The problem with people hating on Nic is that he is literally just trying to help people have better lives. People always take others for face value and don’t understand what it took to get to his position. This man worked his tail off to live the life he wanted. He put his wife first and his family, and then said okay imma run it and try out this music thing. He was just willing to outwork everybody and have his priorities straight. As a fellow married man with around 700k monthly listeners, 802 million streams across platforms, Ive been SO happy to follow Nic because I was like wow. Another dude who is married and put his family first and still pursued his passion to the fullest and is trying to help others. The world needs guys like Nic to remind you that you gotta work harder while still being a great person and having good morals. He is doing it right. And to everyone hating, yall just need to understand his story a little bit more that’s all.
“Fellow married man with 700k monthly listeners” - now YOU inspire ME, man) Haha, was thinking myself that having a family and a corporate job is sort of a dead end for my music dreams. Glad to hear there are more and more people who succeed and combine all above. 💪🙂
32yo here too. But instead of pursuing videography I went into nursing after high school. in 2022 my mother was diagnosed with cancer. She’s still fighting. She told me I needed to pursue my music no matter what. I’ve been writing and composing since I was 15 on a kurzweil K2600xs and have just dove into using a DAW. I wanna make this work. Music has been my life and I want to give myself to it and share that with y’all. I appreciate your advice and will take it to heart. You’ve earned a sub from me. Thank you.
Lots of people mad because they want “insider tips,” aka fairy dust, and Nic is telling them to grind and learn good business practices. Keep teaching, Nic! 👏🏼
Nic, I just wanted to say thank you. Over the last 6 months you have inspired me to release my first handful of songs and shown me that I have an ‘unfair’ advantage when it comes to being an independent artist. I’ve worked in music production for about 10 years, mostly mixing and mastering other people’s music, while also creating educational RU-vid tutorials. You made me realise that these skills directly translate to becoming an independent artist for a living. Which is something I’ve always wanted but I guess I didn’t really think it was possible until seeing your content. As someone that is starting at 28, with a bunch of relevant skills, your message hit me hard and now making music and content is all I think about! Just wanted to express some gratitude 🤝
Bro what your giving is MORE than enough and the simple fact that you have a book, for the managers of the artists to dive in and learn. Not to mention you can SEE his TikToks that hes a practitioner of his words. Keep doing what your doing Nick 😊
I don’t understand the negative comments he’s getting, he’s literally giving good advice on how to grow, build and pursue a music career. I guess that’s what you get for giving good advice and helping people. I love the advice you give and watched countless hours of your content absorbing every useful thing that you say like a sponge, thank you for all the info! Soon you’ll see me win!
You brought me to the edge of tears from 3:17 to 3:24 Nic. I'm going through a hell financially, existentially and mentally and I feel like pursuing music/content creation is my last chance at life. Getting these quality advices and tips from someone like you who's been at it since 13 and so passionate about it speaks miles for your personality. You probably won't even read this but I just felt like getting it off my chest. Thanks for everything you do man!
0:15 yes great idea putting that out because people be forgetting!!! Those videos criticizing Nic D pisses me off because in reality Nic is the only one actually doing what he preaches while others are just “music marketers” . Nic D inspired me start taking music seriously after 4 years of not making any and it took only 2 months of consistent posting to start earning money on Spotify purely by following his advice. Building your catalog while promoting it through short form content is the best advice ever period. It worked for Russ, Nic D, Connor Price and many others.
I love the FRDi TikTok videos, but I found this video on my RU-vid home page. It's amazing how you touch in so many things without blending them together and cross promoting.
Spittin facts, skillstacking is essential. Had to learn marketing, production, mix/master, writing/recording, editing, filming, design & so much more and Im not even close to where I want to be but I'm so glad I didn't wait on people to learn these skills because now I'm able to drop weekly and grow. It's a process but I must say you have to love it foreal.. Not just the music, learning in general. You made me realize on 31st of December to go all in, listened to your audiobook three times that day and it completely shifted my thinking 🙏 You are appreciated Nic, artists need this
Dang that was deep lol this gave me a new perspective. Sometimes being intentional directly with your goals isn't always the path. Seems like life can prepare you or bring you luck in other ways indirectly in a way you wouldn't know.
Nic, you’re a legend man. Thank you for making this content I’m glad you started uploading more vids to this channel. It helps so many people including myself. Two things: First, thank you for being respectful to everyone. Even when Jesse was disrespecting you, you responded with wisdom and calmness. Something I aspire to be so thank for being a great example in a world where people don’t think before they speak. Second, everyone that comments rude things on your vids doesn’t even know the full story. They haven’t read your book or watched you over the years. I think everyone that see’s you as the person you are has mad respect for you man 🔥
As someone who got to know you a little bit personally, I would also offer that a skill that that you had the chance to develop when you were working with me part time many years ago, was good people skills. I can’t help but think that that experience came in handy in one way or another for you too. I know a lot of artists, be they musicians or visual artists, who really struggle in that department. Knowing how to work with people, even difficult people, is an essential skill. it’s critical to know how to work with a variety of people, navigate conflict, and encourage others to join with you on a shared goal.
Hey Nic and Fridi fam! This man is the realest! Without his advice on release strategy I’d still be at 10 monthly listeners! Now I’m up to 1700 and growing everyday. The skill stacking advice is so true. I barter or charge for my animations now that I’m getting faster at making them. We all need to learn other skills to help further our careers. Thanks for another great informative video bro !
Nic you popped off in such a great way bro. As much as you enjoy your music, you ensure that your relationship with your wife comes first! To lead as a husband is THIS, willing to lay your own life down to consider someone more significant than yourself. I’m really happy that your patience and selfless serving has paid off in this way bro! Doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee for everyone, but THIS is 🔥
Another great - and useful - video! I'm 55 and I've been a musician since I was 9. I've been creating my own music since I was 14. I learn a lot from you. It's humbling, but I am thankful for it. I'm working on implementing this stuff. Keep it coming!
thanks for this videos I've been waiting for new videos :) it's really motivating and inspiring to hear your advice. I made it from 800 to 9k monthly listeners (for now) thanks to the advice you gave :) Keep it going and don't let people like Jesse drag you down!
Insanely good video!!! Guys its difficult to find a generous person like this channel owner. This video is incredibly full of power accurate advice and wisdom! Treasures from his heart! Good luck for all of us! 🎉❤
03:15 "Because I care". Thank you for caring about your community enough to invest time and effort in us. You are giving us more tools and a better chance at success, and this is an honorable thing to do. We appreciate you!
Thank God for you brother. Thank you for being so sincere and making these videos man . At the moment I'm trying to Make my passion for music the way that I feed my family. I've been skill stacking for a while and it is such a relief to that. This is samson that might bring me success in the future one love
the logic is: Computer >> Algorithm Algorithm >> Content Content >> Which ever stuck in people brain Which ever stuck in people brain >> Give them / show them your music Your music >> Direct them to whichever you want
This tough love is just what us artists need. Got your book back in June of last year and I've been hustling ever since. Thank you for sharing this all with us. Forever grateful. ❤
I came here from the interview with you and Adam Ivy. I took notes the entire time after re-watching it some time later. During the past few months, all I could think about was what was shared in that interview. It definitely changed my life & outlook with my music. It's because of you & Adam that I was motivated to stop overthinking & I finally put out some content on tiktok to one of my songs. I can't thank you & Adam Ivy enough really. I'm really excited about this journey. Thank you sincerely!!!! I'm also getting your book by the way & tuning in to your podcast. Keep up the amazing work👍🏾🫱🏼🫲🏽
Could also be of value to fans and artists to touch on the part of your story where you moved into your in-law's basement when your vid/photography company wasn't excelling during covid thereby opening a window to create content without the concern of financial overhead. At least this is how I understood it when you touched on it a few times. Open to correction here. Also the detail that Cakes helps to film and edit the lion share of your vids (understood from last time you touched on it - NDPNDNT podcast). Helpful detail for those of us shooting and editing our own vids - transitions and artistic integration post shooting can be daunting when first getting into it and I can understand why fans are asking for post production tutorials. My point in saying the above is to help with clarity on the side of the artists watching your vids. As a fan of yours I dove deep into your story to get a full picture and even bought your book (which is dope btw) and was a former paying FRDi fam member. A ton of people are working part time or 9-5's while pursuing music and not finding the right balance. I get that it can be difficult to write down/memorize everything that you'd like to say and respond to every comment/concern especially when you are doing so many other things and have given back so much to the artist community; but a completely accurate depiction of your story is helpful to us given that to a lot of industry folk, what you've done is like splitting the atom lol (reference to labels coming to you and asking for social media and marketing tips - touched on in multiple NDPNDNT podcast episodes). I'm glad that you're getting back into posting on this page, hoping for more informative content like this as well as more NDPNDNT podcasts in the near future.
Lots of people need to hear this message! You have to be willing to invest in your skills and get better every day. While you are spending time putting things off, your competition is climbing their way ahead of you! Keep showing up for yourself and you'll look back at all the things you've accomplished.
Keep it up man! Read your book, been following your journey and it's all super helpful, especially the info around releasing consistently. The biggest take away I've had is to find a good balance in your life though, like how you focus on music 100% a few days a week and the rest you spend with family + animals
I bought Nic’s book & it’s amazing. Great motivation & insight. Being a radio DJ over a decade, I played close attention to new music to play on our station. Nic caught my attention via TikTok & everything that he explained in his book, worked on me. I played a song by Connor & Nic on our station bc the music is good. Info is good. He knows what he’s talking about. Now I’m in Nashville chasing the songwriting/artist dream. Thanks Nic D
a real gem here, thanks Nic! learning a bunch of skills like social media marketing and content creation along with music production and audio engineering only helped level up my music artist career and opened up more opportunities to grow 💎🙏🏽
Hey Nic, since you push the importance of content creation so hard in your approach, would you please consider doing a deeper dive distilling your years of research, experience and principles on effective content SPECIFICALLY FOR ARTISTS into a video or series? I've done tons of research, but most of it does not apply to musicians, AND the advice designed for musicians comes from people who don't have the proof of your (and Connor's) level of success. Maybe you've already done that and I just haven't come across it? It's really a different skill set.
It's so wild to see someone that's been on a similar journey to me. I've been a videographer, photographer since I was 13 years and it made up the bulk of my professional life and I've dreamed of going into music full-time, often watching Live Concerts, Song Tutorials, Music Theory at work and just daydreaming about the possibility and reality. I have spent the last decade skill-stacking and I'm just beginning my journey as a recording artist/musician with my first single out on spotify and my channel you've inspired me so much over the last couple of months... I can't wait tackle this challenge and I know I'm in it for the long-haul, you're videos have helped me, given me insight, and invaluable knowledge. Thank you Nic! Keep making that juicy juicy content
Some haters don't deserve the gems he puts on this raw videos. Thanks for sharing Nik D, the ones who already know better, do follow your ideas and they actually work!
Thanks for the advice man! I need to start skill stacking. As an artist you have to be good with video editing and content creation. Not the easiest thing as an introvert
since i started watching you and educating myself about music/music marketing i started releasing twice a month, and posting to tiktok once a day, still going strong!
I get a little bit jealous of your success sometimes ngl haha. Been doing video since 2014 and Music since 2017, have and have worked for successful media companies… Very similar pathway as you, I just can’t seem to get anything to pop off, it’s likely a been a consistency issue most of the time. Living my dream combining your music/video skills or at least I perceive it that way.
2024. I find - after decades trying to succeed in the music industry and falling apart approximately 30.000 times - that the rules are changing all the time. I started my music career in 1986. I saw the era of cassette, CD, Napster, streaming, and so on. The market is oversaturated, recording was never so cheap and good quality sounding as today, the musicianship level raised incredibly, etc. But at the same time today it is required a constant level of ubiquity, omnipresence in the Web that leads to overwhelming and many times burnout. Now the question is if ruining our mental health such way is worth for the money that the platforms pays actually.. . . . Personally, I am not in grade of making all those things because I have a job as guitar and bass teacher, have a family and even if I got a recording studio at home, the time needed to create, recording, mixing, mastering, making a video etc is not always handy. I had a RU-vid channel since a pair months and without the know-how it is very very difficult to get to the public.
Hey Nic, I'm a HUGE FAN of yours and i'm a 16 year old Indie Artist. My mom and dad found your books and podcasts after I let them listen to your music. They have become your students and read and listen to everything they can find that you do. It has changed the way we look at the biz and my life and direction will never be the same because of your shared life lessons. I can't THANK YOU enough. However, somedays its hard hearing the name Nik, more than my own name. LOL! @shalommaleemusic
You mentioned giving us the wheel to run with to find the tutorials, is there any tutorials that stood out to you with video production? Something that cuts through the bs and provides real gems? I do have a decent understand already, but always want to learn more on this topic. Thank you!
thank you so much for this. I got a song mixed and mastered and I want to put it out but I have no idea if it’s good or bad (the mix, the song is a banger) who can I ask ? Legit question, mixing and mastering are the only things keeping me away from releasing literal BONKERS BANGERS (come back to this comment in two years)
As a college student/Independent artist I can agree 100% Without the ability to mix or at least be good enough at these other skills you talked about, I would not be able to support myself. Great video! Hope the positive comments start to shine a lil brighter than those negative ones for ya soon :)
Facts, we tell our artists all of this all of the time! Great video. I’ve also ran a successful ecom business before my record label. Makes a lot of sense tbh !
I don`t normaly comment but... Nic don't be discouraged.... I love your vids and help me out a lot. I am a little artist with a better plan from the beginning of this year in a big part because of you! So continue please! these vids help out a lot! :D
His book is super helpful especially if you need help on how to use social media marketing to your advantage. He gives a really good perspective on how to attract and get an audience!
