I didn't expect to watch the entire half hour but this was a really great video. Thank you Graham for taking the time to arrange this interview and thank you Peter for such sage and informative advice. It's definitely hard to break ground on UA-cam but perseverance is the key, as you said.
I just want to say how decent you guys are for so freely providing these tips. Thank you. Not that I expect a chance to be heard by more. I'm just impressed by your willingness to share with others.
this video is one of my favorites. it's honest, it's open, it's inspiring. thank you so much for talking with peter and for being so transparent about your process of recording and connecting with people! this has really inspired me to keep doing what i love. :) thank you guys!
I never update my DAW. Tried updating early on and it only caused me problems. My DAW works great so no updating for me. I use the AKG 240's also - very flat very neutral sounding...For me it's all about the Song, does it touch me or not. Stay true to yourself and that will transfer to others being touched by what you do. Be genuine, authentic, operate with integrity and add Value to the Marketplace. Really enjoyed the video guys...well done.
"Content is king, but distribution is queen."... "If you're a musician that is only focusing on being in the studio and then going and doing gigs, you're stuck in the 90s." Man.. this is really good stuff that is answering a lot of questions for me. Very inspiring and encouraging as well!
Peter Hollens is the reason I started getting into recording and music production a couple years ago. So much that I am even going to school for it. I found Graham about a year ago and he has really helped me grow as an audio engineer
Can you Imagine if your followers would support you with only $1 for one month per year,WOW! I wish youtube would "require" anyone in order to subscribe your channel would a pay of $1 that would go to the person. If you lose supporters, less money, vice versa.AMAZING. THanks for the VID.
Fantastic and informative posting! Thank you Graham! Thank you Peter Hollens! Yes, I am a Hollens Family member! Subscribed. Will visit your site, Graham! ~Nancy Burridge
Just watched this video and man, I cannot even begin to say how inspiring it was! I have been told I have a decent voice and I love singing but always thought stuff like this was WAY out of reach. I see much better now! Thank you Graham and +Peter Hollens ! Probably gonna go try and make a video now! Thank you so much for being who you two are! God bless!
You might be interested. I make music on my Ipad now. Because it's easier for me. I have this extra thing about me that is unique. I create using my nose because I have cerebral palsy. There are several videos out on youtube using Caustic 3 and Gadget. I used to use Logic Pro with a track ball mouse and I used to put in notes in the editor. Moving the mouse seemed boring after using the iPad. Great video and Graham helped me with his videos. Thanks
This is so inspiring!! I almost have my home studio finished and I am so ready to start making content. I feel like Gram and Peter Hollens have been major inspirations for me and I'm blown away that they are friends! #mindblown
really solid right now to 11:45, the practice of content king with distribution queen is one old and new point in with the product of music, is nothing without being experienced, thats why it has so much value because you can do anything to it, and ultimately that's what the artist makes the product for to be used time and time again. it's described by its motion and should be seen at the broadened scape
Hey Graham- thanks for another awesome video. Truly one of the most meaningful channels I follow. It's like you're a psychiatrist for all the things that go through a musician's head as they try to figure out a living from this. Super cliche but your content really speaks to me. Thank you dude!!!
+Peter Hollens this is exactly what a 20-year old entrepreneur needs to hear! Once I graduate with a Quantitative Finance Masters, then I gotta try this!
I've know of Peter for a couple of years from being involved in the Virtual Choirs. It's good to get some insight into his process. And here I thought I invented the trick of recording in the morning if I have a deep bass part to do. Normally I can't get below a B flat, but at 5am I'm hitting G's. :) Great interview. Thanks
very good video I loved it thank you guys really insightful I walked away with just go do it you don't need an expensive quality video just do what you can
some of the things I've picked up from watching your videos is priceless. thanks! ( Thanks! is a bit of an understatement, you really have helped me and my band step from the shadows into the light) Cheers Mate ( yes... I'm English)
Really nice video, I found Peter in a Taylor Davis video, and I found Taylor while listening to Lindsey, I found her listening to The Piano Guys so so the chane goes on. Peter said is important to collaborate with other artists, this is the way I got to know him, and I am glad, I like his music and the music of a lot UA-camr artists. Congratulations, you guys are an inspiration. Thanks a lot
I found Peter and later Evynne thru LIndsey Stirling and was amazed by them both. They are so gifted and meant for each other. I buy as much of their music as I can^^
Informative and inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Few things Peter has that most peeps don't have : editor, arranger, video producer and possibly more. Who knows. It's not all JUST him doing this stuff. Thing folks need to remember is that hiring those people will cost you unless you just have a lot of really talented friends who believe in what you do who also have spare time. Also he probably paid to clear usage for Taylor's music I'm thinking. All this adds up.
+ipadloops Yes, however when I started I did it all myself, and I built up my team as I grew. I re-invested. I think it's essential to keep building your business. The best way to grow is to keep investing in your digital media company which is what you are creating if you want to be a musician now.
I think Peter Hollens is awesome! He's right that you have to establish a relationship with the fans. He is personally responsive to his fans, like he has resonded to ME personally by responding to my comments both here and on Facebook, so that is a great tip too, guys. Respond personally to your fans and they will be hooked! It's what made me become a Patreon Patron of Peter's so he can make more music!
great video. was hoping for more info on ad revenue from UA-cam and how he deals with copyright issues, but really informative and inspiring nonetheless
Graham I have been watching a bunch of your videos and I'm so encouraged to make great work thanks to you! I'm new to music but I've already built a track that I feel I could finish soon, mining the vocal melody has always been my challenge, I guess I just have to keep working it. I've gotten some feedback that was like "try it again" nothing that I could build on, but I will work on it. Can't wait to show you soon! If you have any advice on getting past that wall and finding that vocal melody that would be awesome :)
Alex G Sometimes when I need to come up with a vocal melody, I make a melody on a different instrument (guitar or piano) and then learn how to sing it. Hope that tip helps.
Talking about distribution and getting your music out there, you should do some sort of contest, maybe have people send you a song of theirs, and you pick the top ten (or less or more, whatever), and show case them here on this channel? That would help boost them greatly
I really appreciated this interview, but I do have some criticism. 1. I checked out Peter's videos, and come to find out, most of his compositions are cover songs of very popular current songs. Granted, Peter is highly talented. But I'm guessing the nature of his popularity is his genius of taking original songs and making a terrific accapella arrangement out of it. 2. I'm highly skeptical that his popularity is due to him being personal in social media, as was suggested. UA-cam is loaded with high quality, personal videos of great sounding original songs that have less than 1000 followers. People are finding his videos because they are cover songs of popular songs. 3. This begs the question: what about us artists who are creating original music? How do we get people to follow it? That question was never addressed in the video. Peter Hollens, while extremely talented, doesn't appear to be creating original songs.
+Patrick Skelton, Patrick, you are correct that there are many artist on UA-cam with very good original songs on their channel that have hardly any views or followers. Without the financial backing of a wealthy relative, a record label, PR firm or a close personal relationship with an already established band or solo act who's willing to promote your music to the fans at their own concerts, it's seems near impossible to ever become as successful as Peter Hollens has become. But it has happened for a whole group of UA-cam musicians who you can find on the internet right now and one of the common factors among them all is that they do a lot of collaborations with each other on their own original songs as well as doing cover versions of the major record label signed artists that are played on the radio daily. Have you heard of the Lindsey Stirling, the Dancing Violin Girl who's UA-cam channel has over 7 million subscribers and her video's have been viewed over a billion times? She was on America's Got Talent in 2010 and was booted off the show in the quarter finals because Piers Morgan told her she wasn't good enough to play the violin and dance at the same time. Sharron Osborne told her that what she was doing wasn't good enough to fill a theater on the Las Vegas Strip and that she needed to be part of a group rather than the star of the show. Lindsey Stirling is the highest earning female musician on UA-cam today. She makes over $6 million a year and has headlined 3 world tours with her dancing violin routine. Her shows are in venues that hold anywhere from 1000 to 3000 fans and nearly all of them are sold out. She played to a full house at an arena in Denver Colorado in 2014. I believe that venue held 15,000 people. Lindsey finances the tour herself because she was turned down by all of the major record labels and talent agencies. Of course, now, they are all trying to get her to sign with them, but she don't need them at this point and she's not going to do it. She is in total control of her music, pr, music and video production and the hiring and firing of the people who travel with her on the road as well as any studios she works with anywhere else in the world. She works for no one, everyone works for her. Lindsey has done many collaborations with Peter Hollens on cover songs as well as her own original music. And both of them have done even more collaborations with many of the other youtube musicians as well, and it is because of their collaborations with each other, as well as their interacting with the fans who are viewing their videos on facebook, twitter, instagram and their youtube channels that all of these youtube musicians are expanding their fan bases and are able to rack up billions of views between them. None of them would most likely have near the success, at this point, that they are having if they hadn't worked together and shared each others fan bases. Though the success of Peter Hollens was totally reliant on this method to succeed because he's done music for video games and The Disney Channel also. Peter and Lindsey seem to be pretty good friends too. You should also google "How to make money with your music on UA-cam" and read about how it can be done. It can still happen with the right plan of attack. Good Luck
Patrick Skelton How about a mix of both? For example, making covers of popular songs in your own style and mixing it up with your original songs in the same channel? That way you use the covers as a hook or leverage to attract an audience, and hopefully a few will stick around to hear the originals.
I'm not an artist in any way, but I will be launching a UA-cam channel and this was incredibly useful even for those who lack any musical talent. Thank you for this, and a thank you to Peter for sitting down for the interview.
Actually, he makes music VIDEOS for a living. There's a distinction. These days if want success, you have to have visuals. Audio is not enough any more. Just wanted to point that out. (I was watching the video as I typed this. I had finished typing this, and he just said the same exact thing, ha!).
Kinda like back to the future but with distribution on steroids. Age of the singles (remember 45s?) and fan clubs (big for pop music in 60s/70s and Disney)
If you're a young aspiring musician, still pretty busy with school and not able to just go out and buy decent gear for recording music, but you want to experiment with recording and editing your music, what's the next step? How do we begin to explore this aspect of creating music without spending lots of money on equipment or software?
I didn't expect to watch the entire half hour but this was a really great video. Thank you Graham for taking the time to arrange this interview and thank you Peter for such sage and informative advice. It's definitely hard to break ground on UA-cam but perseverance is the key, as you said.
Let's face it, the secret to being a successful musician/producer is getting one of those grey button-up t-shirts!
+Chris Lambrou lol
+Chris Lambrou lol I was just thinking that. Like "oh good they got the dress memo."
+Chris Lambrou YeRp, some kinda o' voodoo dress code
+Chris Lambrou Haha I'm Trippen"
I'm a Gospel writer and I have what I say sweet music for the soul. I thank you and Mr. Hollens. God Bless
Extremely helpful! thanks for doing this guys :)
It's time to get it done. Much appreciated.
I just want to say how decent you guys are for so freely providing these tips. Thank you. Not that I expect a chance to be heard by more. I'm just impressed by your willingness to share with others.
this video is one of my favorites. it's honest, it's open, it's inspiring. thank you so much for talking with peter and for being so transparent about your process of recording and connecting with people! this has really inspired me to keep doing what i love. :) thank you guys!
I am just now seeing this video! Great stuff! Peter sends the message loud and clear that SIMPLE wins the day!
Focus on your passion and you will succeed...
This opened up some ideas and knocked down some roadblocks for my video/music project. Thanks Graham and Peter!!!
I never update my DAW. Tried updating early on and it only caused me problems. My DAW works great so no updating for me.
I use the AKG 240's also - very flat very neutral sounding...For me it's all about the Song, does it touch me or not. Stay true to yourself and that will transfer to others being touched by what you do. Be genuine, authentic, operate with integrity and add Value to the Marketplace.
Really enjoyed the video guys...well done.
What a great interview! Peter seems like such a great guy and he's got GOBS of talent!
"Content is king, but distribution is queen."... "If you're a musician that is only focusing on being in the studio and then going and doing gigs, you're stuck in the 90s." Man.. this is really good stuff that is answering a lot of questions for me. Very inspiring and encouraging as well!
That was amazing. So inspiring and VALUABLE! Thank you to both of you!!!
Peter Hollens is the reason I started getting into recording and music production a couple years ago. So much that I am even going to school for it. I found Graham about a year ago and he has really helped me grow as an audio engineer
That interview was very inspirational, thanks for sharing
Can you Imagine if your followers would support you with only $1 for one month per year,WOW! I wish youtube would "require" anyone in order to subscribe your channel would a pay of $1 that would go to the person. If you lose supporters, less money, vice versa.AMAZING. THanks for the VID.
Took me a while to get the time to catch up to Graham´s content... but now I´m so happy I didn´t let this gold mine goes unnoticed! Thank you both!
Fantastic and informative posting! Thank you Graham! Thank you Peter Hollens! Yes, I am a Hollens Family member! Subscribed. Will visit your site, Graham!
~Nancy Burridge
Just watched this video and man, I cannot even begin to say how inspiring it was! I have been told I have a decent voice and I love singing but always thought stuff like this was WAY out of reach. I see much better now! Thank you Graham and +Peter Hollens ! Probably gonna go try and make a video now! Thank you so much for being who you two are! God bless!
Great, great video guys, thanks for sharing!
You might be interested. I make music on my Ipad now. Because it's easier for me. I have this extra thing about me that is unique. I create using my nose because I have cerebral palsy. There are several videos out on youtube using Caustic 3 and Gadget. I used to use Logic Pro with a track ball mouse and I used to put in notes in the editor. Moving the mouse seemed boring after using the iPad. Great video and Graham helped me with his videos. Thanks
Keepin' it filthy awesome up in here.
Thanks Graham, and Peter
I CANNOT tell you how valuable this video is. Amazing stuff, Graham and Peter! :)
I needed this! Thank you!
Omg!! This is the perfect inspiration. Thank you so much! I live in Nigeria but this is a reason to believe that even I can be heard!
Thank you so much Graham and Peter for making this video, really inspiring!
This is so inspiring!! I almost have my home studio finished and I am so ready to start making content. I feel like Gram and Peter Hollens have been major inspirations for me and I'm blown away that they are friends! #mindblown
really solid right now to 11:45, the practice of content king with distribution queen is one old and new point in with the product of music, is nothing without being experienced, thats why it has so much value because you can do anything to it, and ultimately that's what the artist makes the product for to be used time and time again. it's described by its motion and should be seen at the broadened scape
Hey Graham- thanks for another awesome video. Truly one of the most meaningful channels I follow. It's like you're a psychiatrist for all the things that go through a musician's head as they try to figure out a living from this. Super cliche but your content really speaks to me. Thank you dude!!!
This is so helpful not just for music creators, but also for all creators! Thank you both for this video!
Thanks Graham for this totally cool informational video
Great job ! I always get a lot of motivation from this interviews ! Thanks to the Recording Revolution !
Peter seems like amazing and humble person..
Thanks guys! Much gratitude!
That's amazing, boys! True living examples of that revolution indeed!
Two of internets true Music heroes at once! Lovely! :)
Thanks to the both of you guys. This is great stuff here.
Hollens family here !💖 not aiming to be an independent artist, but it's very interesting to learn about it c: thank you for this video!
+Peter Hollens this is exactly what a 20-year old entrepreneur needs to hear! Once I graduate with a Quantitative Finance Masters, then I gotta try this!
thank you so much for this video. It is a wake up call and an inspiration :D
I've know of Peter for a couple of years from being involved in the Virtual Choirs. It's good to get some insight into his process. And here I thought I invented the trick of recording in the morning if I have a deep bass part to do. Normally I can't get below a B flat, but at 5am I'm hitting G's. :) Great interview. Thanks
very good video I loved it thank you guys really insightful I walked away with just go do it you don't need an expensive quality video just do what you can
some of the things I've picked up from watching your videos is priceless. thanks! ( Thanks! is a bit of an understatement, you really have helped me and my band step from the shadows into the light) Cheers Mate ( yes... I'm English)
graham! great video man. I dig the technical info you give, but this is great! thanks for doing your best to help everyone out!
Really nice video, I found Peter in a Taylor Davis video, and I found Taylor while listening to Lindsey, I found her listening to The Piano Guys so so the chane goes on. Peter said is important to collaborate with other artists, this is the way I got to know him, and I am glad, I like his music and the music of a lot UA-camr artists. Congratulations, you guys are an inspiration.
Thanks a lot
Thank you for the video this really help me not feel alone about this stuff
Graham. This guy is amazing. I'm really glad you did this. By the way. I dig your one song a month track.
Phenomenal! Dang, this was just really a good video, thank you both for doing this... Well done!
I found Peter and later Evynne thru LIndsey Stirling and was amazed by them both. They are so gifted and meant for each other. I buy as much of their music as I can^^
Great interview, it was really helpful!
its so soothing, when you say sit back and enjoy :D
amazing interview! appreciate it Graham!!! :) so many useful tips!
An awesome Interview!!!! Thank you for that! - Dante Rox
Absolutely motivating!
I actually found Peter Hollens through this video, and now I'm a big fan! :D
Fully agree that it's not the gear:-) It's being creative with what you have.
Informative and inspiring. Thanks for sharing. Few things Peter has that most peeps don't have : editor, arranger, video producer and possibly more. Who knows. It's not all JUST him doing this stuff. Thing folks need to remember is that hiring those people will cost you unless you just have a lot of really talented friends who believe in what you do who also have spare time. Also he probably paid to clear usage for Taylor's music I'm thinking. All this adds up.
+ipadloops Yes, however when I started I did it all myself, and I built up my team as I grew. I re-invested. I think it's essential to keep building your business. The best way to grow is to keep investing in your digital media company which is what you are creating if you want to be a musician now.
AMAZING
thanks for your advices. as always the key is showing the 'real' you. keep rockin' guys
this interview was very inspiring, thank you so much !
Thanks Graham, video was very helpful, informative and insightful. Keep up the good work
This video is good, Thank you guys.
Some amazing information there. Thank you guys !
I think Peter Hollens is awesome! He's right that you have to establish a relationship with the fans. He is personally responsive to his fans, like he has resonded to ME personally by responding to my comments both here and on Facebook, so that is a great tip too, guys. Respond personally to your fans and they will be hooked! It's what made me become a Patreon Patron of Peter's so he can make more music!
great video. was hoping for more info on ad revenue from UA-cam and how he deals with copyright issues, but really informative and inspiring nonetheless
Graham I have been watching a bunch of your videos and I'm so encouraged to make great work thanks to you! I'm new to music but I've already built a track that I feel I could finish soon, mining the vocal melody has always been my challenge, I guess I just have to keep working it. I've gotten some feedback that was like "try it again" nothing that I could build on, but I will work on it. Can't wait to show you soon! If you have any advice on getting past that wall and finding that vocal melody that would be awesome :)
Alex G Sometimes when I need to come up with a vocal melody, I make a melody on a different instrument (guitar or piano) and then learn how to sing it. Hope that tip helps.
I love this tipe of videos. tnx for the work you are doing. very good job
Talking about distribution and getting your music out there, you should do some sort of contest, maybe have people send you a song of theirs, and you pick the top ten (or less or more, whatever), and show case them here on this channel? That would help boost them greatly
Thank you for this, great ITW peter seem to be a really nice guy !
Awesome help guys, thank you !!
Loved this interview, thanks
Great interview..... can't believe he's just using his voice.
You guys are awesome!
Great video man, I appreciate the tips and encouragement.
Great interview, thanks for all the info guys
It's fantastic that you didn't put a lot of editing into this video.
I really appreciated this interview, but I do have some criticism.
1. I checked out Peter's videos, and come to find out, most of his compositions are cover songs of very popular current songs. Granted, Peter is highly talented. But I'm guessing the nature of his popularity is his genius of taking original songs and making a terrific accapella arrangement out of it.
2. I'm highly skeptical that his popularity is due to him being personal in social media, as was suggested. UA-cam is loaded with high quality, personal videos of great sounding original songs that have less than 1000 followers. People are finding his videos because they are cover songs of popular songs.
3. This begs the question: what about us artists who are creating original music? How do we get people to follow it? That question was never addressed in the video. Peter Hollens, while extremely talented, doesn't appear to be creating original songs.
+Patrick Skelton, Patrick, you are correct that there are many artist on UA-cam with very good original songs on their channel that have hardly any views or followers. Without the financial backing of a wealthy relative, a record label, PR firm or a close personal relationship with an already established band or solo act who's willing to promote your music to the fans at their own concerts, it's seems near impossible to ever become as successful as Peter Hollens has become. But it has happened for a whole group of UA-cam musicians who you can find on the internet right now and one of the common factors among them all is that they do a lot of collaborations with each other on their own original songs as well as doing cover versions of the major record label signed artists that are played on the radio daily.
Have you heard of the Lindsey Stirling, the Dancing Violin Girl who's UA-cam channel has over 7 million subscribers and her video's have been viewed over a billion times? She was on America's Got Talent in 2010 and was booted off the show in the quarter finals because Piers Morgan told her she wasn't good enough to play the violin and dance at the same time. Sharron Osborne told her that what she was doing wasn't good enough to fill a theater on the Las Vegas Strip and that she needed to be part of a group rather than the star of the show.
Lindsey Stirling is the highest earning female musician on UA-cam today. She makes over $6 million a year and has headlined 3 world tours with her dancing violin routine. Her shows are in venues that hold anywhere from 1000 to 3000 fans and nearly all of them are sold out. She played to a full house at an arena in Denver Colorado in 2014. I believe that venue held 15,000 people.
Lindsey finances the tour herself because she was turned down by all of the major record labels and talent agencies. Of course, now, they are all trying to get her to sign with them, but she don't need them at this point and she's not going to do it. She is in total control of her music, pr, music and video production and the hiring and firing of the people who travel with her on the road as well as any studios she works with anywhere else in the world. She works for no one, everyone works for her.
Lindsey has done many collaborations with Peter Hollens on cover songs as well as her own original music. And both of them have done even more collaborations with many of the other youtube musicians as well, and it is because of their collaborations with each other, as well as their interacting with the fans who are viewing their videos on facebook, twitter, instagram and their youtube channels that all of these youtube musicians are expanding their fan bases and are able to rack up billions of views between them. None of them would most likely have near the success, at this point, that they are having if they hadn't worked together and shared each others fan bases.
Though the success of Peter Hollens was totally reliant on this method to succeed because he's done music for video games and The Disney Channel also. Peter and Lindsey seem to be pretty good friends too.
You should also google "How to make money with your music on UA-cam" and read about how it can be done.
It can still happen with the right plan of attack. Good Luck
Patrick Skelton How about a mix of both? For example, making covers of popular songs in your own style and mixing it up with your original songs in the same channel? That way you use the covers as a hook or leverage to attract an audience, and hopefully a few will stick around to hear the originals.
I'm not an artist in any way, but I will be launching a UA-cam channel and this was incredibly useful even for those who lack any musical talent.
Thank you for this, and a thank you to Peter for sitting down for the interview.
so inspiring!
This is gold.
Amazing video, thanks alot!
This video is really helpful, thanks!
Actually, he makes music VIDEOS for a living. There's a distinction. These days if want success, you have to have visuals. Audio is not enough any more. Just wanted to point that out. (I was watching the video as I typed this. I had finished typing this, and he just said the same exact thing, ha!).
Re watching this now that I'm more serious about this!
Great video! Very informative! Thank you! 👍🏾
cool video .... I truly enjoyed it✌️
nice..awesome video. .
Interesting insight.
In the beginning of the video I was like: Either he's wearing contacts, or this guy is some kind of lizard man.
+Magnus DarkSlayer (xXMagnusXx) he's part reptilian
It's the reflection of his light if I'm not mistaken.
its circulair lighting, being used a lot coz of that fx
Kinda like back to the future but with distribution on steroids. Age of the singles (remember 45s?) and fan clubs (big for pop music in 60s/70s and Disney)
EXCELLENT OBSERVATION
If you're a young aspiring musician, still pretty busy with school and not able to just go out and buy decent gear for recording music, but you want to experiment with recording and editing your music, what's the next step? How do we begin to explore this aspect of creating music without spending lots of money on equipment or software?
Awesome!
thank you,very helpful
Great video!
Dope
A'Capella nerds unite!
That was Glee-donkulously good. haha
which is the website he mentioned as platform, ?? for making money
Amrut Katigar www.patreon.com
Awesome interview! :-)