Black-Owned Podcast Studios in a City Near You
Step aside radio, podcasting has become the go-to for entertainment these days. To put it simply, there is just less red tape for consumers and creatives. As of April 2021, Podcast Insights indicates that there are over 2 million podcasts and 48 million episodes. The beauty of this is that everyone can find something that caters to their specific needs.
Many podcasters though, struggle with maintaining their shows and usually burn out after a season or a few episodes after launch. A few reasons for this could be, they ran out of ideas, or editing was becoming too much, or the space that they were using was no longer ideal for recording. What many podcasters don’t know is that just like how we have radio stations, there are also studios dedicated to podcasting. Some of them come with a team who will help record (audio and visual), edit, and promote your podcast.
Unfortunately, there aren’t too many Black-owned studios but I’ve highlighted some of the popular ones in major cities around the country. Maybe one of these studios will be what you need to get back into podcasting. Keep in mind that all these studios require you to make an appointment, no walk-ins are allowed.
NYC and Surrounding Areas
1. GOLD Room Recording and Podcast Studio - Brooklyn, NY
This East Williamsburg-Bushwick studio comes equipped with everything you need to record your podcast. They even offer 4K video recording at no extra cost! Their staff includes studio engineers and videographers who are available to help you every step of the way. Their price (w/ an engineer) is $70p/h, with a maximum of 4 microphones. Their hours of operation are
Monday - Sunday, 10 AM to 11 PM.
2. Damatrix Studios Network - Bronx, NY
This Bronx-based studio has an engineer (at an extra cost) and has packages that range from $80 - $400. They are open 7 days a week with flexible hours. A 50% deposit is required to book a slot.
3. WTFMedia Studios - NYC, NY
This studio is a little different from most because each session comes with studio engineers, up to 5 microphones, and 5 4K HD cameras, and for a little extra, you can record with remote guests, have access to and a teleprompter, and a producer who will do research for you in the middle of your show, take timestamps, notes, or anything you may need assistance with.
Their pricing is very reasonable, considering all that is offered. The great part about this studio is that they are open 24/7! Talk about convenience.
4. Muve Media - Brooklyn, NY
This is a multimedia company, meaning they don’t just focus on podcasting. However, podcasting is one of the services that they provide. They offer their rental space on an hourly basis that includes 6 different video angles, and a lighting technician. They are open 7 days a week with flexible recording hours, and prices ranging from $100 - $800. They even have a membership for creatives who may need more time every month.
5. Lounge Studios - NYC, NY
If you're looking for something a little more upscale, then this studio is for you. Smack dap in the middle of Midtown, Manhattan, this studio not only gives you great views of the city but provides a space of luxury that you simply can’t find anywhere else. They have 2 podcast studios that can seat anywhere from 2 to 5 guests. Pricing starts at $65 for an hour (that is basically a steal for Midtown, Manhattan) and maxes out at 5 hours for $500. If additional time is required, I’m sure the team would be gracious to assist. The days and hours are flexible, pretty much like the rest of New York City. (If you get a chance, check out the owner, Walter Randall’s story. Completely amazing).
Richmond and Surrounding Areas
1. Defiant Studios - Richmond, VA
This studio is just as popular as its owner. Located a few minutes from the state Capitol, this hidden gem mostly focuses on recording, mixing, and mastering music. They added podcasting to the mix and have been gaining glowing reviews. Recording and pricing depend on the room and the number of hours needed. 100% of the deposit is required to book your session. The studio is open Monday to Sunday 10 AM - 10 PM. They even offer after-hours use of the studio, if availability permits. Here’s the best part. They offer a complimentary food runner (depending on the time your session is booked). They also give you access to their lounge for you and your guests. At Defiant Studios, they want you to produce your best work, and they will do whatever they can to pull out all the stops just for you.
Atlanta and Surrounding Areas
1. Adode Studios - Atlanta, GA
This is one of the newest creative spaces in Atlanta, Ga. I't’s owned and operated by Blk Pod Collectives very own founder, Ona Oghogho.
This studio has 3 different studios that are fully sound treated and come with audio, video and lighting equipment.
The in house team of dedicated producers, photographers, brand strategist and videographers are there to help bring all your content ideas to life.
This studio is open Wednesday to Sunday, with cost starting at $75 per hour for a 1-hour minimum.
2. American Sushi - Riverdale, GA
This hidden recording studio offers a podcast recording studio fitted with a 4 microphone setup and live streaming capabilities. In this studio, you technically have free range to be a creative as you want to be. The only thing they really require of you is to keep the engineer in the loop with everything that’s going on, whether good or bad. Packages range from 2 hours with no engineer at $60 to 4 hours with an engineer at $150. The studio is open from Monday to Sunday with flexible scheduling hours.
3. Kingz Broadcasting Studios - Powder Springs, GA
Nestled in the outskirts of Atlanta, this studio has the capabilities to handle internet radio, podcasting, and video broadcasting. However, podcasting is their specialty. Not only do they produce, and distribute their own shows, but they have used their expertise to help podcasters like you, get your show out into the world. Their podcasting studio includes all the equipment that you’ll need to record an episode, supports up to 3 guests, and has a professional studio audio engineer. Their price starts at $75 for 1-hour. A non-refundable fee is required to book a session. The studio is open from Sunday to Saturday with flexible scheduling options.
Houston, TX
1. Sacred Stone Studios - Houston, TX
This one-stop shop for all your multimedia needs is located in the heart of Houston. They provide studio rentals and podcast production for the professional podcaster, and for the beginner. Their price to rent the studio starts at $50 per hour, and they even have a monthly membership starting at $100 per month for podcasters who want to make this studio their home. They are open from Sunday to Saturday with hours ranging from 9 AM to 8:30 PM.
2. FLOA Studios - Houston, TX
FLOA Studios is a media shop that caters to creatives of all genres. Their podcasting studio is self-operated with no engineer, which means you have free reign over how you want to record your podcast. Sessions can be booked for a minimum of 2 hours for $90. They also offer the same service bi-weekly for $100. They also have a monthly package (which is required to be used on a weekly basis) for $135. They are open from Monday to Saturday with flexible afternoon and evening hours.
Podcasting has become such a versatile industry and there are so many Black-owned studios that are equipped and ready to help you turn your dream into a reality. This article was birthed from a love of seeing Black people creating resources that can help us all win. This is not an ad, or an affiliate marketing opportunity. These companies have no clue that I’ve written about them and I encourage you to reach out to any of the studios that align with what you’re trying to accomplish. If your city wasn’t on this list, feel free to let me know and I’ll add it to my part 2 list.
Until we meet again, don’t give up on your podcast dreams because you don’t have everything you need to get it done. There are so many resources out there available to you. You just have to look for it and ask for help.
