Executive Producer Wally Lockard III J.D.

Mr. Music Is My Business

Wally Lockard III, J.D.

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

Wally Lockard III, J.D.—known across the industry as “Mr. Music, TV and Sports”—is an award-winning executive producer, entrepreneur, and media executive with over 23 years of experience in entertainment, business, and brand development.
A U.S. Army Veteran who survived near-death service injuries—revived three times while in service of his country— Wally brings leadership, discipline, and authenticity to every production and partnership he leads.

He is the Founder and Executive Producer of Urban Grind TV, the longest-running hip-hop TV show in the Midwest, now celebrating 31 seasons and 17 consecutive years on television weekly, with more than 800 one-hour episodes and 28 major awards.
Reaching over 800,000 weekly viewers across Comcast, Astound TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV, Urban Grind TV has become a cultural institution—bridging entertainment, business, and community while providing a national platform for independent and legacy artists alike.

As Co-Founder of Urban Grind Management, Wally oversees media operations, artist development, brand strategy, partnerships, and production initiatives for elite talent—including 4× NBA Champion Horace Grant.
He also serves as Executive Producer of Legends in Session with Horace Grant, a groundbreaking sports-culture television series that unites Hall-of-Fame athletes, cultural icons, and entrepreneurs for authentic conversations about greatness, discipline, and legacy.

Wally’s career began in 2002, when—after suffering service-related traumatic brain injuries and becoming unable to return to military work—he used the remainder of his enlistment bonus to open his first recording studio and independent label, 1913 Records (2003–2009).
That leap of faith launched his journey into media entrepreneurship and laid the foundation for one of Chicago’s most successful independent entertainment networks.

Throughout his career, Wally has helped launch more than 500 Black, Brown, and minority-owned businesses nationwide, founded the Youth Cultivation Coalition, a Chicago-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on youth-violence prevention and creative mentorship, and authored Music Is My Business: The Ultimate Start-Up Guide to the Music Industry.

A law-school graduate, certified hip-hop scholar, and educator, Wally is a Professional Member of both the American and Latin Recording Academies (The GRAMMY® organizations) and serves on the Advisory Boards of SAE Institute and Illinois Media School.
His honors include the Cultural Impact Award, nine Chicago Music Awards, 20 iTunes Chart Plaques, and a Billboard #19 Plaque.

Today, **Wally Lockard III, J.D.—widely recognized as Mr. Music, TV and Sports—**stands as a trusted advisor, executive producer, and creative architect at the intersection of sports, music, and media innovation—collaborating with legendary athletes and global brands to produce meaningful, culture-driven content.

Through Urban Grind TV, Urban Grind Radio, Urban Grind Management, UGTV Distro, and Legends in Session, Wally Lockard III continues to shape culture, empower communities, and prove that greatness isn’t luck—it’s built brick by brick, grind by grind.

For more about Wally’s projects, visit UrbanGrindTV.com.