What Successful Artists Know That You Don't

Work with me: work-with-phil...
If you’re new to my channel, my name is Philip Davidson. I’m a music producer and engineer with over a decade of experience in the industry. Tracks I’ve worked on have accumulated over 100 million streams. My productions and engineering contributions have helped artists secure major record deals and advance their careers. Given this is a KZbin channel, and anyone can claim anything, I’ll give you some specifics below so you can verify for yourself if you like.
Artists and producers I've worked with include:
Ed Sheeran, Little Simz, Rihanna, Dave, Pa Salieu, Skrillex, Demi Lovato, MIA, Andrew Watt, DJ Mustard, Ilya, Digital Farm Animals, Two Door Cinema Club, Faithless, Eli Brown, Hannah Boleyn, Yxng Bane, Becky Hill, Tom Zanetti, Muni Long, Rex Kudo, Sophie, Ali Tamposi, Poo Bear, Nadia Rose, Kojo Funds, Burna Boy, Daniel Bedingfield, Lianne La Havas, Jasmine Thompson, Jorja Smith, Anne-Marie, Mahalia, artists who have been picked up by major labels, more who have been dropped by majors, and too many independent artists to name.
How I got here…
Early years: Started learning music by playing the recorder with my dad and brother. Learned trumpet, guitar, and bass. Played in orchestras, brass bands, and rock bands.
16 years old: Taught myself Ableton Live, Pro Tools, and Cubase.
17 years old: Met my first mentor, Martin Rushent (BRIT Award Winner, Human League, The Stranglers, Buzzcocks).
18 years old: Earned Grade 8 in Classical Trumpet.
20 years old: Diagnosed as dyslexia.
21 years old: Graduated from LIPA (Performing arts university set up by Paul McCartney).
22 years old: Mentored by James Rushent (Does It Offend You Yeah, The Prodigy, Dillon Francis).
23 years old: Became Production Manager at London music venue The Bedford, engineered 500+ artists (including Ed Sheeran, Jorja Smith, Jasmine Thompson). Started DJing London clubs.
24 years old: Stage-managed/tour-managed/FOH for shows and festivals with up to 15,000 people.
25 years old: Began a 4-year relationship with Warner Music Group, working at The Firepit, a creative content hub and recording studio, to develop new and potential signings (Anne-Marie, Mahalia). Mentored by Richard Woodcraft (Grammy Winner, Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys).
26 years old: Became a freelance recording engineer.
27 years old: Produced for Sam Tompkins, leading to his signing with Island Records (UMG).
28 years old: COVID hit, explored ideas of becoming a DJ/Producer. Continued writing/producing/engineering for major label and independent artists.
30 years old: Got married to the love of my life. Shifted my focus to working with independent artists.
31 years old: Became a father.
32 years old: Started KZbin.
Today: I create content to educate artists on their career development based on my experiences over the last decade in the music industry. I’ve opened a free community to help independent artists work through challenges and enable growth. I continue to produce for artists as my primary focus, and I will continue to grow my career, including more major label work, songwriting, and achieving high-streaming records. As I find more success, I will continue to be fully transparent with my progress and process.
To everyone who's doing anything in music: Music is lifelong, and we're all at different points in our own journey. You will continually face problems, but it's the solutions you choose that will determine the places you see along the road.
Whether you find a career or a voice, consider it a success.
Keep creating. May your passion always outweigh your obstacles.
Never quit,
Phil
FULL DISCLOSURE
I make content to build my career-but I’m playing a different game than most. While many producers are hired to help with a single track, my goal is to help artists build careers. I build trust with artists by sharing everything I know for free, and I make money when they choose to work with me 1-on-1 on their music.

[@AliaFayOfficial]

It's. All. Marketing. And you can't proove me wrong. If you have a good producer, super songwriter and a team that builds WHO you are as an artist plus a gazillion $$$ to invest in smart promotion campaigns - you're top!

[@ritn2912]

I mean besides the fat wads of cash, isn’t all art just based on the team who made it? Like yeah, they have a good producer, good songwriter, good team, good singer, they made good music, is that a surprise?

[@AutumnLeaves_011]

Exactly because just because you make very good music doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be famous. I listen to so many underrated artists that make absolutely amazing music but they don’t promote their music well enough for recognition

[@isaacluuu]

this the silent part they are never honest about, it all boils down to... MONEY to promote your sht, anything else they tell you is a lie.

[@dxve_beats]

kinda, but nearly most aritst started without $$$. There has to be something. And when it stands out in some way and someone notices the potential, obviously talented people gather around and push the limits to create an "product" that sells. Millions in Marketing is nothing if you make x10 the amount in return.

[@ightoaks]

facts tho

[@LMTH27]

"True perfection in all things is no longer known or prized - you must write music that is either so simple a coachman could sing it, or so unintelligble that audiences like it simply because no sane person could understand it." ~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

[@maine1148]

I’m gonna use this quote

[@laincoubert7236]

i feel like this quote is invalidated simply by its age? i think we can agree humanity has produced perfect / genius music, whatever you put into it, since the days of mozart. it's giving boomers saying "no one wants to work anymore"...

[@vcR7132]

Mozart is the G.O.A.T.

[@aidanlee8804]

@@laincoubert7236Yes, 100%. It just comes across as closed-minded & bitter. The same people who say the most cringe phrases with no actual reasoning, like: “This younger generation coming through now are fu*ked!” Like, sure: As if Fascism & slavery weren’t part of your generation, no, you’re right; it’s this generation that are the bad ones.

[@lisabethlawrence]

This is a great quote! thank you for sharing. His music is so catchy! Anytime I am working on a piece it gets stuck in my head for days!

[@deniswastaken]

they don't know either, it's the other producers that work under or with them, who are the goldmines of good work, in my opinion.

[@6e757alocke]

agreed, industry producers have gone praiseless for far too long. but its nice seeing underground fans appreciate the producers of their favourite artist, funny how that works

[@sleevejobskmc]

1,000% this video is useless. All of the artists he’s talking about have PR people who create “what makes them different” for them. I’ve gone to too many musician panels where they describe all of this. It’s money and marketing. That’s it. They literally tell you that you have to just “make up” an interesting story about who you are and what you’re about. Even if it’s completely manufactured.

[@sleevejobskmc]

Edit *it’s not completely useless. Writing down what your song is about and the emotions is a great idea and sharing that really appeals to audiences.

[@echolaylala]

we definetly do know, especially for the artists in the thumbnail, charli has a.g cook, easyfun, sophie, gessefelstein (on the newest album) and more of the pc music roster who all have established identities and billie eilish has finneas, her brother. Like this just is so wrong especially when you go into the electronic and hip-hop genre which a lot of today's pop music takes from

[@val_de_mez]

2 - 5 millions of dollars in promotions. That's what sets it apart.

[@LokiBeckonswow]

don't forget the teams of artist developers, writers, producers - and then all of the managers, the publishers, the publicists - and that's only the teams who work directly with the would be "artist" - most artists are just a face and a voice, this hasn't changed since the 50s, it's gotten more concentrated, more fake, more formulaic - how do I know? cos I work for a big producer in berlin who works for a big publisher with big artists - this industry is a series of cartels and it's time we talk more directly and honestly about this

[@val_de_mez]

@@LokiBeckonswow indeed. While I, living in Japan and seeing their idol culture. LOL That is exactly what you've said but on steroids 😂 even a weather person (good looking female) had to apologise for having a boyfriend.. 😄 I mean you can't make this sh*t up dawg

[@soulofwaves]

@@LokiBeckonswow the system is so rotten, well it's been since the beginning practically, how do you see the panorama for artists that refuse signing labels or getting into the industry while being indie? Considering that they have literally everything again themselves and they are on they own

[@isaacluuu]

exactly, i learned from way back that these artists don't got nothing that sets them apart internally just the money to promote their sht, cause i know a sht ton of musicians that are a million times more talented than 90% of these famous artists... so it really all comes down to money to promote yourself and never shy away from spending on yourself... quit thinking that only consistency and making a sht ton of music is enough, that's a lie just have the money to promote your sht and ofc don't be bad at it or if you're gonna be bad at least make it bumpy... see musicians like Ice Spice and Sexyyy, they're not at all good but they make catchy sht so at least do that!

[@val_de_mez]

@@isaacluuu 100%

[@pyaratofu]

that ethnicity point is so on point, the only thing that AI can't replace is our cultural identity and taste

[@producedbyphil]

Damn right! Glad you agree. This why it’s so important to be as much of yourself as possible.

[@pyaratofu]

@@producedbyphil these points are mentioned in steal like an artist book

[@808Efe]

it will

[@BigPoppa_]

Yes it can! With social media, the whole world is headed to having only one culture and similar taste

[@redmondartwork]

Robert Downey Jr.

[@TeddyRockSteady]

As a beatmaker who has been at the craft for nearly 40 years, I have been saying this throughout our community. Beat making, especially on You Tube has become a sea of Orange Smarties with so many who attempt to duplicate J Dilla, Alchemist, etc. So many of them fail to realize that Hip Hop for one was about being 'Fresh' which means doing something unlike the masses. Being at the very basic description 'original'. You need to give them something they can't get from anyone else and have enough depth to remain original and relevant. Newly subbed, happy to have stumbled upon this today. Salute !

[@unnamed776-m9h]

Because they have to in order to get views…

[@TeddyRockSteady]

@@unnamed776-m9h They will get more views and subs being original

[@wonderlone8458]

@@unnamed776-m9h not necessarily. you can be unique and original and attract listeners.

[@soulofwaves]

They cheated not because they knew something, but because they had connections or parents with connections that opened all the doors for them. Without that, doesn't matter what they knew or how hard they tried, they wouldn't have had the success they had. A proof of how rotten the music industry is.

[@NickBadovski]

It's still possible to earn a living and become quite popular without parents. Due to the rise of TikTok and other social media, now everybody has a chance to show their art to the world.

[@soulofwaves]

@@NickBadovski I'm not saying it's not possible but it's unlikely, because the rules of the game are set against independent artists. You can achieve success, yes; but chance of success is like 0.1%. I'm still trying and hoping I will be able to live from my music, but in the end, in the social media game you are not a musician, you're a marketer. It's curious that a successful way of promoting music is in an indirect way, ie doing a funny video with your song on the background, because if you show your art directly, no one seems to be interested and they scroll away...

[@producedbyphil]

Thanks so much for your comment. Having worked at a major label for around 5 years, you'd be shocked at the amount of failures. 99.5% of signings never go on to fulfil their contract. Even if a door had been opened by someone they knew, they would have been crushed if their music had not stood up. I think what is really interested is that Charlie XCX has pretty much had the same vision for herself since she was signed back in 2014, and besides the odd hit here and there, this is the first time that she has really been spoken about in the public sphere. It's essentially taken 10 years of consistent effort for her to be recognised and music/culture to catch up to where she was all along.

[@soulofwaves]

@@producedbyphil that's interesting and doesn't surprise me tbh. I wrote this comment before seeing the video, and I was thinking of Billie eillish (who appears on the thumbnail). I know her situation is shared by many other artists but I know others have achieved success mostly by their own efforts. My words can be wrong because there are many things I don't know, and I'm happy to debate about it, but as independent, self-funded and self-managed artist with no connections from my perspective everything is set against me and I have to literally walk through hell to catch what others got much easily and at a very young age because of connections (I don't deny most of them are brilliant artists though)

[@xoxoxoxo10928]

@@soulofwavesMan i dont want to be a dickhead, but your music is mid and boring lol. If your music is REALLY bad. No amount of connections or marketing will make you stand out.

[@hey-zel]

Now this is the type of advice I’ve been searching for. No one else has been able to give me steps! You’re the first person to actually make the process a little easier. Thank you

[@gothicckk]

dude same here, he literally blessed us

[@seanfrance3182]

For real, I rarely hear my friends who also make music ever stress trying to spearhead a whole new sound or genre. I feel heard with this one.

[@GabrielValdez-me2eb]

@@seanfrance3182 What about the playlist? I can't narrow it...

[@dasia2345]

good luck

[@doombiamusica]

Our whole thing is literally trying to create our own genre: DOOMBIA, which blends elements of Afro-Latin polyrhythms and doom metal, along with some pscychedelia and post-punk influences. I really don't think we sound like anyone else and I challenge someone to find a famous artist that we could be accused of copying!

[@producedbyphil]

Love this, sounds epic!

[@SmokeD-dl2ju]

Very powerful words, thank you 4_ the content,😆🐍👌🌹😁😄🤩💯💯😋😍😂❤️❤️😎🙏🙏🙏🙏☮️🙏☮️

[@DinosaursRexMusic]

We would listen tot that :O

[@fivebyfivesound]

DOOMBIA!!!

[@ChunterInfo]

Type O Negative's cover of Evil Ways I'd take 100 more of those any day

[@jojotention]

I LOVE THIS IDEA! i just finished my 1st song ever and youtube recommended this video and it clicked w me so much, thank you for sharing this and reminding me to follow my instincts

[@ayangko744]

All of the top artists have mid sounding music none of them are unique but the reason they are successful is because the music they make is heard by the most people and they have connections to the music industry. They treat their music career more like a business. That's why

[@ayangko744]

The reason I've said they have mid sounding music is bcuz I've heard similar songs which aren't even popular. I've also heard many music producers and singers who are much talented and unique then them. But the reason they don't get the recognition and fame is bcuz of they don't treat their music like a business or they don't have connections.

[@mutanthorrorshow]

TRUTH

[@sivemaqina]

​@@ayangko744 I'm thinking of Frank ocean. Do you think a huge budget would do him wonders? I don't see it. The 'VERY Creative' music is so niche. Look at Childish Gambino etc.😊

[@precioussoulmj07]

On fleek 👌

[@1almostblue]

Every artist should treat their music career like a business, because if you’re a professional, that’s exactly what it is. That doesn’t have to mean sacrificing artistic integrity though at all. It’s just called being strategic

[@ClicStudio]

Wait what the hell, the quality of the video is hella professional for such a small channel, good luck on your youtube journey and thanks for the advice

[@producedbyphil]

Ahhh thanks so much! Really appreciate this

[@obscurereferences7198]

It's not really about standing out or trying to be unique, it's about great songwriting, regardless of the genre or presentation, most people just never get to that point where they can write great melodies.

[@1almostblue]

@@obscurereferences7198 great songwriting is the bedrock of all of this ofc

[@LokiBeckonswow]

incorrect - many of the biggest artists are trash at songwriting and they write and sing trash songs

[@sayelune]

Sad truth that’s also so simple

[@carlosamado7606]

It doesn't matter how much your music is unique if does not capture the current zeitgeist. Connections and being able to mass market is more important. Most top artists all sound the same to me, they are not unique for the most part but they have a marketeable image/brand.

[@seanfrance3182]

You gotta create from a genuine place. Not from a place to be recognized. There’s a fan base for everyone out there. You gotta be all in though. It can’t be a gimmick, it’s gotta be you in that moment. I agree that most stuff out sounds the same it’s frustrating af. But you gotta tune that out or use certain elements from it to connect. I hate most music out but I can usually find atleast one thing I can appreciate about most artists out.

[@MHATAN-y3t]

you dont always have to capture the Zeitgeist. There are tons of (mostly older) Listeners that enjoyed the Music of past decades. Me for example...i love 90s EuroDance and would gladly pay for more Music like that.

[@emanuelpimba8720]

​@@MHATAN-y3t I'm talking about music in the charts and high levels of popularity. Yes there are famous artists in other genres but many still don't make much financially speaking, just enough to get by. They also aren't allowed in the mainstream for the most part.

[@toweringmother]

The key to success as a creative is being able to see yourself and your art objectively. Period. You either understand this or you don’t. If it needs to be explained to you, it’s not for you. It’s like telling someone how to write a song, you just can’t. Not to be harsh, it’s just the truth. Those who get it just do and have the ability to succeed if the drive is there.

[@lynoulune]

not me creating that playlist and ending up with 500 songs in it xD

[@producedbyphil]

haha my "songs I wish I wrote" playlists is like 500 songs long 🤣

[@h3llboyyy407]

lol i guess try to only add about max 3 songs per artist

[@jum3e]

Did you whittle it down then?

[@kacperekerek40]

idk why i burst with tears at the end of a video. Like An exact reason why I do music dawned on me so incredibly fast and I realized it was purely personal, within a secound my most loved songs flashed with my whole life and its every emotion attacted to feeling about myself when doing music. i was curious but not expected a random yt video to make me so emotional. Really thanks dude! im gonna make a playlist!!!

[@mediamaniax.]

Tinashe is the youngest female engineer with no record label. I mainly listen to her because of her strong talent in music theory. She’s mesmerizing and she’s bigger to me than most of the original artist of our generation.

[@davelordy]

150,000 new tracks are uploaded to streaming services every single day, yep, that's not a typo, 150,000 . . . so that's over a million new tracks a week ! Even if you're radically different (which doesn't always work) it's still vanishingly unlikely that you'll gain any traction or get noticed amongst the monumental volume of music being released . . . think of it like this, if you delay your release by just 2 or 3 days (let's say you've decided your mid-range on your master needs to be just a couple of dBs louder) you are now competing against an additional 450,000 tracks - that weren't there just 3 days earlier ! Lol 😂

[@Meteotrance]

Now question on the 150,000 upload in a week, how many are pure garbage and forgetable and how many have the potential to be a Gold memorable songs and stand the test of Time ? I bet you it's less than a thousand ...

[@bingbongbingbong4305]

The statistic of the whole doesn’t necessarily apply to the part

[@jeetisquadreactions]

This is a terrible way of thinking using statistics to sabotage yourself

[@wickxd9929]

The thing is tho, the audience is not listening to thr 150,000 a day, you just need an audience and you will be noticed, that 150,000 a day is narrowed down to 3 in reality.

[@theeemastermind]

you’re not taking into factor the social media presence of the artists. and at the end of the day, it all comes down to your beliefs. if you believe you will drown in that sea of artists, that’s what will happen. if you think you will succeed despite these factors, you will ♥️

[@fomomix]

My advice: Listen to songs charting prior to the 2000s, especially 60s for songwriting. Dua Lipa etc. are great role models for how to MARKET yourselves - NOT for outstanding music.

[@ona_tzar]

Dua Lipa didn't market herself, she had a major label and PR team do it- they have reaches we just can't ask civilians. Also, she has a decent voice and they (her team) decided to approach song production more in a 'disco pop' genre, so I think it helped her stand out (aside from being pretty). They said; let's make it pop but with a twist. And that's what works. It's like, "let's keep it within the same damn formula but let's figure out how to make it slightly different so it can stand out- but not enough to where it's not going to not capture the mainstream audience". And that can easily work, when you have a major label and good PR team on your side.

[@EmperorKamikaze]

​@@ona_tzarin other words: dua lipa is formulated chemical cereal, pushed down your throat.

[@bingbongbingbong4305]

Man I’m damn near crying right now. Your reconnecting me back to my lost childhood I’ve been trying to find and the music I love and want to mine to feel like. Thank you so much.

[@platinumheartaartist]

oh you’re good fr. cause this is what I do low-key when I’m on my own. i kinda have this way of talking to myself about my past and get flashbacks on each situation, especially if the was music playing around me and I tap in and it all comes back where it all started when I was a kid. from, the public pool; walking back home from school,in a taxi, back at home around my neighbourhood, and etc. it makes sense, so much now I understand why I might jus stand out. thank you.

[@dandanthesoundman7607]

I think a lot of comments to this video are missing the point. If I’m not mistaken what this video is showing you is how to tap into who you really are as a musician and you use that to develop you skill to the point where you will get picked up by the industry. This is the foundation work, before we talk about any marketing budget or which producer or songwriter you’re collaborating with. This is why you will get found by the industry.

[@ChiragR-007]

You got it right that all the new big artists sound unique

[@Funfork]

Maybe their voices only. Instrumental wise? Lots are forgettable (I'm a non musician so I maybe too tone deaf to catch their good points, but I suppose lots of listeners are just like me :P)

[@ClubOohLaLa-fq3sb]

This is good advice and is relevant to being creatively successful. And I appreciate people like this that try to say something meaningful about being an artist. But it has so little to do with financial and critical success in our society and our economic system, and the images of artists at the start of the video are all hugely successful in the sense of fame and financial success. I have heard extraordinary artists that are completely unknown, and they aren't unknown because they are lazy or stupid. I have had huge success as an indie artist through licensing, but still could not make a full time living from it. Everyone in our culture without huge financial resources is incredibly limited by the technological and economic infrastructure that is built to benefit a small number of people. It is not built to benefit the general populace, especially not artists and working class people. If artists really want to change the dynamics in this area, they need to also work toward a more financially equitable society. Without that, the money people will continue to make more and more, while everyone else, except for few lucky breakouts (who are always publicized as the model instead of the rare exception) will continue to strive simply to survive.

[@BrokeTheGamer]

Taylor Swift too. Daddy saved a failing, fledging of a Record Label (Big Machine) in exchange for Taylor Swift signing, and getting a percentage of ALL label sync and publishing royalties from every artists catalog on the roster, with that entire cash-flow spent not on marketing the label or A&R, but solely on marketing her as the label Rain Maker.

[@SuraDoes]

Familiarity. Songs that sounds familiar meaning they have a sample, heavy inspiration from a popular song/artist of the past, similar chords to a popular song, you are much more likely to get listeners. Dua Lipa (Disco/80’s Pop), Bruno Mars (60’s soul/rock and 90’s hip hop), The Weeknd (80’s/00’s/10’s pop). They all do it.

[@alephestudios]

Yes! I have to add, the same philosophy applies to the mixing engineer. It has to be someone who is excellent at it but with its own trademark sound due to the all the factors you said. Imagine a latin mixer who could provide "nordic phonk" with a signature sound that would glue the listening experience in a way that outstands.

[@producedbyphil]

Yes totally! I think you can apply the same principle to a lot of disciplines for sure

[@LaynoProd]

applying this to my 4th upcoming album TIL I LAND dropping on my 27th bday on 9.13.24, being 100% genuine and making music I love and not only sonically but also from a lyric songwriting standpoint telling my story thru my culture and experiences as a Filipino-American artist-producer from the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles making soulful autotune melodic rap music

[@funkygame9874]

Stop

[@LAVISHING]

Successful artists use songwriters. I’ve written for many artists.

[@seanfrance3182]

In your opinion what are a few things that make song lyrics easily digestible or desirable to an audience?. If you could be as object as possible.

[@cIiffe]

@@seanfrance3182 i'm also curious to see how you might put it in words.

[@ItsJustAdrean]

If you want to sound different, combine 2 or 3 seemingly contradictory elements from various genres. Look back 10, 20 years to see what people were doing. Find something that moves you, borrow, and push through with passion. You will always outperform someone who hates what they're doing

[@RoyZakai]

Love it. A great method to discover your sound positioning. Good luck with this channel.

[@producedbyphil]

Thanks so much for your comment and your support!

[@pyaratofu]

very high quality video for 800 subs channel, you deserve so much more than this

[@producedbyphil]

Thanks! We’re on the way. Thanks for your support.

[@gothicckk]

I agree, hes a fucking God for this video

[@KYLETISZAI]

1 k now

[@lilboat1001]

RIGHT! Here before 100k:)

[@ASAPJermz]

He’s almost at 2k in less than 3 days that’s good progress 👏🏼

[@tiffanyboadomusic]

I HAVE SUBSCRIBED. You of all people have finally unlocked a part of my brain that motivated me in the most genuine way. It's like an itch that I finally scratched. You enlightened me. This content of yours is Heaven-sent. THANK YOU!!!

[@jgwmain]

I really love the sound of your voice bro (no homo), you should be a narrator for audiobooks you could get serious $ on the side. 🤩 and you make some really great points.

[@Harmonic_shift]

its not about what you make or what your ability is, it's who you know and if they like what you look like and benefit their business model. the music industry business model isn't about producing good music, it's about enforcing the current regimes cultural attitude onto the populace to control how they act toward and perceive the regime.

[@ricflomusic]

great tip! I've doing this subconsciously but was more aware recently and this video reassures me and makes it clearer thank you.

[@seanfrance3182]

Real question here. Do you think that ppl genuinely like most music out now, or are they just tricked into liking it because it’s promoted and like by the masses? Example: I think most ppl have music that they listen to when no one is around but wouldn’t play it out loud for their friends because they feel like it’s too different or they might be judged for liking it…

[@grgurvisinski]

i always play neutral milk hotel to my friends

[@mskarchives]

video starts at 5:24

[@sofistuchi]

You won’t understand the video if you start from there, it’s better to watch it entirely

[@mskarchives]

@@sofistuchi you're actually right. I don't remember why I thought it was a good idea to comment that

[@olofbenjaminsson9188]

It is fascinating how this and other videos of yours resonates so deeply with where I am in my life and with my music right now. Kinda spooky in a way. Is it a coincidence? I guess the algorithms sometimes knows what they are doing :)

[@producedbyphil]

Haha love yes! So great to hear. The universe is crazy like that sometime. But I'm happy the algo is doing what it should be an pushing the content out to the right people to help. Anything you need just shout.

[@rushklvn]

I second this.. Timing, remarkable

[@secretboyxo]

such a unique and interesting perspective, glad i clicked on this video. i'll keep grinding with this new knowledge

[@mikeisnottoast]

Bro, it's not that complicated, the secret is nepotism. All these artists came from at the very least affluent families that could afford to pump money into their career, and buy their way into circles that could push their shit to the industry people that mattered.

[@AnantFlow]

Yeah the connections had no role in their success. Agreed

[@robbiecleighmarks3088]

No money no chance... Period. Doesn't matter how good you are

[@hiimmayonnaisethevendingma2145]

you don't know about ado

[@robbiecleighmarks3088]

@hiimmayonnaisethevendingma2145 huh

[@originalvonster]

I was going to stay that I was disappointed you didn’t just leave the orange smarties but you did! Sorting smarties for a video now that is dedication.

[@producedbyphil]

Haha it's all about the orange smarties! Love me some smarties.

[@Cyberlightning101]

oh and money for advertising, pr and such

[@producedbyphil]

You are right, but without great music and ideas you’re fighting a loosing battle.

[@BrynTheWarPoet]

Channel is a hidden jem, glad I somehow found you!

[@producedbyphil]

Love this! Very glad you found us too :)

[@davidc.williams-swanseauk3623]

There are very few artists that are truly original and I should know as I have been listening to music since the early 1960s when I first heard the Walker Brothers. Scot Walkers voice was truly original and outstanding. Fast forward to the 21st century and Tom Chaplin has a unique and beautiful voice (lead singer of Keane). In the 1970s Paul Rodgers stood out from the other rock singers are arguable the best rock singer of his generation. In terms of overall song structure as well as vocal performance Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, and Bjork are exceptional. Also, Joni Mitchell has a totally unique voice. I could go on ad infinitum but to listen to any modern artist celebrity like Kate Perry, Dua Lupa, Area Grande, Adele and they can sing brilliantly one minute but go off on a vocal display that is technically impressive but a nightmare to listen to. It often involves singing as loudly as possible and as high as possible, together with roller coaster deliver. Stevie Wonder used the roller coaster delivery (constantly going up and down in vocal delivery) but sparingly. Whitney Hughes, although technically a superb vocalist, had this problem ad where it sounded as though she was trying to impress you all the time. Listen to Dusty Springfield or Alison Moyet or Chrissy Hinde. The originally is there but the loudness and the high notes (no roller-coastering) are used only when needed in the song and not overused so as to great an impression of how skilful they are. In I may make an analogy. Compare Carlos Santana lead guitar solo at the start of "Let the Children Play". He starts of with a beautiful, slow delivery then only launces into really fast guitar when necessary. A true artist. Compare these to all the shredders out there such as Eddie Van Halen. One is serving the song the other is just showing off! Sales based on physical purchases of albums ended in 2006. As a result, music is no longer valued as it once was as we live in a free streaming/downloading culture. As a result, artists that are at the top of the tree these days would have been barely noticed back in the day. In the days of physical record purchases we had to really think seriously before we parted with our hard-earned cash for a single let alone an album. Now it is just a mouse click away and free. There is no personal investment in music anymore so I would disagree with your choices her young man. However, I am sure you mean well. In a closing note, Clare Torry was paid about £9 back in 1973 when she sang on "Great Gig in the Sky" (On Dark side of the Moon by Pink Floyd). In my humble opinion this was one of the greatest female vocals of all time. However, such was the level of competition at the time that she did not make it beyond session work. This is what I meant in my earlier sentence about the likes of Kate Perry and Du Lupa. I have written this for any young people watching this post. Listen to great originals artists Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, Joni Mitchell, Paul Rodgers, Scot Walker, Garry Puckett, Chris Thomson ("Blinded by the Light" singer for Manfred Mann's Earth band). If you have got this far thank you so much for your patience!

[@erikbroker4127]

Thank you for this writings. Think I'll have to go to Joni Mitchell then. Never thought about buying one of her albums orso. Her voice stood out there to me in 2003's Love Actually. Of course because how it was accompanied with the entire movie, but it did the work eventually. I think this guy brings some truth to me, but as he develops his talk, I got more suspicious and felt a bit like no no no, sir. Then I read this comment and thought, well this is a guy who's here way longer than me, and gives an interesting take the mentioned things. And then there's me, onlybthinking about a scene or shot in Love Actually. Maybe I have to ask a Joni Mitchell cd for Christmas. Thanks once again.

[@erikbroker4127]

ps. the second video on this channel is way better than this one. Way less smooth than this one. 😊

[@davidc.williams-swanseauk3623]

@@erikbroker4127 You are welcome. I would recommend the Joni Mitchell album entitled "Blue".

[@erikbroker4127]

​@@davidc.williams-swanseauk3623Thank you. Blue is noted!

[@fearitselfpinball8912]

I agree with this. In creative writing (say, if you want to be a novelist) it’s an open secret that your first job (more profoundly than improving as a writer) is to ‘find your voice’. That’s known in that field but less commonly understood music for some reason (although even in writing the competition between getting ‘generically better’ and becoming yourself exists).

[@Kenfenit]

The problem with this method is you are omitting new material. The song that shapes you as a person, the themetrack to your life, may not have been written yet. But if you're only adding things to a playlist based off memories they bring you, new material would be completely eliminated. I would say to monitor the emotion invoked when listening to any song, whether it be one you know or one that you're just learning about. The emotion, the feel, not the memories. After all, memories are only vivid to us because of emotion anyway.

[@PaulKapow]

Agreed. you need to continuously fill your well with new experiences to draw upon as an artist.

[@Deadblob54]

dude if you really knew how to be unique and original you would be making unique original music not this video

[@nomad1517]

I feel the way people view success in todays music industry is similar to how some countries seem happy, but are not content with themselves. If you look at the world happiness rankings, you will see the Nordic countries be on top. However, if you go there or look at them, they will seem like any other place. Maybe even depressing. But its not a joyful happiness. Thet are fulfilled. They have internal balance and peace of mind. Same thing goes with looking at celebrities. They are basically like Stock Cars In NASCAR. The guys behind the curtain are masters at marketing. If you do not sell, or have selling qualities, you are not what they are looking for. To me, this is like how people want to be Navy Seals. They think everyone should be a in the teams. But don't realize that very few can get into them. And thats ok. Its not normal to be a olympian. Or Seal. Or astronaut. Im not saying you need to settle for less. Im saying, you are not broken if you cant make the cut. Most people wont. Its a career, and people need those who can make it. You can still be happy making music. You can still be a musician. The people who made it big got very lucky. And most of those people wont be remembered by future generations. Very few will be like Elton John or The Beatles. Fewer will make a true impact and not fall apart. Its not a realistic goal. I hate how people think to be enlightened, you need to be rich or famous. If your mind is fucked, if your health is fucked up. Your putting duct tape on a leaking pipe.

[@Iamnotyou263]

I know that the Music Industry is mostly ruled by the amount of money you can put into promotions but this method is helpful to really find out what music touches you emotionally (And most of the time it is the Music that we heard as a child because, like everything else in the childhood, the things we like as a child are those things that bring us nostalgia and that is one reason why we still love them when we are grown up)

[@adrianmunevar654]

Nothing is truly original, all of us have tons of songs and sounds influencing us conscious and unconsciously. Music industry is not about originality or authenticity, it's about marketing, advertising, budgets, profit, and a long non artistic etcetera. And, the cherry of the pie, music nowadays is disposable, just a trend for stupid short videos on stupid platforms using stupid people to make profit out of their stupidity. Everything you said is so poetic and romantic, but you know the reality is far different from your words.

[@ReeChad.]

These days i learned i used to love rap when i was in high school but not anymore , right now i love singing pop edm and now i understand that making music should be a fun process

[@juleleleldilla3950]

lol aint no one needs a hidden talent. the talent successful artists have presents itself in the form of money

[@jasmine333-h6i]

omg, i’ve been doing this!!! the first time i thought about this was when i was growing up and heard eric clapton’s, layla. there’s a chord change that tugs at my heart every time. i’ve never forgotten that, and now i’ve been making a list of the songs i like the best and why to inform a group of songs i want to release as an album. there are some good comments about how people make it, nothing is cast in stone, and for example, bowie often changed his music to align with the trends, and pop artists like dua lipa have writers, but for artists who want to write their own music, your smarties analogous is spot on. great video! i just found your channel. cheers!

[@ZeicoMusic]

great viedo, as always. Best, mate!

[@medilaila]

just be yourself and put out what you want to

[@YattoOfficial]

EVERYTHING ON POINT GREAT VIDEO YOUNG SOLDIER 👌

[@fivebyfivesound]

Interesting approach. I’m not convinced that our favorite songs to listen to/experience are necessarily what constitutes the raw material for what and how we create. But I definitely see how going through this process could help illuminate some areas of influence and creativity, find new avenues of creation and also help get over the hump when feeling stuck. Would you suggest doing the same for other forms of art and inspiration, given that the music we make is often influenced by more than music? Might be kind of time consuming to do for novels 😅 Thanks for your ideas :)

[@producedbyphil]

Yeah that’s an awesome idea! Deffo for sources of inspiration for song idea watching movies and reading are great places to start!

[@TheKingOfAmapiano]

Money also plays a huge role!.

[@SoggyDew]

I feel like once u add a couple of lyrics from your mother tounge it becomes immediately more authentic and culturally original

[@Lanessan]

Outstanding video dude 👏

[@angelocast]

This content is great Philip, so happy YT recommend me your channel. New subscriber here. Total support! As a 43 year old musician/composer/producer and chocolate lover, I have been focusing more in the last 2 years to define/design the visual and style of my music direction. It has been very difficult because I love to create different styles, but I feel I am getting closer. I think this takes time as the musician and inner artist gets mature and start to feel more before creating than trying to please the people outside. For the musicians brothers and sisters here, don't give up. Keep creating, and watch less the others. Share your story, enjoy the process, and let go. Not all the songs will be great, and that's great too. Best wishes!

[@producedbyphil]

Thanks so much for your comment and sub. It's so great to hear that you're getting closer. You are so right, if you can create more than you consume, that is what will help you grow. Thanks again for your support!

[@Roses_R_redeR]

That's what I think electronic Bluegrass should be discussed more.... ⚡️🔵🌾🪕🎻🎚🎹🎛⚡️🔵🌾 🔥🔥🥀🥀🥀🌹🥀🥀🥀🔥🔥

[@producedbyphil]

Sounds fun!

[@Roses_R_redeR]

@producedbyphil It's so freaking fun, Phil 🔥🥀🫵🥀🔥 It should have been happening years and years and years ago.... There's truly endless possibilities with the concept....

[@backslider_bob]

Cool video. One thing though, I was told by the spirit world that we do choose all those things before we get to Earth. Just saying awesome video though! Thank you!

[@Emmi_llune]

What would it be like starting with zero fans zero support and high oppression plus depression?

[@anca_artfulminds]

It really matters so much where people are born, or where the parents move when the kid is still very young. I believe it matters more than we even think.

[@the.flora.experience]

We need more honest ground breaking content like this 🙏🏼 thank you so much Philip 🌹

[@LyricKaleigh]

This is really inspiring and informative, as an artist still trying to find my style and sound. I really appreciate this, thank you for sharing.💛💛

[@scratchbradley]

i actually like what your talking about. looks like my hyper playlist construction is helping more than i thought 😄😄 good work phil

[@romeodiablos912]

This is so true, i call the genre of the music I make BRUJATON is a combo of reggaeton + industrial with witch house, noise, electronic and punk/digital hardcore influences and is a blend of all my favorite things and life experiences/cultural background 😈

[@WageSlavery]

I'm digging the psychology of songwriting. It makes sense for a reason!

[@EnesiM]

My thing is mixing guttural vocals (screamo, growling) with reggaeton, Brazilian baile funk and club music. I write, sing, rap and scream my music. I’ve never met anyone or came across someone doing what I do 🖤

[@mansonvibes]

this is truly inspiring, thank you so much! we're good to go now

[@ros-t]

It's a really interesting video and good to chat about this. Here is my advice/worries: I'm a Music producer and DJ from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, been doing this for 16 years and it's been really tough. I've just come to the realisation that I am going to enjoy the ride instead of what's at the top, I put mini goals on myself and I'm happy with that and then onto the next thing. I know where I want to get to, I have a good following in different places around the world, but my live gigs are struggling. If I had one tip for you, I'd agree stick with what makes you different, I've been asked to change into something I'm not plenty of times throughout my career just to suit the current thing, so just be you but keep challenging yourself and asking knew questions to better YOUR sound. I make Emotive House, Deep Electronic and Jackin Disco. My problem is I don't stick to one niche, because I don't want to do that and be predictable and ultimately one niche is just not me, I want people to come to my gigs and be in for an experience, something different from the usual top 100 Beatport selections. I sample/remix the likes of Aretha Franklin, Eunice Collins, Max Richter, The Foals, The Spinners etc for my Electronic/jackin disco stuff. And my emotive house stuff is all 100% originals from myself. A&R people say it's a very interesting sound kinda like Caribou/Groove Armada/Andhim/Joris Voorn but with my own twist but "I need to get out into the scene more to connect." I try that but it just never leads anywhere, I've got in touch with clubs and no 1 ever responds and you just see the same people on the lineups every single weekend, very cliquey at times. So here we are, I'm asking how you overcoming this situation? I have around 420,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, multiple number 1s including a number 1 debut album and not 1 gig planned for 2025, I just don't get what I'm doing wrong. Maybe it's about to pop off? Maybe it's about to flop? We just don't know, the only way to know is to keep moving forward with authenticity. I've had plenty number 1 tracks on the iTunes Charts, plays on Radio 1 from Annie Mac, Pete Tong, Kiss FM, Jenny Greene, support from DJ Mag, The Martinez Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Joris Voorn etc, so much in the right direction with no parents or anything in the industry, just me grafting away from a tiny island in Scotland, but nothing seems enough atm, I moved to Glasgow and not much changed. It's us vs us, one track of ours will eventually connect, we just need to stay strong and stay true to our vision. Some people want to help you, some people want to gatekeep you, some couldn't care less about a new artist. People only want you when your hot as the agents say. There's a stroke of luck too, meeting that mentor or someone that truly believes in you that knows the industry inside out in your genres. I've not met that person yet. Maybe if enough of us struggling reached out and helped each other instead of seeing a knew person as a threat. Collabs are much more powerful! See yourself as a stock, it goes up and down, but if you believe in a stock what do you do? You invest in it! If you have a second do you think you could check my instagram page out and see if there's anything you really like, maybe there's something you don't? My artist name is: Ros T ros_t_rusty Any advice would be awesome and hey, maybe we will get on well and share our music with each other and I can do the same for you 🫡💪🏼🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎵🎹🪩. At the end of the day be you and try not to stress as much as I do, just keep loving making music and good things will come, let's make music that is so damn good there's no option but to give us a shot! Ros T

[@OsmonArtist]

Very true, I did this years back and I found my self musically. Great info !! 👏🏼👏🏼

[@YongamaBazi]

Illuminati is involved in the end

[@cvtwcomedy]

This channel will blow up soon! Yelling congrats in advance 💪🏽🔥. Keep it up!

[@kean_ainu]

Keep going, good content. I exactly tried to understand the sound that I want to use to express my inner world making a playlist of references or cover I should do on my spotify. I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one

[@theonewhosthere]

5:11 is when he gets into it

[@slimyelow]

Every track I have ever tried to copy had barely anything to do with the original and everything to do with original.

[@felipeulloa2245]

I think this applies not just for music but for every kind of art form. Ty for this video!

[@TheMimoJimi]

They lost their soul to evil. "Sold your soul, that's how it works" - Daniela Villarreal, The Warning Contract

[@WildAimee]

Thank you!! I’d love a video on how to prepare and be ready for the times coming up (:

[@irongirl009]

Loved this! Can you maybe do a video on how to blend genres together to create something original?

[@is.milovv]

This one is a golden content 🔥💯

[@producedbyphil]

Thank bro, appreciate you

[@charnelveil669]

Thank you for mentioning how culture and demographics play a huge role in your music brand.

[@coryfeldman-hz2yj]

Pay no attention to the gatekeeper behind the curtain!!!!! Shout out to oz, A place as real as the famous life you might envision. There's a reason every video has devil horns in it. You might not believe in a soul so selling it seems fun and funny but maybe you find out you believe in guilt. And then all these 'why did they throw it all away?-stories make a bunch of sense. This is why we have no tupac or nirvana but have ja rule, aldeen, beyonce, and lil nas x.

[@0.0.experiments]

Can you talk about Michael Jackson's music next time? He was the songwriter, and all the instruments were in his head. He would definitely beatbox the rhythm and melodies to the producer. Especially how he changed music.

[@precioussoulmj07]

Yes pls!! I love him ❤

[@AnxietyTrails]

I have a talent for writing lyrics, how does one go about collaboration with regards to "renting out your words".

[@scriptzture]

Everyone in the comments is saying it's marketing or money... Yeah to some extent it is, there's a business involved. There's also the fact that you need to learn how to make music. Most famous artists are brilliant song writers OR they work with brilliant song writers, maybe they also work on another artist's track. For example, Post Malone's track rockstar (which is an extremely well written piece of work) had many parts written by joey badass, but he doesn't rap on the track. Posty also started out making white iverson on soundcloud to get noticed, he didnt randomly have money and elevated starting conditions... He made great music and got noticed by great people. I think many struggling artists want to believe it's all marketing, money, connections... But the thing that's common to all those things is unattainability for most people ('if I cant have it, then it is the problem'), it's an excuse to keep making the same music and not rigorously focus on improving and getting better, as well as evolving your sound. It's way too easy to think you are better than you are and have an inflated ego about music, all you need to do is look at your progress and how you felt about your music in the past to see this. Well that same illusion affects you now. So get better, and never stop. This 'everything is hopeless' attitude regarding money or connections that doesn't help you grow or your art get better... Yeah I wish I had the connections and money too, but at the end of the day the best way to get noticed is to make extremely good music, and to make extremely good music you need to work extremely hard. It's an eternal battle with yourself to improve your craft, the byproduct is possible fans or money and whatever success amounts to in relation to your ideals about it. I think it's too easy to see the music industry as an impenetrable contained bubble that is only there because someone decided it was to be there, rather than it being a reflection of the best human talent or true merit, Ide say it's partially a business bubble but there's a huge element of music celebrities being great musicians/artists/visionaries/entertainers/businesspeople... You should aspire to be like that, and ignore the money/connections aspect. If its out of your control the best thing you can do is improve your music so you can get noticed and begin to develop a fanbase or get those connections. That's my 2 cents... There's a million things I can say about making music, but certainly the worst way to approach making music is to blame the industry for your problems.

[@leehancheol]

Thank you so much for this advice, Philip! Tbh, I just want an audience to start recognizing my music. I just released a pre-release for my album yesterday and so far it only has 2 views. I really hope I can make it big like all the greats so this information helps a lot! 🙏

[@noxarkon]

imo nowadays you have to think about multiple parts of your artistry at the same time. like i don't think you can purely focus only on music but neglect the visual side aesthetics CONCEPTS. i would argue that the visual side can actually be more important than the music itself. i recommend looking into ethel cain she's a great example of a self-made multitalented visionary artist.

[@stillstrugglin]

I dont think you understand, how many songs resonate with me to the core. Any guides how yo keep this playlist clean? Maybe one song max per artist?

[@nates5078]

Me dont think all these popular artists are using this method

[@nates5078]

They’re using 💰💰💰💰

[@will8516]

That ain’t cheating

[@yellxbxn3]

Yeat is a good example🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@JohannesSteinray]

Good video. After 30 years in the music/film industry I have probably done this without writing it down, so now I will definitely try to write the 5 steps. I did hold on to an idea of doing whatever I wanted in music but also ended up adding too many ingredients because mainstream music bored me fast. These days I’m shaving things off, trying to aim for consistency. An example is a reggaeton hip-hop song that follows a simple chord progression throughout the song etc. but then the last 8 measures I added a Latino horn section 😅 but appart from that, I think it’s important to try something completely out of your hit-playlist repertoire like I did with this new song. Cheers!