TAXI TV

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Why Some Music Libraries DON'T Want To Hear Your Music Nov 24, 2020

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TAXI has been getting some emails and phone calls from frustrated members who want to know more about some of TAXI’s listings that have language like this in them: IMPORTANT NOTE: This company offers an Exclusive deal, and is only interested in signing material from composers who have worked for libraries and licensing companies in the past and understand how standard deals work. If you don't have that experience and you don't know the drill on typical deals, then they politely ask that you don't submit to this request. IMPORTANT! Per our client, your Submissions must NOT be encumbered by ANY other publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals (whether non-exclusive or exclusive) including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, etc. NOTE: This company is NOT interested in composers that turn in 1 or 2 tracks every couple of months, they want composers who have experience writing full albums in this genre. They're only interested in signing material from composers who have worked with music libraries and music licensing companies in the past, and understand how those deals work. If you don't understand the drill on library deals, they politely ask that you don't submit to this request. IMPORTANT NOTE: This producer has specifically asked that you ONLY send UNRELEASED Songs that aren't already commercially available. If you've already commercially released them, then they can't use them! This includes releases on Spotify, CD Baby, etc. IMPORTANT! Per our client, your Submissions must: 1) NOT be encumbered by ANY other publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals (whether non-exclusive or exclusive) including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, etc. 2) Be 100% original – no soundalikes, Cover Songs, and no recordings with samples. Quoting the Company: “Only artists/writers affiliated with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and APRA-AMCOS are eligible to submit their music for this opportunity.” We’re going to discuss this issue at length during this week’s show, and with any luck, you’ll be better prepared to make your music available to more companies that need what you’ve created!

Ask TAXI’s Head Screener Anything! Nov 17, 2020

Show notes

TAXI’s Head Screener is on the front line of quality control, making sure our A&R team forwards the right music and gives great feedback. Angela Mukul was one of the best screeners on TAXI’s A&R team before she was elevated to her current position. We knew we made a great choice as she got settled in and earned the respect of the regular TAXI staff, as well as the screeners. Our choice was further confirmed when Angela sat on a panel during the Road Rally! She really shined, and that didn’t get past the audience. In fact, audience members recommended that we have her join us for some Q&A on this week’s TAXI TV! Great recommendation! If you‘d like to know: • What the Head Screener’s tasks are • What Angela’s background is • The most common mistakes members make that prevent material from being forwarded • How she helps the A&R team communicate with you better • What she looks for when she’s in quality control mode And much more…

TAXI's CEO Calls And Answers YOUR Music Industry Questions Oct 20, 2020

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On this episode of TAXI TV, TAXI CEO Michael Laskow calls viewers and answers their music industry questions LIVE on the show!

How GOOD Do INSTRUMENTALS Need To Be For SYNC PLACEMENTS Oct 13, 2020

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We had a blast on last week’s show when the live audience got to test their A&R skills on Country songs, so this week, we're listening to TAXI Members' Stomp-Clap, Blues Rock Instrumentals to see which ones could make the cut for film/TV sync placements!. Here's the opportunity we sent out to our members: MODERN STOMP-CLAP BLUES ROCK INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES Send them contemporary-sounding Instrumentals and/or Cues infused with lots of Bluesy Rock flavor. Be sure your submissions use standard Rock-band instrumentation. Killer melodies, great guitar riffs, and a solid rhythm section are all elements that will make your Instrumentals appealing to this Music Library. You’d be wise to avoid guitar solos (especially in the higher registers) as they tend to be distracting or overpowering when placed under dialogue. TAXI Tip: Pay close attention to the drum parts and rhythm sections in the referenced tracks. We think that capturing that authentic "stomp-clap" feeling they have in common could really help you stand out for this pitch.

COUNTRY Song Reviews - You're In The A&R Hot Seat! Oct 06, 2020

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If you've ever wondered, "How good does a Country song need to be to get forwarded by TAXI to an A&R Executive working with a HUGE Grammy-winning group?" then you're going to love being in the A&R Hot Seat during this episode! Here's the request we got from the Music Licensing Company! TAXI # S200803CS COUNTRY SONGS with REFLECTIVE Lyric Themes and Male Vocals are needed by a super well-connected A&R Executive for a HUGE chart-topping, Grammy Award-winning SUPER GROUP that’s working on their next album! The A&R Executive is searching for Songs in All Tempos that could be found on the same playlist as the following references: “How They Remember You" by Rascal Flatts “Letter To Me” by Brad Paisley “Time" by Dean Brody NOTE: The bar is high for this request, so pull out your best and pay special attention to your Songcraft! Getting Songs cut by this act could be absolutely career-changing! Please submit radio-worthy Country Songs that have solid productions and great lyrics with substance. Your submissions should have fresh, compelling Country melodies and super strong choruses that are ready for the charts! Please be sure your vocal performances are good enough to get this A&R Executive and Artist excited about cutting your Songs. Lyric Tip: We’ve been told that they're looking for "reflective" material, with lyric themes along the lines of (but not limited to) "This is my life" or "Taking a look back at our lives." The quality of your Songs should be competitive with material being pitched on Music Row – in other words, submissions have to be really, really strong! Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. Please include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Monday, August 3rd, 2020. TAXI # S200803CS Cast your vote! You're going to be in the A&R decision-maker's seat by voting with your fellow viewers. Did TAXI's A&R people get it right? Will you get it right? Let's see! Join us in the chat room to participate!

SCORING Short & INDIE FILMS With Ed Hartman Sep 22, 2020

Show notes

I’ve known TAXI member Ed Hartman for a number of years, and frankly, I had little idea just how successful he’s been! He’s pretty soft-spoken and humble. Ed specializes in making music with mallets, so maybe he’s not as “cool” as a guitar slinging Rock Star. But when rock stars look at his credits, they’re probably a little jealous ;-) His music has been in feature films like, The Blind Side, Scooby Doo, The Mystery Begins, The Cold Light of Day, Surviving Christmas, Into the Fire, Spirit of the Game, A Different Sun, Cool It, Mini's First Time, and The Turkey Bowl. He’s also scored music for the feature films, As the Earth Turns (34 best score awards/nominations), Fitz (Who Made Who Productions) - 2008 Alberta Film and Television Awards Nominee: Best Feature Film), and the documentary Project Colombia (The MapMakers). As if all that isn’t impressive enough, Ed has also scored a bunch of short films, including: “SHAM Therapy” (Web-series), “The Son, The Father,” “Pause,” “Little Peter Needs to Fly,” "End Zone,” “The Three Stars,” “Trauma,” “Winston,” “Those in Need,” and “A Rich Mann.” Some of his TV placements include: The Twilight Zone, Revenge, Motive, Twas the Night, Katie Morgan, Big Love, Lucifer, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Passions, Let's Make a Deal, Doc-Block, Greek, Emeril Green, Nature, Gourmet Adventures with Ruth, Channel 5 Takes Latin, Relic Hunter, Extreme Towns, America Now, Shalom In The Home, Toddlers and Tiaras, and many others we didn’t have room to list here! But it’s mainly the Short and Indie Film Scores I want to ask him about! I’m pretty sure many musicians would love to do some film scoring, but they all have the same questions… How do I find clients? How do you get paid? Should I do one on spec to get the experience? What do I need to know from a musical perspective? How did you learn the craft of scoring to picture? How much time does it take to score a short film? How many changes do you have to make? What kind of technical stuff do you have to know? Which instrument libraries do you find most useful? And many more questions you probably want answers to! Questions or comments for Ed? Please email him: edhartmanmusic.com

How GOOD Does An INSTRUMENTAL CUE Need To Be Sep 15, 2020

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If you submitted for this Percussion-Based Instrumentals and/or Cues request, TAXI #S200823PC, you really don't want to miss this episode of TAXI TV! If you've ever wondered, "How good does an instrumental cue need to be to get forwarded by TAXI to a Leading Music Licensing Company that gets tons of placements in TV Commercials?" then you're going to love this episode! Here's the request we got from the Music Licensing Company! TAXI #S200823PC PERCUSSION-Based INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a Successful Publisher with an awesome track record of really BIG placements in TV Commercials! This Publisher is looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals and/or Cues in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the following references: ADT Commercial “Black Skinhead” (Instrumental) by Kanye West McDonalds Commercial Please submit driving, primarily percussive Instrumentals and/or Cues that could work well in the context of a National Ad Campaign. Your submissions can include everything from (but not limited to): Stomps, Claps, Slaps, Snaps, Taps, and Bangs, etc. You can include some additional instrumentation, but the majority of your Instrumentals should be Percussion-based. TAXI Tip: Per the client, “please try not to rely solely upon loops.” Get creative with your programming, and feel free to push the boundaries, but please avoid anything that’s so complex that it will distract viewers from what's on-screen! Our experience tells us that simpler is better. The ads that feature this type of music aren't looking for the most genius composer, so much as pieces of music that evoke excitement and emotion. All submissions should be about 90 seconds to 3 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded, Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best. Do not copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for the overall feel, texture, and tone. Broadcast quality is needed. This company offers an EXCLUSIVE, 50/50 deal with a 2-year reversion. If they do not acquire at least $1,000 in sync revenue from your tracks within the term, you can get your rights back. Pretty sweet! Any sync licensing fees are split 50/50. You’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share. Since this company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed to any other Libraries or Catalogs. You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Please submit as many Instrumentals and/or Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Sunday, August 23rd, 2020. TAXI # S200823PC You're going to be in the A&R decision-maker's seat by voting with your fellow viewers. Did TAXI's A&R people get it right? Let's see how you vote! Join us in the chat room to participate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!

The BEST GEAR for HOME CONCERTS [Q&A with Steven Memel] Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

Last week's episode about doing Home Concerts was so information-packed that we couldn't get to questions from the live audience. It also felt like we needed to give Steven more time to dive more deeply into this super current topic! The solution? Bring Mr. Memel back for another episode! Please get your questions ready before we go live! Steven's Resume for your perusal! Steven Memel is an internationally acclaimed voice & performance coach whose unique and impactful techniques enable him to achieve rapid and dramatic results with all performers. He’s aided in building the careers of some of the most talented and successful people in the world of entertainment. Steven’s music clients have recorded on Sony, Jive, DreamWorks, BMG, and more. He’s worked with acts like Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, Jesse McCartney, and a bunch of very happy TAXI members over the years! He’s taught at Musicians Institute, UCLA, USC, and is a regular speaker at seminars, conferences (including the TAXI Road Rally), and universities around the world.

Doing HOME CONCERTS the RIGHT WAY [with Steven Memel] Aug 18, 2020

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Doing HOME CONCERTS the RIGHT WAY [with Steven Memel] by TAXI Independent A&R

Mystery Music Library CEO Gives Do's and Don'ts Aug 11, 2020

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On this episode of TAXI TV, if you want to know the ins and outs of how to build a great working relationship with a Music Library, we've got the perfect person to tell you all about that! He's signed and placed tons of music from TAXI members and has lots of tips that will help you navigate the process of signing with a Music Library and the business etiquette that will make the relationship productive and profitable for both parties. Yay! Don't miss what we expect will be a treasure trove of great advice from somebody who is highly experienced in all aspects of the sync business. To Join the Live Chat and Ask Questions During the Broadcast… You’ll need to be signed up to YouTube (FREE) and be logged in to be able to join in on the chat during the show. Go to youtube.com and click the "Sign In" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page and fill out the short form to join. If you have a Gmail account, you’ll be able to associate your YouTube account with it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!

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