THE LOCAL HUSTLE
JAY SMACK & STUDIO B By Christopher McManus
all the production and recording, and keep it at a be tougher getting things done on your own. I’m still a firm believer in recording through a studio, length that was required of them.” but it is so much more convenient now getting After that, Jay recorded the show in various your art out there to the masses.” studios across Richmond, including Scott’s Addition with Steve Barber. Around 2009, he While Jay appreciates the advent of streaming began transitioning Studio B into a podcast. At services giving additional exposure to local acts, first, the podcast existed alongside the radio show, he does not see them as a revenue route. “Artists expanding the time after the radio broadcast to will barely make a percentage of a penny from give local artists from the growing scene more their music, yet these places will make as much With well over 20 years in the music radio time and exposure. For a show that’s focused as they can off of them,” he said. “I would rather profession, RVA legend Jay Smack has dedicated on the intimacy of the small-level artists, Jay’s do my part in helping these artists grow by giving his life to promoting and supporting artists from ambitions have the sights set on a larger goal. them money.” Richmond and its surrounding areas with his show Studio B. Whether through radio in the ‘90s or “I know that the best way for this show to get Along with taking requests from associates and podcasting now, Jay has been the go-to name better is to grow with the scene,” he said. “There’s fans, Jay often studies and researches dozens of in introducing people to some of the best talent never enough music out here in Richmond and the artists before playing them on the show. He also surrounding that’s untapped. And finding the time buys many of their songs to further support artists Richmond has to offer. necessary to do it is what I want to accomplish.” in his quest to being a voice of local independent “When I first started out with the show I just music. graduated from VCU as their program director Creating a podcast to do away with the restrictions at WVCW,” Smack explained as he laid out the of radio was just the start. After being let go from “I feel better about myself buying their music origins of the show. A radio station, 106.5 The 102.1 due to downsizing, Jay Smack took Studio and helping them out, knowing that they buy a Buzz (now 106.5 The Beat), was hungry for new B completely into the podcast world, posting on lot of their equipment out of their own pocket to content, especially that of the local kind. Jay Mondays and Thursdays. With the sweeping even create their art,” he divulged. “Spending my was the easiest choice to bring it. “At the time I change in the music industry in recent years, money on them shows a stronger link of solidarity was a drummer for a band, and the execs at the the middlemen between fans and the artists are than just giving them a thumbs up and help more show saw me as someone already within the local becoming less of a factor. For Jay Smack and artists that giving their music out for free.” scene, so it made sense.” many of the music consumers, that is something they are noticing. When it comes to the process of making these Studio B was initially held within an hour time shows, Jay admits that it can be a hassle trying limit and got off to a roaring start by featuring “A lot of fans and listeners are becoming more to put so much music into such little time. Unless live performances from bands. There were specific with their tastes and making them consumers know the artists, it’s hard for them to some definite growing pains early on, though. smarter with how the industry operates,” listen to relative unknowns for 45 minutes. Working with stringent limitations and imperfect Smack explained. “As a result, many execs are equipment made for a number of issues. controlling less and less as artists and fans have “For keeping a low profile for so long, that really “Sometimes the bands wouldn’t know how to get more control.” was the only difficult aspect of the show,” he the performances down pat as the environment laughed. “But for me, I got into radio and music was new to them,” Smack said. “Eventually we With growing streaming services in Spotify, because I love it and I want for it to grow. There’s had to keep certain things pre-recorded to meet Tidal, and Apple Music, artists can promote still much to learn in due time, and if you have the themselves in an easier fashion, communicating drive to do it, it is easy to do your part.” the time constraints.” with their fanbase through social media and build Studio B aired on 106.5 The Buzz until 1999, when their brand through means without the help of PODOMATIC.COM/STUDIOBRVA the frequencies changed and the show was moved corporate big wigs. It is still an uphill battle when to 102.1 WRXL. “They brought me in at first as a it comes to revenue, however. producer and mixer to the station and proceeded to have the show there for a few years, until about “The hustle for the modern independent musician 2005,” he remembered. “At that point, I told the is a given,” Smack remarked. “That’s always folks there that I want to still do the show, handle going to come with the territory, though it will Richmond, Virginia is a cultural leader in art that doesn’t receive the attention it deserves. From its spirited First Fridays highlighting the art and expansive music scene in the River City, the local sound is only growing with the help of streaming services and multiple festivals popping up overnight. Still, there is an outlet that continues to be the best gatekeeper for music out of the mid-Atlantic region.
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RVA MAGAZINE FALL 2017 RVA MAGAZINE 30 24 || SPRING 2016