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.
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
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
