Nick Gross
Nicholas William Gross (born 19 July 1988)[1] is an American entrepreneur, musician and founder of the Find Your Grind education platform. Gross founded the band girlfriends together with Travis Mills in 2020.[2][3][4] He is also a member of Goldfinger.[5]
Nick Gross | |
---|---|
Born | July 19, 1988 |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur Musician Investor |
Known for | Founder of Find Your Grind Drummer for the band girlfriends |
Spouse | Natasha Gross |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Sue Gross (mother) Bill H. Gross (father) |
Early life
Gross grew up in Laguna Beach, California,[6] the only son of Bill H. Gross and his second wife Sue,[7] and began playing the drums around age seven.[8] He started a career as a drummer and in subsequent years was the drummer for bands Open Air Stereo and Half the Animal.[9][10] With Open Air Stereo Gross took part in the reality show Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County.[11] The band later signed with Epic Records.[12]
In 2009, Gross launched STRZ Enterprises, a record studio and record label.[8]
Career
Gross Labs
In 2018, Gross founded Gross Labs as parent company of Find Your Grind and Big Noise, among others.[8] Gross Labs invested in 100 Thieves, Buzzfeed, DraftKings, among others.[13]
In 2019 Gross led a series A funding of $10.8 million[14] for ReKTGlobal.[15]
Find Your Grind
In 2015, Nick and Natasha Gross founded the Find Your Grind Foundation to support disadvantaged young people.[16][17]
In September 2015, Find Your Grind Foundation in collaboration with Anaheim Ducks started the Find Your Grind Hockey Scholarship Program.[18]
In 2018, Gross founded Find Your Grind as an education platform with free online curriculum for students.[19][20]
Big Noise
In 2018, Gross founded the music group Big Noise together with ex-Vagrant executive Jon Cohen[21] and rock producer John Feldmann.[22][23] He is CEO of Big Noise.[24] As of 2019 the label's roster included Ashley Tisdale[25] and New Politics.[26]
In 2019, Big Noise launched the Noise Nest, a 5000-sq. ft recording studio in Los Angeles[27] and launched the FYG U Music + Tech Festival.[28]
In June 2019, Big Noise acquired the hip hop label Commission Record. Its roster includes MadeinTYO, Lil Dicky, Derez De'Shon and DJ Envy.[26] The same year The Used and Travis Tritt signed with Big Noise.[29]
By 2021 Big Noise had expanded their 10,000 sq ft. recording studio facility The Noise Nest with five recording studios and rooms for streaming and gaming.[30] Alongside the signed artists from Big Noise other clients like Post Malone, DaBaby and A$AP Rocky use the facilities for work.[31][32]
Mod Sun signed a long-term deal with Big Noise in March 2021, and has since released two albums, Internet Killed the Rockstar in 2021, and God Save the Teen in 2023, under Big Noise.[33][34] Both albums were produced by John Feldmann.
In March 2022, The Veronicas signed with Big Noise.[35]
Goldfinger and girlfriends
Since 2018 Gross had been touring drummer for Goldfinger.[36] Two years later he became the official drummer of the band.[37]
In 2020, Gross formed the band girlfriends with Travis Mills, with the duo citing Blink-182, 5 Seconds of Summer and All Time Low as the band's musical influences.[38] The band released the first single "California" on June 26, 2020, with the music video being released on August 11.[2] This was followed by their second single "Eyes Wide Shut" on 21 August 2020.[39] Their self-titled debut album was released on 23 October 2020 featuring 14 tracks. The production led by John Feldmann was a success with almost 20 songs being written in a few months.[40]
On 17 June 2022, girlfriends released their second album "(e)motion sickness".[41][42]
In March 2023, girlfriends released the single "Over My Dead Body" via Big Noise.[43][44]
Esports
In 2018, FYG partnered with esports platform ReKTGlobal, parent company of Rogue and London Royal Ravens,[45] in scholarships for students who want to pursue esports.[46] He became a member of the board and the lead investor in ReKTGlobal.[47][48] In 2022, ReKTGlobal was acquired by entertainment company Infinite Reality and Rogue merged with Spanish esports organization KOI.[49][50][51][52]
Awards
Find Your Grind was listed in the 'Brands that Matter in 2022' by Fast Company.[55][56]
Personal life
Gross is married to Natasha Gross (born Natasha Barritt), the Executive Director of the Find Your Grind Foundation.[57] They have one child together.[8] Gross enjoys surfing, running and skating.[58][59]
References
- "Laguna Beach Birthdays: What Zodiac Signs are the Cast? The Complete Guide". Almost Cosmos. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- Dowd, Rachael (August 11, 2020). "See Travis Mills Return to Music with His New Pop-Punk Band Girlfriends". Alt Press. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- Potter, Logan (2021-01-01). "girlfriends". EUPHORIA. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- "girlfriends (Travis Mills, Nick Gross) announce self-titled debut album". Substream Magazine. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- Dowd, Rachael (2020-08-11). "See Travis Mills return to music with his new pop-punk band girlfriends". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- "Nick Gross: A Drummer with a Dream". Honeysuckle Magazine. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Bill Gross's son coughs up $9 million above the Sunset Strip". Dirt. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
- "Spotlight: Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Nick Gross Aims for Multi-Dimensional Media Empire With Gross Labs". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- Chesler, Josh (2017-03-21). "Half the Animal Are the New Band From Laguna Beach and Laguna Beach". OC Weekly. Archived from the original on 2019-11-07. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Half The Animal Premieres Behind the Scenes Look at "Babylon", Drummer Nick Gross Talks Inspiration and East Coast vs. West Coast". Impose Magazine. 2017-04-05. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Open Air Stereo | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Open Air Stereo". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Investments | Gross Labs". www.grosslabs.com. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
- "Term Sheet -- Thursday, January 17". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "ReKTGlobal announces $10.8 million funding round". Dot Esports. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Founding Story". Find Your Grind Foundation. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- "Team Rogue and Find Your Grind Partner to Create Mentorship and Training Program for Aspiring Fortnite Players". www.sportsdestinations.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- "Found Your Grind Hockey Scholarship Program". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- "Leading Career Exploration Platform Find Your Grind Receives Approval From All 50 States to Offer New "Future Ready" Remote Curriculum". www.businesswire.com. 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- Mitchell, Julian. "Find Your Grind: The Lifestyle Platform Teaching Gen Z Success Through Self-Discovery". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- "Three Industry Vets Join Forces To Launch Big Noise Collective". All Access. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- "Hip-Hop Label Commission Records Enters New Partnership With Big Noise". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
- "About Big Noise". Big Noise. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
- Mercuri, Monica. "Ashley Tisdale Talks New Album 'Symptoms' And Finding Her Own Voice". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "Hip-Hop Label Commission Records Enters New Partnership With Big Noise". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- "NOISE NEST SUMMER LAUNCH!". Gross Labs. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- "Big Noise Live & Prime Student Bring FYG U Fest to Colleges | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- "Spotlight: Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Nick Gross Aims for a Multi-Dimensional Media Empire With Gross Labs". Billboard. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
- Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
- "Studio Spotlight: Noise Nest Invests in the Future". ProSoundNetwork.com. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- "Noise Nest Pumps Up The Volume With PMC's Flagship QB1-A Monitors". Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- "The Deals: MOD SUN Signs With Big Noise, ADA Pairs With Billy Mann". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- Brandle, Lars (2022-11-03). "The Veronicas Ready to Make a Big Noise With New Label Deal". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
- Goldfinger the GOAT, retrieved 2021-03-12
- "Goldfinger announce new album". www.punknews.org. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "girlfriends". Big Noise. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
- BWW News Desk. "girlfriends Release New Single 'Eyes Wide Shut'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- "girlfriends Announce Debut Self-Titled Album Produced By John Feldmann". The Hype Magazine. 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
- "girlfriends Release New Album (e)motion sickness Via Big Noise". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- "Pop-Punk Duo, Girlfriends, Drop Their New Album, (E)motion Sickness". Wonderland. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- Jr, Ruben Perez (2023-03-11). "girlfriends Drops New Single, "Over My Dead Body"". Entertainment Rocks. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- Major, Michael. "girlfriends Drops Brand New Single 'Over My Dead Body'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
- "Royal Ravens owner ReKTGlobal gets US$35m funding from Summit Partners - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- "Find Your Grind and ReKTGlobal team up for $450,000 in esports scholarships". VentureBeat. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
- "ReKTGlobal and TalentX Entertainment Partner to Create TalentX Gaming". The Esports Observer. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
- Fitch, Adam (2019-01-16). "ReKTGlobal and Rogue raise $10.8 million in Series A funding". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- Kelly, Michael (2022-08-20). "Report: Spanish League powerhouse KOI to merge with Rogue, compete in 2023 LEC". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- "Metaverse Pioneer Infinite Reality, Inc. to Acquire Entertainment Conglomerate ReKTGlobal In Landmark Half Billion Dollar Transaction". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- "ReKTGlobal parent company Infinite Reality goes public". Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- Kalro, Nikhil (2022-08-23). "KOI reportedly set merger with Rogue, Kcorp and Giants still out". Esports.net. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
- "Nick Gross Portfolio Investments, Nick Gross Funds, Nick Gross Exits". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- Pelit, Asli (2023-01-10). "Odell Beckham Jr. Joins Mexico's Club Necaxa, D.C. Pickleball as an Investor". Sportico.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- "Career guidance gets a reboot". Retrieved 2023-07-20.
- "Small brands that matter". Retrieved 2023-07-20.
- "Natasha Gross – Find Your Grind". findyourgrind.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
- Gross, Nick; Shiffer, as told to Emily (2022-04-01). "This Professional Drummer Recovered From 2 Lung Collapses — Now He's Training for His 1st Ironman". Runner's World. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
- "Half the Animal Are the New Band From Laguna Beach and Laguna Beach – OC Weekly". www.ocweekly.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.