and influential voices in powerful conversations about legacy, leadership, perseverance, and service.

A Chicago native and law school graduate, Wally’s journey is rooted in resilience. After suffering severe service-related injuries while serving in the U.S. Army, he turned adversity into purpose by investing in his first recording studio and independent label, launching a career that would evolve into one of the region’s most impactful independent media brands.

Beyond television and entertainment, Wally has helped create opportunities for hundreds of entrepreneurs and creatives, supported the growth of minority-owned businesses, founded the Youth Cultivation Coalition, and authored Music Is My Business: The Ultimate Start-Up Guide to the Music Industry. He is also a member of The Recording Academy and The Latin Recording Academy.

His honors include the Cultural Impact Award, the Chi-Town Legends Award, multiple Chicago Music Awards, a Billboard plaque, and numerous iTunes chart plaques.

Through Urban Grind TV, Urban Grind Radio, Urban Grind Management, and Legends in Session with Horace Grant, Wally Lockard III, J.D. continues to build platforms that elevate culture, empower communities, and create lasting impact.

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