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YouTube was really good for building a kind of core, loyal fanbase. I didn't want to be a YouTube artist as such. I mean, there are people who are able to release albums and live off YouTube, but I felt - and not in an arrogant way - that I could be commercial and credible if I really put my mind to it.

YouTube is an amazing platform for young musicians - although it's harder to get noticed now that everyone is on it.

Before YouTube, I was playing in restaurants and doing open mics - every once in a while, I'd throw an original in there. And then YouTube kind of just opened doors for me, so once I felt like I had an audience to share music with, I began to share my original music.

YouTube provides a unique opportunity for all musicians to market and promote their music and directly engage their fans.

My partnership with YouTube is one that I really, really treasure and I want to carry through. I mean, I don't just say it because I work with them; I genuinely am a fan of YouTube, so that's where I'd want to see my content.

I started one of the first online video companies way back in 2003.

At the beginning, there was this competitive vibe, like, 'Oh, we've got to compete for this audience.' But then, over the next few years afterwards, everyone on YouTube realized the more we work together, the more we collaborate, it just benefits everyone. It just became a really friendly community.

Coming from a YouTube perspective, a lot of times you kind of limit yourself and think, 'Oh, artists from the real world wouldn't want to work with someone who's made their career on YouTube.' But more and more, I'm realizing that artists from both sides are learning that we can benefit from each other.

YouTube has changed my life in a huge way. I mean, I wouldn't be able to pursue music and do what I love each day if it wasn't for the YouTube platform and for the people who watch my videos and share them.

YouTube is such a funny little world. You can create a fanbase.