Everything Rick Beato: The Unlikely Launch of a 54-Year-Old YouTube Star


Rick Beato is one of the most successful YouTube stars in the world. His channel, Everything Music, has 3.5 million subscribers and is approaching 600 million views. Among the different types of videos Rick posts are his Top 20 Countdowns, What Makes This Song Great?, and his Rants on all things music. Rick also has an incredible series of long-form, sit-down interviews with some of the most acclaimed music artists in the world, including Peter Frampton, Sting, Derek Trucks, Brian May, and a group interview with grunge legends Krist Novoselic, Kim Thayil and Jack Endino.

But Rick didn’t find success on YouTube until he was in his mid-50s, following the viral success of a video he posted of his 8-year-old son Dylan demonstrating his perfect pitch. In fact, he didn’t even launch his channel until he was 54.

Prior to his YouTube success, Rick taught music at the college level, he held private lessons (by his estimation, he taught more than 12,000 lessons), he was a music producer and engineer, and he even co-wrote the song “Carolina” by the band Parmalee, which hit #1 on the Billboard Country chart. Rick is also one of the only people in the world who isn’t a rock star to have his own Gibson Artist Series Signature Les Paul Special guitars.

In this episode, Rick shares his journey from childhood, when he first played the cello, to the classrooms of upstate New York, to his experience working in the music industry, to the incredible success he enjoys today as one of the world’s most well-respected experts on “Everything Music.”

Second Act Stories theme music: “Between 1 and 3 am” by Echoes

Rick Beato and Scott Merritt in Rick’s studio
Rick Beato with his Gibson Artist Series Signature Les Paul

One thought on “Everything Rick Beato: The Unlikely Launch of a 54-Year-Old YouTube Star

  1. Richard T Morrow Reply

    Rick, My Name is Richard Morrow and I’m from Indianapolis, Indiana. I’m not sure where I found you on the Web, but it was probably because I’m trying to rediscover my ability to play Guitar. For whatever reason it’s been wonderful finding you and all of the wonderful content. I’d have to say that my favorite interview is with Micheal McDonald who I absolutely Love. The Doobies are on tour this Summer with Micheal, and I hope to see them here near Indianapolis at the Ruoff Concert Center nearby. I have to make that Concert because it will be a once in a lifetime event. I’m going to buy tickets for myself and two friends. Interestingly I have the same Heart Shaped Pillow as you because I had a Mitral Valve replacement in June and I’m nearing the end of my Rehab.

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