By MUBUTV Staff

What Makes an Artist Successful? Lessons from the MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast With Artist Manager from Rare Society Nick Groff 

What Makes an Artist Successful? Lessons from the MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast With Artist Manager from Rare Society Nick Groff is something every person interested in music should think about. Because making music isn’t just about writing a song or playing an instrument, it’s about growing as a person, being smart about business, and learning how to connect with people. If you want to make it big—or even just have fun—with your music, it helps to understand what really matters on the road to success.

Let’s break down the secrets we learned on the MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast with Nick Groff and see how you can use them in your own musical adventure.

You Need More Than Talent

Everyone thinks you need to be super talented to be successful, right? That’s what we hear all the time. But on the show, Nick explained that while talent is important, it is not enough. There are lots of talented people who don’t “make it.” Why? Because if all you do is sing or play or write, you’re missing the full picture. According to Nick, it’s about being a constant student—not just of music, but of what’s happening all around you. That means pop culture, new technology, and what people are excited about right now.

So, what else do you need? You need drive. That’s right. You have to want it and you have to work for it every day. Nick says you’re the CEO of your own brand—you're in charge! Others, like managers or labels, can help, but you have to make the decisions. If you’re only focused on the art, or if you ignore the business part, your career can struggle.

Think Like a Business Owner (Even If You’re an Artist)

This was a huge takeaway. Nick and the hosts said it again and again: if you want your music to be your life, treat yourself like a business. That sounds scary, but it’s actually empowering!

You’d never run a lemonade stand without thinking about how to get customers. It’s the same with music. Nick explained the “team” idea. The artist is the CEO. The manager is like the president of operations. The label is part of your distribution, the publisher handles copyrights, and so on. Everyone has a job, but you, the artist, have to keep pushing forward.

Keeping your drive strong is just as important as being creative. If you want to build a lasting career, you need to stay curious and involved in every part of the game—from posting on social media to looking at where your fans actually live.

Finding the Magic: Art, Commerce & Perfection

One of the coolest parts of the podcast? Nick talked about three types of artists. Some create from the heart, some are all about business, and a few just magically connect with everyone. And sometimes, that magic is just unexplainable. The important thing is, you can learn to be better. You don’t have to be “born with it.”

But, there’s a warning: don’t try to be so perfect that you never finish anything! Nick said that a lot of artists keep changing their mixes, their art, or their launch date, trying to make everything perfect. But if you wait too long, you miss chances. Set up your releases, make a plan, and then trust yourself.

How Labels Work—The Truth You Didn’t Know

Many people think big record labels are either the dream or the enemy—they’ll either make you a star or ruin your creativity. The truth isn’t so black-or-white. Nick wants artists to know that most label deals are readable and understandable. Yes, the label takes a piece of your work in exchange for their team and marketing. You have to read your contracts and ask questions.

Why do labels still matter when you can post music online by yourself? Because a label is a big team of people working together, who have contacts, experience, and ways to get your music out in a huge way. But, labels are becoming more selective because there’s so much music online now.

Paying Attention: The Power of Data and Social Media

One super practical tip was to always pay attention to your data. Where are your fans? What do they like? Nick told the story of working with an artist whose audience was mostly in Mexico City. Instead of performing in L.A., they did a pop-up in Mexico—and thousands of fans showed up! That helped the artist get noticed by big agents and promoters. Lesson: look at your numbers and go where the love is.

Also, don’t ignore social media! Even if big artists in the past didn’t need it, times have changed. Artists today have to be in the attention economy—the fight to get people to look at your stuff. The best way to grab attention? Be creative and don’t just copy what everyone else is doing.

A&R Superstars: The Secret Sauce

Picking music for a label is called A&R (Artists & Repertoire), and Nick described the best A&R people as part music detective, part team leader. They don’t just pick songs—they work with every department to make sure the artist’s vision is communicated and everybody is working in the same direction. To do that job well, you need to be a good listener, a good connector, and super organized.

If you ever think about a job in music that's NOT on stage, this is a wild, fun job where you can help artists shine.

Best Resources, Book Suggestions, and Next Steps

Want to learn more? Nick recommends checking out podcasts, following popular streamers, and watching documentaries—not just reading music biz books. The more you can learn about WHY people love what they love, the better you’ll be at connecting with fans.

If you’re getting started, focus on these keys:

• Stay curious about everything in the music world
• Treat your music as a business (be the CEO!)
• Don’t chase perfection, but chase connection
• Go where your fans are
• Build a creative and supportive team

What Makes an Artist Successful? Lessons from the MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast With Artist Manager from Rare Society Nick Groff shows that real success comes from mixing creativity, business smarts, curiosity, and lots of teamwork. Whether you’re making beats in your bedroom, singing your heart out, or cheering on your friends, remember: the journey is just as important as the destination.

KEY TAKEAWAYS: What Makes an Artist Successful? Lessons from the MUBUTV Nick Groff Podcast

• Talent isn’t enough: Success comes from blending creativity with business skills and lots of drive.
• Be your own CEO: Treat your music like your own company. Build a team but lead the way.
• Pay attention to data: Find your biggest fans and reach them where they are—even outside your home country!
• Don’t chase perfection: Launch your music with strategy, not endless tweaks.
• Know what labels do: They provide teamwork and experience but read and understand your contract.
• Never stop learning: Be a student of the music world, pop culture, and the newest fan trends.

BEST MOMENTS: Quotes from the Show

• “Drive is a very key factor that I look for with artists. Talent plus drive.”
• “You are the CEO of your company, partnering with a label who is the president of distribution.”
• “The pursuit of perfection...often hurts the success of that song, tour, whatever. The setup time, the lead time, the strategy of focusing how to connect with pop culture is much more important.”
• “You are the CEO of your artistic brand, and your team is your company infrastructure.”
• “Pay attention to data.”

TIMESTAMPED OVERVIEW

• [05:06]: Importance of studying pop culture and trends
• [12:20]: Making music a business, not just art
• [13:01]: The artist as CEO of their brand
• [19:18]: Why labels are still important
• [31:40]: The trap of perfection in art
• [42:15]: Using data to connect with your worldwide audience

VALUABLE RESOURCES

• MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast: Official website
• Rare Society (Nick Groff’s management company): Official Website

LINKS TO CONNECT WITH THE HOSTS

• Podcast: MUBUTV Music Business Insider Podcast
• Instagram: @mubutv
• YouTube: MUBUTV Channel

ABOUT THE GUEST

Nick Groff, is an acclaimed artist manager and former A&R executive known for his work with artists like Billie Eilish and Jacob Collier. He helps artists not just create music but build long-lasting global careers.