The History of WBMPro Radio in Austin Texas

Interview with Paul Wall at Blak Marigold Studio

Building Community Before the Algorithm

Before Blak Marigold Studio had a sign on the door, a booking calendar, or a reputation in Austin, it started with pressure. A personal one.

Before opening Blak Marigold Studio on Metric Boulevard, my (Michael Smith, the black guy to the right of Paul Wall) first commercial studio, I was going through a midlife crisis in which something had to change. My studio was in my apartment, and mentally and creatively, it was no longer sustainable. That same day, I went on Craigslist searching for commercial units. No long-term planning. No investors. Just urgency.

I found a guy renting three small bedroom-sized units that I could rent, claim as my own, and make work. In the back was a vacant recording studio space. I signed the papers that same day. No business loan. Everything is out of my pocket. I was scared, but rent was due every month, so failure was not an option.

That was the beginning of Blak Marigold Studio on Metric Boulevard.

When the Studio Became Real

Once you move into a commercial space, everything changes. You are no longer experimenting quietly. You are visible. People start paying attention. People start showing up.

I had to make the rent every month, so I leaned into community. That pressure pushed me to create something that went beyond recording sessions. I wanted a conversation. I wanted interaction. I wanted artists to feel seen, not rushed.

That is where WBMPro Radio began.

The Birth of WBMPro Radio

WBMPro Radio started as a podcast with a live audience component. The idea was simple but ambitious. Combine internet radio with real conversations happening in the same room. A space where people could engage, react, and be part of the moment.

I had a rapper named Manny who used to come record with me back when the studio was still in my apartment. He had personality, presence, and the ability to connect with people. I took a chance and asked if he would be interested in being a guest on a podcast. That turned into a co-hosted show we called the KB and Manny Show.

We pushed it everywhere. Live365, TuneIn Radio, Spotify, and even SoundCloud. A few other internet radio platforms that barely exist anymore. We spent money to make it legit. No shortcuts.

Once we moved the podcast into the studio, everything scaled.

From One Show to Eleven

What started as one podcast turned into eleven produced internet radio shows and podcasts. You will see the show names listed here as I continue updating the archive.

These were not random hosts. These were heavy hitters in the Austin community. Club owners. LGBT leaders. DJs. Artists. Cultural voices. Special guests rotated through shows, and the energy stayed consistent.

The purpose was interaction. People came to the studio to sit in, engage, and be part of the conversation. It was a real-life version of what TikTok would later become, before TikTok and before COVID.

They say if you build it, they will come. That is exactly what happened.

When Austin Showed Up

At some point, I realized something important. I was not tapping into the local scene. The local scene was tapping into Blak Marigold.

Everyone who was somebody in Austin came through Blak Marigold Studio at some point. Sometimes to record. Sometimes, to be on a show. Sometimes just to show up and support.

We hosted seminars. Nino Brown came through. Mama Duke came through. Brainworx plug-ins hosted a seminar. Artists and producers came to learn, not just record. Blak Marigold became a hub, not just a studio.

The First Event That Set the Tone

Our first major event was a Christmas party. It was sponsored by one of the podcast groups but functioned as a launch party for Blak Marigold Studio and the first wave of podcasts we had signed.

It was not flashy. It was real. And after that, everything moved uphill.

That event set the tone for how Blak Marigold would operate. Community first. Creativity without pressure.

When Photography Became Essential

Artists always needed photos. We had a large live room with wooden floors that we converted into a photography studio. That is where BMPro Photography expanded.

BMPro Photography was never a separate idea. It was a response to what artists needed. Visuals mattered just as much as sound. I collaborated with another Michael Smith as one of my lead photographers while I focused on music.

This led to fashion shows, editorial shoots, and publications. I met a lot of people through photography, including fashion show and modeling agency owners like Spirit over at Bein Xposed, who helped cast models for editorial concepts. Makeup artist Jolinda Glam and her team also became part of that ecosystem.

Music opened the door. Photography widened it.

You can still see that visual mindset today through the photography work featured on the Blak Marigold site.

Lessons From Running an Independent Studio

Running an independent recording studio in Austin on your own budget teaches you quickly that talent is not enough. It takes a team. It takes leadership. It takes constant marketing and management if you do not have the right people in place.

I wore too many hats. Visibility sometimes replaced connection. If I knew then what I know now, I would have done even more with that space.

Today, I am certified in digital marketing, stronger in project management, and more intentional about leadership. Those lessons shaped the way Blak Marigold operates now.

Covid, Pause, and Growth

When COVID hit, WBMPro Radio paused. I started exploring how to elevate the platform into livestreaming, but creative energy shifted. People grew up. Interests changed. Burnout was real.

That pause forced reflection. It also forced growth.

Why Blak Marigold Looks Different Today

Blak Marigold Studio now operates out of my house, and the energy is different in the best way. Artists feel more relaxed. There is less pressure and more focus. Real work happens here.

Having a commercial location taught me the value of location and team. If people feel comfortable and at home, they will show up and help build something meaningful.

You can see how that philosophy lives on through our recording, mixing, mastering, and artist development services today.

Legacy and Invitation Forward

WBMPro Radio may not look the same today as it once did, but its impact is everywhere in Blak Marigold Studio. From interviews at Spider House Ballroom to working with artists on the Smoke Out Tour with J Soldier, the legacy is real.

This blog exists to honor that chapter and to invite artists forward.

If you are looking for a studio built on community, trust, and experience, that door is still open.

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About Blak Marigold

WBMPro Radio built the foundation. Blak Marigold Studio carries it forward.