Industry voting for the the Media Guild Awards – including Best Independent Radio DJ, which Arthur Smith is nominated for – is open through Friday, May 29, 2026.
At Live365, our platform runs on the passion of independent broadcasters who live and breathe radio history. Arthur "Bsmooth" Smith is exactly that kind of broadcaster.
As the GM of Radio Soul 100 FM – awarded Best Internet Station 2025 (RC) – and President of the National Black Radio Hall of Fame (Las Vegas Chapter), Arthur has spent 16 years programming with a distinct purpose: "Soul, Funk & Jazz for the Generations."
Now, Arthur is up for Best Independent Radio DJ at the Media Guild Awards. Because this is an industry-voted ballot, he’s reaching out to the wider broadcasting community to help secure a win for independent internet radio.
🗳️ How to Vote (Industry Ballot)
This award is decided by peers in the field. If you're a broadcaster, audio engineer, DJ, radio station owner, air personality, podcaster, recording artist, or producer, your vote counts. Voting ends May 29, 2026.
- Cast Your Ballot Here By May 29: Vote for Arthur "Bsmooth" Smith at the Media Guild Awards
"This nomination is a testament to the technical infrastructure and global reach we’ve built through the Digital Wing™ and Radio Soul 100 FM," Arthur says. "Seeing our signal recognized alongside some of the best in the world reinforces the 'Iron' we are bringing to the independent broadcast sector… Let's keep the signal independent."
📻 From LA Production Carts to the Las Vegas Strip
Arthur’s journey behind the microphone didn't follow a straight line. He learned the fundamentals at traditional Los Angeles stations like KPCC and KCLA during an era when the medium required hands-on technical precision.
"I won't pretend it was a linear journey," Arthur shares. "My time at PCC introduced me to radio production, we still used carts back then. I learned mic control and timing. The music has always been in me and a part of my entire existence."
While hosting Classic American Music, Arthur spun legendary artists like Billie Holiday, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, and Duke Ellington. It became a personal education in jazz history, but it also opened his eyes to the systemic challenges those legacy artists faced.
"I began reading about their experiences in the industry that liked their talent but not their citizenship. That shaped my respect for Black radio stations who made them and other artists famous."
After taking a break from the airwaves, Arthur trusted his instincts and relaunched at KCLA FM in Los Angeles in 2009. "I didn't want to talk about what I did back in the day. I trusted that I could come back, and receiving recognition now solidifies my choice to not give up."
🎵 Finding the "Fusion Pocket" of Sound
Programming a station that appeals to both older jazz purists and younger listeners requires a specific ear for curation. For Arthur, the philosophy comes down to a classic track by The O'Jays: "I love music, any kinda music, just as long as it's groovy."
"Born on the East Coast and raised on the West Coast gave me an appreciation and insight into many musical styles," Arthur explains. He models his programming after legendary air personalities like Frankie Crocker and Lynn Briggs, who treated multiple genres with equal respect. "I believe there's a fusion pocket of sound that goes together."
📈 The Marketing Hustle: Blending Local and Global Roots
Building an audience for an independent station means treating marketing as an ongoing conversation, whether you're handing out physical business cards or building international connections. Arthur manages a large local presence in Las Vegas while pulling in a global stream of listeners.
"I don't know that I actually balance that," Arthur says candidly. "I would say I continually brainstorm new ideas around both. Whenever I encounter a local business, I attempt to find a talking bridge to highlight that Radio Soul 100 FM is an asset."
He also uses his international reach to build creative programming bridges. "I have a really cool UK following, so I began a UK to the USA artist highlight showcasing UK talents wanting to shine in the States. I just talk to as many folks as possible."
🌐 Backed by the Live365 Engine
When it comes to the technical and operational side of running Radio Soul 100 FM, Arthur credits Live365 with providing the foundation needed to compete on a global scale.
"I would not have this nomination without the Live365 back engine," Arthur notes. "Let me count the ways: licensing to the US, UK, Canada, and Mexico, and the work that was put in to pull that off for independent stations gave us instant credibility."
For Arthur, the platform's support and built-in features made a big difference early on:
- The Support Team: "The Live365 staff is #1. Any issue or problem I faced, they had an answer, workaround, suggestion, and/or tutorial!"
- Automatic Monetization: "The ad breaks inserted in the broadcast, when I didn't have any advertisers, promotions, or a clue how to acquire them, made us look better than we were!"
💡 Arthur’s Advice for Independent Broadcasters
For anyone setting up their first stream on Live365 today, Arthur emphasizes clarity of vision, flexibility, and community support over trying to know everything from day one.
- Know Your Intention: "Define your vision, find your communicative intention, and recognize that you don't know everything. Most importantly, learn to enjoy the process along the journey."
- Learn to Pivot: "Be flexible, you don't yet know what you don't know. Segueing isn't just in your programming; don't be afraid to try something different, whether that's your approach, style, format, or distribution. Learn to pivot!"
At the end of the day, Arthur believes the survival of independent radio relies entirely on broadcasters looking out for one another.
"Business is a grand task. If we as independent small businesses don't lock arms and give each other support, then the large businesses who are locking arms right now will make us irrelevant. I feel like we're a community, and a win for Radio Soul 100 FM is a win for all of us!"
🗳️ Support Independent Radio
Help put an independent, Live365-powered broadcaster on the podium. Head over to the 2026 Media Guild Awards Ballot and submit your industry vote for Arthur "Bsmooth" Smith for Best Independent Radio DJ. Voting ends May 29, 2026.
You can stream his award-winning station, powered by Live365, at radiosoul100fm.com.
Ready to start your own station? Contact one of our Product Consultants or visit our website today. Discover thousands of free stations from every genre of music and talk at Live365.com. Rather listen on our app? Download the Live365 app on iOS or Android. Keep up with the latest news by following us on Facebook (Live365 (Official) and Live365 Broadcasting) and Twitter (@Live365 and @Broadcast365)! You can also shop Live365 swag and branded merchandise at store.live365.com!
Article Image: A banner featuring a solid black left panel with the bold white text "From Indie to Industry Nom", cleanly underlined for emphasis. The panel fades via a soft black vignette into a studio image of Arthur "Bsmooth" Smith and his team broadcasting live under the "Soul Survivor Radio" banner.
