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
