In this episode, I sat down with Greg Dombrowski, the composer and creator behind Secession Studios - a hugely successful music channel on YouTube with 720,000+ subscribers. Starting in 2011, Greg has built a sustainable composer income without chasing trends, grinding daily content, or obsessing over algorithms. We delve into how Greg’s unconventional approach - uploading one track per week and focusing on genuine craft over optimisation - has become the most reliable path to audience growth and creative success. [Read the full article] What We Cover: The Origin Story * How Greg went from ski hill lift operator to full-time composer * Starting Succession Studios in 2011 with simple visualizers * The one-year transition from his mom’s basement to financial independence * Why early YouTube monetisation was crucial to his strategy The Real Money: Content ID vs. AdSense * Why YouTube ad revenue isn’t the primary income source * How Content ID became his revenue foundation (2/3 of income) * The role of distributors like Tunecore and third-party claimers like AdRev * Licensing placements, BMI royalties, and Spotify streams as secondary income The Strategic Pivot: From Immediate Music to Full-Time YouTube * Why Greg left a prestigious in-house composer role at Immediate Music * The moment when YouTube income exceeded his salary * Balancing trailer work with YouTube releases * How he chose self-employment over security The Counter-Intuitive Strategy That Actually Works * Why posting ONE track per week outperforms daily content * How Greg handles algorithm anxiety and flat-performing videos * The belief system that sustains long-term creative work * Why tracks sometimes take 2-3 years to “pop off” The Craft Foundation * Orchestral libraries that form his signature sound (Spitfire Abbey Road 2, Embertone Joshua Bell) * The importance of sketching on the piano before production * Layering techniques: combining multiple libraries, heavy EQ, and detuning drums * Why reverb blending (short, mid, long) creates sonic depth * The three-act structure that gives tracks emotional payoff Why He Ditched AI Artwork * The temptation of Midjourney and why it backfired * How AI imagery hurt his credibility (people assumed the music was AI too) * His perspective on AI in creative fields and the power of public resistance * Why licensing real artists actually strengthens his brand For Emerging Composers * The three essentials for starting a YouTube music channel today * Why quality matters more than quantity when you’re building from zero * How to package music thoughtfully (titles, artwork, context) * Building a “wall around your belief” to survive algorithmic fluctuations The Bigger Picture * Why modern creator advice often conflicts with genuine artistic growth * The tension between being a composer and a “content creator” * How slow, consistent growth compounds over a decade * Whether starting YouTube in 2025 is still viable (spoiler: yes, but differently) Key Takeaways: * Belief precedes results - Internal conviction that your work will find its audience is as important as the quality of the work itself * Consistency beats optimisation - One thoughtful track per week outperforms daily rushed content * Choose craft over metrics - Focus on making genuinely excellent music rather than chasing algorithm behaviour * Income diversification is built in - YouTube AdSense, Content ID, licensing, and streaming royalties combine to create a stable income * Platform trends come and go, craft endures - Don’t sacrifice your artistic vision to catch every trend wave Resources Mentioned: * Succession Studios YouTube Channel: [720K+ subscribers, weekly releases] * Libraries: Spitfire Audio (Abbey Road 2, Albion), Embertone Joshua Bell, Damage 1 & 2, Heaviosity * Distribution: Tunecore, Distrokid, AdRev, Hawk (Content ID services) * DAW: Logic Pro * Hardware: Mac Pro 2019 Links: * Read the full breakdown of Greg’s strategies, production techniques, and philosophy: https://richardpryn.com/secession-studios-youtube-composer-strategy * Subscribe to Secession Studios * Connect with Greg Useful For: * Composers wanting to build a sustainable YouTube presence * Anyone considering music as a full-time career path * Creators struggling with algorithm anxiety * Producers interested in orchestral layering techniques * Anyone asking whether consistency and belief still matter in modern media Episode Length: 1:04:07 Guest: Greg Dombrowski (Secession Studios) Host: Richard Pryn This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit richardpryn.substack.com
