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Draft:Andre Benz

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  • Comment: See WP:BLP. Statements, starting with the date of birth, need to be sourced or removed.
    Sources listed should also actually exist. Greenman (talk) 20:58, 9 May 2025 (UTC)
  • Comment: The article has zero reference Tesleemah (talk) 15:23, 9 May 2025 (UTC)
Andre Benz
Benz in 2024
BornFebruary 4, 1997
New Jersey, United States
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Music executive, entrepreneur
Years active2012–present
Known forFounder of Trap Nation, The Nations, Broke Records
Websitebroke.nyc

Andre Benz (born February 4, 1997) is an American music entrepreneur and digital media executive, best known as the co-founder of Trap Nation and founder of The Nations network of YouTube music channels. He launched Trap Nation in 2012 at age 15, growing it into one of YouTube’s largest music curation brands.[1] Under Benz’s leadership, The Nations expanded into multiple genre-focused channels (e.g. Chill Nation, Rap Nation), amassing over 50 million subscribers and 20 billion views, according to Social Blade and other public analytics.[2][3] He is also the founder of independent record labels Lowly and Broke Records. In 2024, Benz was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Music category.[4]

Early Life

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Andre Benz was born and raised in New Jersey. From an early age, he was drawn to technology and music, often spending hours exploring new tracks online and interacting with online communities through gaming and chat platforms. His passion for electronic music grew alongside his interest in digital culture. By his early teens, he was discovering and sharing music while playing online games like RuneScape and World of Warcraft. In 2014, his family relocated to California, where he attended Menlo-Atherton High School. Feeling socially isolated after the move, Benz doubled down on digital projects. At age 15, he launched Trap Nation as a YouTube channel, originally curating music to share with friends. His first uploads featured trap and electronic tracks by emerging artists, with their permission.[5]

Career

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In 2025, Broke Records expanded its roster to include Dutch-Iranian artist Sevdaliza, signaling the label's growing international footprint.[6] That same year, the label also signed RJ Pasin, further solidifying its reputation for identifying rising talent across genres.[7] Benz's partnership with Create Music Group CEO Jonathan Strauss has been highlighted in industry interviews as a strategic alignment of digital-first philosophies.[8] Trap Nation grew quickly, reaching 800,000 subscribers by early 2015. Benz expanded the brand into The Nations, launching genre-based channels including Chill Nation, House Nation, Rap Nation, and more.[9]

In 2016, Benz founded Lowly Palace (later Lowly), a record label distributed by AWAL, to release music promoted by his channels.[10] Trap Nation was listed among the top 10 fastest-growing YouTube channels that year, averaging 70M weekly views.

By 2018, The Nations channels had over 6 billion total views, with Trap Nation alone among YouTube’s top 50 most-subscribed channels. Benz hosted showcases at SXSW and major festivals to expand into live events.[11]

In 2022, Create Music Group acquired a majority stake in The Nations for a disclosed amount of $10 million USD.[12]

Broke Records

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In 2023, Benz launched Broke Records, an independent label focused on breaking viral hits using fast-paced social media tactics. Based in NYC and LA, Broke Records signed artists including Ndotz and Yung Fazo, achieving millions of daily streams. The label helped the single "Embrace It" by Ndotz gain over 200 million Spotify streams.[13] Benz discussed the label's success and digital-first strategies in MusicWeek and Billboard articles.[14][15]

Business Ventures

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Trap Nation and its associated channels formed The Nations, including Chill Nation, Bass Nation, Indie Nation, and others. Each channel featured visually branded music uploads and built fan communities across platforms.

Lowly signed indie and electronic artists, using single-song deals and digital-first promotion to avoid traditional album cycles.[16]

Broke Records grew from 25,000 daily streams to over 5 million daily streams within one year, becoming known for leveraging TikTok and creator partnerships to drive music discovery.[17]

Accolades

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Benz was featured in Forbes 30 Under 30 Music in 2024.[18] He was also named a 2025 "Noisemaker" by Hits Daily Double, recognizing his role in reshaping the independent label landscape.[19] Trap Nation was listed by Billboard as the top dance music curator on YouTube, and was frequently cited in industry roundups as one of the most influential channels for emerging electronic music.[20] Benz has been credited with early support for now-mainstream artists such as Marshmello and Halsey.[21] He was also profiled in *Swagger Magazine*, *Spin*, and in a 2017 Forbes piece about YouTube entrepreneurs disrupting record labels.[22]

Notable Artists & Collaborations

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Throughout his career, Benz has played a role in boosting the visibility of numerous rising and mainstream artists. Trap Nation and The Nations platforms featured early releases from artists like Marshmello, Halsey, and Illenium. Under Broke Records, Benz signed viral acts such as Ndotz and RJ Pasin, and added critically acclaimed artist Sevdaliza to the roster. These efforts reflect his commitment to championing both internet-born and avant-garde talent.

Legacy & Influence

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Andre Benz is considered a trailblazer in the digital music curation space. His early understanding of YouTube as a discovery platform helped redefine how emerging artists gained visibility. Through The Nations, he cultivated online communities via YouTube, Discord, and social media, emphasizing fan-first interaction and brand consistency. His transition to Broke Records reflects the evolution of independent labels in the streaming era, focusing on speed, creator collaboration, and platform-driven growth.

Media Coverage

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Benz has been profiled by Forbes, LA Weekly, Hypebot, Billboard, Swagger Magazine, Spin, and Music Ally. He has spoken at SXSW and industry summits on digital music marketing.[23]

Personal Life

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Benz lives in Florida. He avoids traditional industry structures and has publicly committed to maintaining independence for his ventures. He is active on social media but keeps his personal life largely private.

References

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  1. ^ "Trap Nation Interview". Billboard.
  2. ^ "Trap Nation YouTube Channel Stats". Social Blade.
  3. ^ "Create Music Group acquires The Nations". Music Business Worldwide.
  4. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2024: Music". Forbes.
  5. ^ "How Andre Benz Built the Most Popular Music Curation Network on YouTube". LA Weekly.
  6. ^ "Sevdaliza Signs With Broke Records". Hits Daily Double.
  7. ^ "Create Inks RJ Pasin". Hits Daily Double.
  8. ^ "Jonathan Strauss Interview: Scaling a Digital Music Empire". Hits Daily Double.
  9. ^ "Inside The Nations: The YouTube Network Powering Lowly". Music Week.
  10. ^ "Inside The Nations: How a DIY Electronic Music Network Built an Empire". Hypebot.
  11. ^ "Trap Nation Interview". Billboard.
  12. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2024: Music". Forbes.
  13. ^ "How Andre Benz Built the Most Popular Music Curation Network on YouTube". LA Weekly.
  14. ^ "Broke Records founder Andre Benz on viral hits and the power of digital marketing". MusicWeek.
  15. ^ "How Broke Records Turned YouTube Savvy Into Music Streaming Hits". Billboard.
  16. ^ "Inside The Nations: The YouTube Network Powering Lowly". Music Week.
  17. ^ "How Andre Benz Built the Most Popular Music Curation Network on YouTube". LA Weekly.
  18. ^ "Forbes 30 Under 30 2024: Music". Forbes.
  19. ^ "Noisemakers: Luck of the Draw". Hits Daily Double.
  20. ^ "Billboard Dance 100". Billboard.
  21. ^ "Trap Nation Interview". Billboard.
  22. ^ "How YouTube Entrepreneurs in Their 20s Are Disrupting Traditional Record Labels". Forbes.
  23. ^ "Inside The Nations: How a DIY Electronic Music Network Built an Empire". Hypebot.
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