I think "making it" is most often applied to someone who has been successful enough with music to pay their bills with it. In that context, I feel like that is what it is.
It can apply so many different ways out of that context, though.
One thing I've been seeing a lot of since I started hanging out in forums and etc to network and find folks to work with, though, is it seems like a lot of times the music is secondary to the "making it." Like they wouldn't be creating if there wasn't a chance of making it..or if they don't get enough likes/views on something, they stop creating because they don't feel like they can make it.
I can't understand that. Making music is such a fun experience I can't imagine stopping for any other reason than I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of it anymore or otherwise lost my compulsion to create.
I'll be rhyming till Depends with the dentures in lol, turnin' the nursing home OUT.