Mr. Music Is My Business

Wally Lockard III, J.D.

Mr. Music, TV & Sports Is My Business

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

Wally Lockard III, J.D. is an award-winning executive producer, media executive, entrepreneur, Army veteran, author, and cultural strategist known as “Mr. Music, TV & Sports.” With more than 24 years of experience in entertainment, business, media production, and brand development, Wally has built a respected career at the intersection of music, television, sports, culture, and community impact.

He is the Founder and Executive Producer of Urban Grind TV, the Midwest’s longest-running hip-hop TV show and one of Chicago’s most influential independent media platforms. Now in its 32nd season and celebrating 17 years on television, Urban Grind TV has produced more than 800 one-hour episodes, earned 30 awards, and reached millions across television, streaming, radio, social media, and live events.

Urban Grind TV airs weekly in Chicago on Comcast and Astound TV Channel 25 and streams on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, YouTube, and UrbanGrindTV.com. Through exclusive interviews, live performances, music videos, original programming, business features, and cultural storytelling, the platform has become a trusted space for artists, athletes, entertainers, entrepreneurs, influencers, models, brands, and community leaders to be seen, heard, and respected.

Wally is also the Co-Founder of Urban Grind Management, where he leads media strategy, production, partnerships, artist development, brand growth, and entertainment business initiatives. His work extends beyond production into platform building — creating opportunities for talent, businesses, and cultural voices through professional media exposure, strategic storytelling, and brand development.

He currently serves as Executive Producer and Co-Host of Legends in Session with Horace Grant, a premium television series hosted by 4× NBA Champion Horace Grant. Produced by Urban Grind TV, the series features legendary athletes, major cultural figures, and influential voices in powerful conversations about legacy, leadership, perseverance, service, and the stories behind greatness.

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

Beyond television and entertainment, Wally has helped create opportunities for hundreds of entrepreneurs, creatives, artists, and small businesses. His work has supported minority-owned businesses, youth development, independent media ownership, music education, artist branding, and community empowerment. He is the founder of the Youth Cultivation Coalition and the author of Music Is My Business: The Ultimate Startup Guide to the Music Industry, available on Kindle.

Wally is also a member of The Recording Academy and The Latin Recording Academy, further reflecting his connection to the broader music and entertainment industry.

His honors and recognitions include the Cultural Impact Award, the Chi-Town Legends Award, multiple Chicago Music Awards, a Billboard plaque, numerous iTunes chart plaques, and decades of work helping move the culture forward through media, music, sports, and business.

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, preserve legacy, and create lasting impact.

Built on culture. Backed by results.

Major Press, Media Mentions & Cultural Recognition (clickable)

Urban Grind TV and Wally Lockard III, J.D. have been recognized, quoted, and featured across major media outlets, sports publications, entertainment platforms, and cultural news sources. These mentions reflect the growing national visibility of Urban Grind TV, Legends in Session with Horace Grant, and Wally’s work as an executive producer, media entrepreneur, and cultural storyteller.

Featured In / Mentioned By (Clickable)

Media Coverage & Industry Recognition

The work speaks beyond the studio. Urban Grind TV, Legends in Session with Horace Grant, and Wally Lockard III, J.D. have received coverage and mentions from respected media outlets across sports, entertainment, business, and culture. These features highlight UGTV’s evolution from a Chicago-born independent platform into a nationally recognized media brand producing original television, documenting legacy, and creating space for powerful stories to be told.