How to make a living off your music (A conversation with Nic D)

Check out Nic's book - nicdbook.com
Follow him too:
/ iamnicd
/ iamnicd
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00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:02 The Long Awaited Conversation with Nick D
00:55 Nick D's Journey into Music
02:08 Balancing Business and Creativity in Music
03:18 The Reality of Music Quality and Audience Perception
03:36 Nick D's Love for Music and Business
03:47 L.Dre's Personal Experience and Connection with Music
04:31 Nick D's Music Creation Process and Passion
06:40 The Impact of Metrics and Numbers on Artists
11:23 Nick D's Perspective on Spotify Payouts
14:32 The Importance of Content Creation for Artists
18:45 Translating Views and Likes into Streams and Fans
20:48 Engaging with Audience through Comments
21:26 Strategies for Promoting Lo-fi Beats
22:07 The Power of Playlists
23:16 The Impact of Collaborations and Lyrics
24:28 The Role of Playlists in Music Promotion
25:23 The Importance of Release Radar
27:14 The Power of Catalog and Consistency
29:25 Maintaining Connection with Fans
32:40 Learning from Mistakes
36:11 The Drive to Mentor and Help Other Artists
41:53 The Importance of Personal Development

[@Chilldeck]

False advertising... LDre is a great interviewer... love the laid-back conversation style. Hard sub and keep these coming! Peace! 🎧

[@BenHarrismusic]

Love the interview! Nic D the 🐐

[@ldre_tv]

Awww thanks haha

[@BENJAMIN-nz6nd]

It’s was a good interview, love to see more

[@CamoDaCool]

80 songs before he felt like he was starting to reach a level he was satisfied with! I like that, just keep building your catalog!

[@lifenrg4024]

On God this dat sauce!

[@lifenrg4024]

RXK Nephew dropped over 400 songs in a year

[@Ketsado]

That feel when you’re 1000+ songs in and have achieved nothing 😅

[@juniordunkley2751]

Run my business make my money on Spotify also got me a side hustle working in a fast food joint

[@juniordunkley2751]

I'm an independent musician Man trying to get signed up by a major label

[@steelokey]

2:02 when he says “27” made me feel so much better. I’m 27 & have hit a lot of milestones/goals but sometimes feel stuck & don’t know if it’s “too late”

[@Takarathekoala]

I’m 30. It’s not too late.

[@steelokey]

@@Takarathekoala yo thank you for even saying something positive. I need that

[@steelokey]

@@Takarathekoala oh my gawd & your gorgeous . I gotta hear ya music

[@CamoDaCool]

I think my early 20s I started taking it serious Buisness wise as well

[@CurtwoodBearsman]

32 and releasing a new album soon, just keep going bro 💪🏼

[@NuEleven]

Much love to both L.Dre & Nic D! Anybody independent creative I hope you achieve amazing success this year!! 💪🏿🙏🏿

[@ldre_tv]

Much love!!

[@Morali-D]

Same to you, keep spreading the motivation.

[@NuEleven]

@@Morali-D will do 💪🏿 much love

[@SoulPapiii]

definitely a convo i need to see because i have 3000 songs i ask myself everyday wtf am i doing dont wanna wait for no label this guy sustaining himself off music not counting brand deals and sync placements i need to try too

[@designzonebeats]

Just release them! Maybe a label deal is still possible, but you gotta release!

[@steelokey]

100% get after it bro, the world is yours !

[@TrawaazRecords]

dude just release it man its free lol. release it per 2 days

[@8eight104]

Thank you for this. My last band had this issue. Talented band leader with a terrible mindset and absolutely against any kind of growth business wise. Yet, he would get bitter about no one caring about the band and would take it out on me. Now I'm solo and I'm ready to take my own dreams to reality.

[@ChaseMurphy]

His playlist idea for Lofi producers was heat.

[@ldre_tv]

Facts

[@ClassEBeats]

Thank you for dropping this bro!🔥🔥

[@Tayajoh]

That’s a good point at the end about not receiving anything if you don’t work on yourself first. Thank you both for the great interview and information shared!

[@AncientMemories-gx2hb]

That part on working on your self is way more important than most people realize

[@NANCEmusic]

been waiting on this! would much rather listen to a conversation between two creatives and not just an interview

[@elybeth]

thank you so much both of you ! The more I listen to Nic D the more I feel like I can see the path and the steps to take to make my music heard. The even best part of this is that it sounds really straight forward when music business can be really overwhelming sometimes.

[@lividcolorbackup]

Very informative and perspective changing as a artist, last year I was way too worried about numbers and this year I'm locking in on connection with the listener/fan. S/o yall and this great interview/conversation. Love!

[@baxtorscmusic]

Thank you for dropping the full interview. This was a very insightful video 🙏🏽.

[@Rote8Music]

Great video. Thank you for doing this and sharing. I'm just starting out on my Lofi journey so this is really helpful. Keep them coming 😃

[@Morali-D]

It’s amazing how he also released this moment on his channel. Definitely learning a lot from you guys.

[@leange04]

Coooool thanks for this great interview! ❤ sure make it a as podcast! I am surprised to see that all he said was already flowering in my mind !

[@ZachariahK]

So good man!! Thanks for the conversation!! Such good questions and insight! 🔥👊

[@madebytashalarae]

Yeah, I love listening to lo-fi chill beats when I study. I usually search out playlists and I’ll let it play for hours.

[@brokenbonesdubstep]

thanks so much for your input nic youve become a huge inspiration to me and thank you ldre as always!!

[@StoneyVision]

Love all this info, lots of great knowledge at least for us musicians with real passion for creating music. I definitely need to be more consistent this year and better at short form videos promoting my music. Keep up the great videos. Definitely subscribing. Much love and appreciation 🤙

[@tajiez]

It’s so crazy that he mentioned crash adams cuz I found them and kinda took them as inspiration for my content

[@GrizzlyMadams]

Love your sound panels, they look great! Oh and the video was good as well!

[@abdur1914]

Thanks for sharing, that last part he said about working on yourself is very important. 👍🏾

[@Ellifmusic]

Nic D inspires me so much!! Thank you for this interview ❤

[@producedbyghost.writer]

So many gems on this episode right here!!! 🙌💎 Podcast would be dope

[@tommydowd7718]

Really enjoyed it man, if you keep doing music business stuff with other small creators that make a living from music I would definitely watch it!

[@kougan_music]

yes! thank you. Nic is a goldmine of knowledge

[@millielane3]

Great video thank you so much!!! One direction I need to head more to is creating more videos for tik tok and releasing music twice to 4 times a month

[@SoundOfKeys]

This is a great interview. I work with Ludacris and I’m trying to figure out how to take my brand to the next level via content and my own releases

[@EmpressBlackBird]

Thankyou gentlemen... This is like music business 101 for this digital era... Us old school music junkies are grateful...

[@EDM-Jigger]

yo this man is so smart the way he thanks i feel can really help a lot of us out moving forward with making a living off our work

[@JamieBurke-ho6uh]

AMAZING!!! Lots of great info!! Thanks Ldre!

[@RukqMan]

very inspirational and i agree with most of what he is saying...... definitely turning up this year

[@hotwheelz20072]

This is actual gold

[@ChaseGreye]

Well done. Smooth flow. Great questions. You are a great interviewer. Thank you…

[@kaisersnap]

Wow! Real artists who share proven advice. Very inspirational and big thanks to both of you.

[@CamoDaCool]

I’m glad they were able to break it down and have it relatable to independent artist

[@Whynotdudemusic]

this was a dope chop up - thanks for putting together!

[@meemalif]

This is a diamond for years to come ❤

[@samson4272]

More please! Super inspiring episode ❤

[@osquaremusic]

This was a true eye opener, thanks for sharing.

[@jazzercaster4749]

Man the main thing here is that "your/our content can be self serving" and also having your music playing in your videos and if someone asks let them know/pin their comment etc.. truly something I'd never thought of but will work on going forward.

[@priiormusic]

Love this thanks mate ! Keep interviewing

[@Mwlloww]

Wow thank you! So much value!!

[@christinazadita4814]

Thanks for this video- would like to be in this conversation! so True, Nic, we manifest equal to our mindset. not being attached to results - just being is key- be who you want to be, go for your dreams and never give up. believe in yourself. be genuine and do what you love-💕

[@mrfleamino9350]

Thank you guys

[@Nate28TV]

Dope interview. Your work is appreciated.

[@vickemma]

Thank you so much brother, I’m motivated.

[@slimthehitmaker]

Thank you for the information 🙏🏾

[@ProdbyRaystee]

Humble, down to earth guy.

[@camilobaqueromo]

Launch the podcast man! A new fan is born from Colombia🔥

[@CamoDaCool]

Key points is just doing it for the love of it first.

[@The1AndOnlyMichaelAngelo]

This interview was an absolute GEM! It reached deep inside and touched the spiritual and mental aspects of music and how to utilize and unite your passion for music and to be able to harmonize it with the business aspects of it as a solo artist. The analogy of Kendrick Lamar vs. being a solo artist and having to balance both your love for music and integrating the business aspects was what pure genius and absolute FACTS. Thank you so much for this video LDre! Thank you so much as well to Nic D for being humble and taking the time to commit to the interview!!! New Sub!!

[@pj956]

Yoo this was I think recorded during "24 hours with an independent artist | Ep. 01" on channel " FRDi for Artists". Great interview, good questions and nice vibe

[@tajiez]

Yessir FINALLLYYYYY

[@ihatemago4807]

love the gems dropped in this 💙

[@IsaacTurnerMusic]

Nic d is such a rad dude! Thanks for the interview

[@jacksp8de]

Great video. Watched the whole thing. I already had the book and have started to implement the strategies and I’m having fun. Not too worried about metrics, I’m just putting numbers on the board right now

[@designzonebeats]

Cool man. I subbed!

[@jacksp8de]

@@designzonebeats good look!! I appreciate it!!

[@javilaroid]

Crucial info, thank you a lot

[@jazsebastian]

Just checked this guy out, no doubt is a great mind and has done amazing, all the big/popular tracks on spotify songs are like 2 minutes though... not sure how I feel about that. Not sure how I feel about having a fan base that loops 2 minute songs on repeat.

[@OohWeeShaShaCooCoo]

Right that’s just…not for me. Like will that translate to tour tickets?

[@katana2seppuku]

This really is inspirational, I’m gonna try reading cryptid tales and incorporating my own music

[@robertjag167]

I really wanted to share this from a talk I had with someone with several grammy's under his belt. It mostly boils down to not settling with instrumentals or typebeats and solely focus on full tracks with vocals/rap included: "There’s a ton of people out there that make amazing instrumentals, but truthfully only music people and other producers care about that if that makes sense! Let it motivate you though! If you’ve got the drive to go halfway with it then you’ve definitely got the drive to finish the track! Pretty much just not stopping halfway if you feel me. I know it’s tough advice but it’s 100000% the way to get to where you wanna go."

[@Itsjustinmills]

Great video bro!! Do more like this

[@darkus_prod]

Man thank you for this🙏🏿

[@ldre_tv]

Any time! 🤞🏾

[@hurtingmurphy]

Utmost respect for this guy.

[@jayman5384]

Yeah dude really enjoyed this video. Lots of interesting stuff

[@sgpbeats1405]

Great interview 🔥🔥🔥🔥 filled with 💎 💎💎

[@RenownBlack]

Nic d is brilliant 💯

[@REMRODFILMS]

my boy spitting all facts! 90%

[@JPort561]

Straight up he doesnt fluff it, hes already killin it why hold back the keys

[@Piano-Therapy]

Two of my biggest inspirations!

[@ldre_tv]

Much love ❤️

[@fmekbeats4481]

This is has real value 👊🏿

[@GenoGwap]

Great convo

[@madeya117]

Thank you. This meant a lot yo

[@jonathanreede6382]

This was a shot to my ego… but I needed this. Thank you !

[@Bibokld]

This video had a lot of Gems

[@808BOT_Beats]

You doin gods work thank you so much fam appreciate you 🫂🫂🫂

[@zoeydionne6378]

Great interview!

[@Krausez93]

Thank you for the content brother

[@sivanlanger]

Great video, great ideas

[@ukofficialdel]

Yeah this mad insightful 📝

[@ZVCKDAVID]

That last thing Nick said hit hard

[@TrunxKraft3000]

The most abrupt ending lol, but great info overall! Thanks for this 🙏🏿

[@jacobdrumm3099]

Subscribed! Great content!

[@jlovedoesit]

“you’re very dedicated and i inspire to be just like you” had me 😂

[@ldre_tv]

Damn you made it haha

[@Sylendanna]

great video

[@benvarney]

Just over half way through and this shit is 💎

[@JPort561]

This man is such a level headed genius

[@DreamingWhileAwakeMusic]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@harveypuffett5475]

Great interview bro! Would defo watch if you created a podcast👊

[@STATE.38]

ROI does Not calculate time/value. He approaches businesses like a real estate agent. Lots of gold here, lots of room for improvement as well. Super cool young man giving out lots of great info. Spotify is rad.

[@designzonebeats]

Great stuff LDre. The real question is have you read Nic’s book? You should see in Conor Price will do an interview with you. Peace!

[@PonchoWylin]

A1 interview Also no freaky LDre's skin is on point 🤣🤣

[@Statuslock]

When ppl say "bars", in-person ppl be telling me that what is being said gotta rhyme. But online, ppl use it as a means of a compliment to what is being said.

[@nostralgia3203]

(A conversation with with Nic D) theres a AD/DA converter entendre in there somewhere, nice.

[@Itsjustinmills]

Also just subscribed 💯

[@ldre_tv]

Thank you!!

[@8StillGotIt]

I watch this vid everyday💀🙏🏽

[@ochre9503]

An idea for artists, if you can't make a beat and you can't upload on spotify, record a video of you making a song on a free beat... you can teach a person how to make a song or show them the different writing process, I think everyone including myself needs to start doing more and build better habits.

[@DJShaferScott]

Fuck yeah this was awesome

[@w3madeit]

💯

[@hleet]

nice video