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