Why I’ve Stayed Independent On YouTube (No Sponsors)

In today's livestream I talk about why I have stayed independent the whole time I've had this channel and have never taken on sponsors.

The best deal I've ever offered:
🎉 The Beato Platinum Bundle Sale — $119 FOR ALL 5 Of My Courses

Ends Friday, October 4th at midnight EST

[dannymars]

This is probably my favourite channel on YouTube, and honestly, the lack of sponsored content is a big part of that.
Ad reads turn talented creators into shills for absolute shite products and services. It’s very late night steak knife infomercial.

[bananabob]

Thank you Rick for NOT selling out.
Stay independent! 💪🏼

[samgoforth]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate your comment about wishing there was a YouTube when we were kids. I have been playing the guitar by ear since 1959. Can't read a note of music. These days I just enjoy jamming with who ever will let a 75 year old into the room. The young musicians are amazing and blow me away. Thank you for keeping it real, the interviews, and including us old guys. I'll keep playing as long as I can make a decent sound on the guitar. After that I will keep listening. If I loose my hearing and there isn't music playing there will be a song playing in my head. Keep up the good work.

[williamperry]

“Once you take money from someone you take away your independence “. Truer words have never been spoken!! Rick for president!!! 😅 love this channel

[LMacNeill]

The thing I love about your interviews is that they're essentially archival. These musicians won't be with us forever, but your interviews with them will be.

[CurtHowland]

I very much appreciate your independence, Mr. Beato.

[willmoore]

I don’t have a musical bone in my body but I love music and I love your videos. Always original & unscripted. I love the stories behind the songs, the albums and the creative processes involved. Hopefully in the future you’ll have something about the new Linkin Park or Jack White. Keep up the fantastic content!

[kariannep]

I like watching you because you have an appreciation for all kinds of music. I love rock ‘n roll, as well as opera and Scottish and Irish music. The utube segments you’ve done on renaissance lute music was wonderful. My 53 year old son is also a fan of yours.

[mandobob]

Enjoy all of your content and find the interviews to be some of my favorites. I especially enjoyed the Seal, Thomas Newman, Tony Levin, Mike Mills, Lee Sklar, , Michael McDonald, Brendon O'Brien, Michael Omartian, Sting, Jimmy Webb, Daniel Lanois, Steve Gadd, Bernard Purdie, and Ted Gioia interviews; The list goes on and I still have many I haven't listened to yet. There really isn't anyone doing these types of long-format interviews. Your ability to converse with them as a fellow musician and music educator makes them so good. Keep up the good work!

[williamw.]

Hey Rick. Love your work! Maybe you could produce a few videos that dive into the practical, day-to-day financial aspects of being a working musician. I suspect that a lot of your viewers are on the way up and trying to make it as full time musicians. Random ideas -

How much can an average musician realistically make on the road, and how do you break down those earnings?
What are the typical expenses while touring? Who covers what, like travel, lodging, and meals?
How do you find and negotiate paying gigs, whether locally or on tour?
How much can you expect to make in the studio, either as a session musician or recording your own music?
What about balancing live performances with studio work? How do musicians navigate those different revenue streams?
How does streaming income fit into the picture for independent artists? How much can you make?
What role does licensing, royalties, and sync deals play in a working musician’s income?

I think these topics would resonate with a lot of your audience who are trying to figure out how to make a sustainable living from their passion. Thanks for all the great content!

[tommonk]

Congrats on the 4.5 million! We need more What Makes This Song Great stuff....

[jackspencer]

Rick - THANK YOU for staying independent. What you're doing here is creating a treasure trove of interviews and commentary. Your interviews should be in the Library of Congress, and will be watched by people for decades and decades. Keep on keepin' on!

[jasonvaralta]

Thank you for no corporate upheaval, both channel's would never be the same. Subscribed since 2018

[risingsun]

This is the only music channel on YT that has ever profiled the great 1978 Gino Vannelli album Brother To Brother and the amazing work of guitarist, Carlos Rios. Thank you Rick. 😇

[MrsSquidward]

I purchased your course. Thank you for offering it at such a great price and for all the hard work you do. I love your channel.

[TeeCeeBee]

Thank you Rick, for helping us all think of pleasant things. Keeps us sane. I love your channels and your content.

[Metal_Mastery]

Your dedication to preserving the quality of interviews and staying independent is truly inspiring! The effort you put into creating these valuable insights for the music community is priceless. Thank you for all you do!

[ZeroCool]

That's amazing your channel doing so great without sponsorship and I'm loving every minute of it .

[brunoteixeira]

been following you since 2017 and has been a great journey! Thank you for everything you do❤

[PaulMikna]

Your independence and variety are the key to your success. Thank you so much for your channel!