Nick Gross

Nick Gross
Born	(1988-07-19) July 19, 1988 (age 36)
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)

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]

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 collaborated with Anaheim Ducks to start 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]} Celebrity mentors included Tony Hawk, Monique Coleman and Will.i.am. ^[21]

Big Noise

In 2018, Gross founded the music group Big Noise together with ex-Vagrant executive Jon Cohen ^[22] and rock producer John Feldmann. ^{[23] [24]} He is CEO of Big Noise. ^[25] In 2019 the label's roster included Ashley Tisdale ^[26] and New Politics. ^[27]

In 2019, Big Noise launched the Noise Nest, a 5000-sq. ft recording studio in Los Angeles ^[28] and launched the FYG U Music + Tech Festival. ^[29]

In June 2019, Big Noise acquired the hip hop label Commission Record. Its roster includes MadeinTYO, Lil Dicky, Derez De'Shon and DJ Envy. ^[27] On 7 June 2019, The Wrecks signed with Big Noise. ^{[30] [31]} The same year The Used and Travis Tritt also signed with Big Noise. ^[32]

On 1 November 2019, New Politics released their fifth album "An Invitation to an Alternate Reality". ^[33]

Tyler Posey and his band Five North released their debut EP Scumbag via Big Noise on 6 March 2020. ^[34]

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. ^[35] Alongside the signed artists from Big Noise other clients like Post Malone, DaBaby and A$AP Rocky use the facilities for work. ^{[36] [37]}

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. ^{[38] [39]} Both albums were produced by John Feldmann.

In March 2022, The Veronicas signed with Big Noise. ^[40] In March 2023, indie record label Position Music ^[41] and Big Noise launched a music publishing joint venture. ^{[42] [43]}

On 1 September 2023, Escape the Fate released their 8th Album "Out of the Shadows via Big Noise. ^{[44] [45]}

Goldfinger and Girlfriends

Since 2018, Gross had been touring drummer for Goldfinger. ^[46] Two years later, he became the official drummer of the band. ^[47]

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. ^[48] 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. ^[49] Their self-titled debut album was released on 23 October 2020 featuring 14 tracks. The production was led by John Feldmann. ^[50]

On 17 June 2022, Girlfriends released their second album "(e)motion sickness". ^{[51] [52]}

In March 2023, Girlfriends released the single "Over My Dead Body" via Big Noise. ^{[53] [54]} They also released "Life's A Brittany" on 14 April 2023. ^{[55] [56]}

Esports

In 2018, FYG partnered with esports platform ReKTGlobal, parent company of Rogue and London Royal Ravens, ^[57] in scholarships for students who want to pursue esports. ^[58] He became a member of the board and the lead investor in ReKTGlobal. ^{[59] [60]} In 2022, ReKTGlobal was acquired by entertainment company Infinite Reality and Rogue merged with Spanish esports organization KOI. ^{[61] [62] [63] [64]} In 2018, FYG created the Fortnite based Junior Rogue program in partnership with ReKTGlobal to give young people the opportunity to get into esports and receive a scholarship through the Find Your Grind Foundation. ^{[65] [66] [67]} DrLupo participated as mentor in the program. ^[68]

Other investments

In February 2022, Gross became an investor in Mexican football club Necaxa. ^{[69] [70]}

Awards

Find Your Grind was listed in the 'Brands that Matter in 2022' by Fast Company. ^{[71] [72]}

Personal life

Gross is married to Natasha Gross (born Natasha Barritt), the Executive Director of the Find Your Grind Foundation. ^[73] They have one child together. ^[8] Gross enjoys surfing, running and skating. ^{[74] [75]}

References

1. "Laguna Beach Birthdays: What Zodiac Signs are the Cast? The Complete Guide". Almost Cosmos. 2023-04-19. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
2. Dowd, Rachael (August 11, 2020). "See Travis Mills Return to Music with His New Pop-Punk Band Girlfriends". Alt Press. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
3. Potter, Logan (2021-01-01). "girlfriends". EUPHORIA. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
4. "girlfriends (Travis Mills, Nick Gross) announce self-titled debut album". Substream Magazine. 2020-10-02. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
5. Dowd, Rachael (2020-08-11). "See Travis Mills return to music with his new pop-punk band girlfriends". Alternative Press. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
6. "Nick Gross: A Drummer with a Dream". Honeysuckle Magazine. 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
7. "Bill Gross's son coughs up $9 million above the Sunset Strip". Dirt. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
8. "Spotlight: Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Nick Gross Aims for Multi-Dimensional Media Empire With Gross Labs". Billboard. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
9. 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.
10. "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.
11. "Open Air Stereo | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
12. "Open Air Stereo" . Retrieved 2019-11-07.
13. "Investments | Gross Labs". www.grosslabs.com. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
14. "Term Sheet -- Thursday, January 17". Fortune. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
15. "ReKTGlobal announces $10.8 million funding round". Dot Esports. 2019-01-16. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
16. "Founding Story". Find Your Grind Foundation. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
17. "Team Rogue and Find Your Grind Partner to Create Mentorship and Training Program for Aspiring Fortnite Players". www.sportsdestinations.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
18. "Found Your Grind Hockey Scholarship Program". www.nhl.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
19. "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.
20. Mitchell, Julian. "Find Your Grind: The Lifestyle Platform Teaching Gen Z Success Through Self-Discovery". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
21. Kasko, Brittany (2022-09-20). "High school students find their passion with an assist from this program". Fox News. Retrieved 2024-11-12.
22. "Three Industry Vets Join Forces To Launch Big Noise Collective". All Access. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
23. "Hip-Hop Label Commission Records Enters New Partnership With Big Noise". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
24. Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
25. "About Big Noise". Big Noise. Retrieved 2022-03-29.
26. Mercuri, Monica. "Ashley Tisdale Talks New Album 'Symptoms' And Finding Her Own Voice". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
27. "Hip-Hop Label Commission Records Enters New Partnership With Big Noise". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
28. "NOISE NEST SUMMER LAUNCH!". Gross Labs. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
29. "Big Noise Live & Prime Student Bring FYG U Fest to Colleges | Markets Insider". markets.businessinsider.com. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
30. The Wrecks sign a new record deal. , retrieved 2024-02-12
31. White, Logan (2020-12-04). "The Wrecks to release new EP, 'Static,' on 12/18 via Big Noise". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
32. "Spotlight: Musician-Turned-Entrepreneur Nick Gross Aims for a Multi-Dimensional Media Empire With Gross Labs". Billboard. 2020-01-07. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
33. "New Politics Announce New Album "An Invitation to an Alternate Reality", Share New Single "Ozone"". Aesthetic Magazine. 2019-10-18. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
34. White, Logan (2020-03-05). "Interview: Five North discuss 'Scumbag,' relationship with John Feldmann". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
35. Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-11-03.
36. "Studio Spotlight: Noise Nest Invests in the Future". ProSoundNetwork.com. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
37. "Noise Nest Pumps Up The Volume With PMC's Flagship QB1-A Monitors" . Retrieved 2021-12-17.
38. "The Deals: MOD SUN Signs With Big Noise, ADA Pairs With Billy Mann". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
39. Baltin, Steve. "John Feldmann And Nick Gross On The Big Noise Family And The Return Of Pop/Punk". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
40. Brandle, Lars (2022-11-03). "The Veronicas Ready to Make a Big Noise With New Label Deal". Billboard. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
41. "Position Music". www.prsformusic.com. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
42. "Position Music & Big Noise launch publishing JV including rock songwriter John "Feldy" Feldmann". www.musicweek.com. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
43. "Position Music & Big Noise Announce Joint Venture, Signing John "Feldy" Feldmann to Worldwide Publishing Deal". CelebrityAccess. 2023-03-22. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
44. Oken, Ashley (2023-09-12). "Craig Mabbitt of Escape The Fate Comes Back Into The Spotlight With New Album Out Of The Shadows". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
45. "Escape the Fate Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & ..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
46. Goldfinger the GOAT , retrieved 2021-03-12
47. "Goldfinger announce new album". www.punknews.org. 23 November 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
48. "girlfriends". Big Noise. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
49. BWW News Desk. "girlfriends Release New Single 'Eyes Wide Shut'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
50. White, Logan (2020-10-02). "girlfriends (Travis Mills, Nick Gross) announce self-titled debut album". Substream Magazine. Retrieved 2024-01-24.
51. "girlfriends Release New Album (e)motion sickness Via Big Noise". Shore Fire Media. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
52. "Pop-Punk Duo, Girlfriends, Drop Their New Album, (E)motion Sickness". Wonderland. 2022-06-17. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
53. Jr, Ruben Perez (2023-03-11). "girlfriends Drops New Single, "Over My Dead Body"". Entertainment Rocks. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
54. Major, Michael. "girlfriends Drops Brand New Single 'Over My Dead Body'". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2023-04-25.
55. "Life's a Brittany — Girlfriends". Last.fm. 2023-09-15. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
56. "MUSIC NEWS: girlfriends Announce EP Details & Release New Single 'Life's A Brittany'". Bring the Noise UK. 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2024-03-15.
57. "Royal Ravens owner ReKTGlobal gets US$35m funding from Summit Partners - SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. 9 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
58. "Find Your Grind and ReKTGlobal team up for $450,000 in esports scholarships". VentureBeat. 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
59. "ReKTGlobal and TalentX Entertainment Partner to Create TalentX Gaming". The Esports Observer. 2020-05-05. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
60. Fitch, Adam (2019-01-16). "ReKTGlobal and Rogue raise $10.8 million in Series A funding". Esports Insider. Retrieved 2019-11-07.
61. Kelly, Michael (2022-08-20). "Report: Spanish League powerhouse KOI to merge with Rogue, compete in 2023 LEC". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
62. "Metaverse Pioneer Infinite Reality, Inc. to Acquire Entertainment Conglomerate ReKTGlobal In Landmark Half Billion Dollar Transaction". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved 2023-10-20.
63. "ReKTGlobal parent company Infinite Reality goes public" . Retrieved 2023-10-20.
64. Kalro, Nikhil (2022-08-23). "KOI reportedly set merger with Rogue, Kcorp and Giants still out". Esports.net. Retrieved 2023-10-20.
65. Wenerowicz, Daniel (2021-02-13). ""You have to create content, you have to be gaming all the time": ReKT Global investor Nick Gross on youth Esports". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
66. "Junior Rogue Announcement". YouTube . Retrieved 2023-12-05.
67. "Rogue and DrLupo Announce Junior Rogue Semester 3". Infinite Reality. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
68. "Junior Rogue Mentor Dr. Lupo Helps Young Fortnite Gamers Turn Pro". www.sportsbusinessjournal.com. 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
69. "Nick Gross Portfolio Investments, Nick Gross Funds, Nick Gross Exits". www.cbinsights.com. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
70. 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.
71. "Career guidance gets a reboot" . Retrieved 2023-07-20.
72. "Small brands that matter" . Retrieved 2023-07-20.
73. "Natasha Gross – Find Your Grind". findyourgrind.com. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
74. 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.
75. "Half the Animal Are the New Band From Laguna Beach and Laguna Beach – OC Weekly". www.ocweekly.com. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 2022-06-01.

External links

• Find Your Grind
• Gross Labs
• Big Noise