So confused and, honestly, disappointed, Listener 309...

[coxnvox]

I have been submitting to Taxi for I think 17 years now. Most of my stuff has not been good enough, and I think I've been pretty honest about my deficiencies over the years.
But I've been learning a lot lately, and my writing has improved, AND I've been learning how to match what a listing is asking for, and my forwards have climbed rapidly.

This return on U160615IN has me baffled. I listened to all the examples, and my submission seems to fall well within the range they were asking for...maybe cheesier than a few, but much less cheesy than most of the examples. I used a single, simple, familiar-feeling but still original musical thought, and I developed it well over a brief 35 seconds. I used instrumentation, production, and harmony to create levels that keep it moving and building to a climax.

Now, hear me out....I'm NOT saying I've created the greatest piece of music ever written!! But from everything I've picked up over the years, this is a piece that should have had the chance to be listened to by the ad creators.

Your comment was "This is very close, your style is a little too musical." I honestly have no idea what this means...."too musical" as in the piece of music that I created is too musical?!?! This is bizarre. If you mean "too musical" as in "Broadway musical,' it's still fairly bizarre that you would reject a piece that sounds like an extremely hot style right now. (I'm thinking of Hamilton.)

The fact that the listing agent was open to a broad range of styles makes your rejection based on the style of my submission bizarre as well. They are not really too sure what they want, and are open to hearing a range of styles, but you reject mine purely for the style being off...that doesn't pass the smell test.

For everyone who may want to listen, here is my submission and here is the listing. Thanks.

https://soundcloud.com/kerry-cox-9/sign-on-soar-higher

U160615IN

HIGH-IMPACT INSTRUMENTAL CUES with a heroic, epic, and tough vibe are needed for a NON-Exclusive, $8,000 to $11,000 placement by a Music Publisher that’s feeding music directly to Music Supervisor of a :35 second International Military Recruitment-style Commercial. They’re looking for energetic, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the music used in these commercials (but don’t limit yourself, they’re open to many different genres and styles): US Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mmDdeqUPk US Navy Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teASv__suoA US Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdPfbOp_8g British Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhvjBwuix4 Canadian Forces Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K69jwRkm04 French Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RamMieNvJ6E Indian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYH6TgmnBw Colombian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcEuBdoKE3M Dutch Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iStJoC9SVs Russian Military Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJPnMP3j_Uc Quoting the source: “We’re looking for Mid-Tempo and Up-Tempo tracks that have an energetic, heroic, epic, and tough feel to them for a :35 second recruitment-style military commercial. The client loves the idea of exploring the direction of a track with an Urban Beat, but they’re open to pretty much anything that’s current, as long as it has a heroic feel to it. The commercial is filled with action scenes of Marines, so the music needs to help draw the intensity out.” Please submit action-packed Instrumental Cues that support and amplify the sense of heroism, pride, and excitement of the action-based scenes in the commercial. Genres that could work include: Orchestral, Rock, Urban, Electronic, or hybridized combinations like Orchestral/Rock, Orchestral/Urban, Orchestral/Electronic, etc. Whichever genre you choose to submit (hybrid included), be sure they use authentic and current sounding instrumentation. Anything dated, stiff, or MIDI-driven won’t work well for this pitch. Melodies and arrangements that evoke emotions like pride, then challenge, and finally excitement should work well for this commercial. Build as it progresses, and finish with a bang (no pun intended). Due to the length of the commercial (:35 Seconds), be sure you get right to the “red meat,” with little, to no intro at all. Your submissions should be no longer than the commercial itself, :35 seconds max, including the ring out and reverb tail at the end! Good edit points and Non-Faded/Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best for this pitch. Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this use is $8,000 to $11,000. This Publisher offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of the sync fee and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of sync fee and 100% of the Publisher’s Share. You’ll keep 100% of the original copyright. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit for this. All Submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis by a TAXI screener handpicked by the Publisher. No full critiques. Please submit 1-3 Songs no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016. TAXI #U160615IN

[cosmicdolphin]

Hey there !

I had a return on this listing too , but was expecting it as it was my attempt at anything like this, I think that it only had to be 30s long was part of the appeal: " The vibe isn't close enough to the direction of the listing." and I agree it should have been returned after I heard the forwards https://soundcloud.com/cosmicdolphin/hang-tough/s-dmwoM

I have listened to your track and I also tracked down some of the forwards which I've linked to below.

My thoughts are they wanted a more bombastic track and yours is a little too lightweight ( as is mine ) - I think the clue was in the "High Impact" title and I feel I missed a trick by having a more impactful rhythm section. The forwards seem more "Urban" & " Gritty " with a darker edge to me which is something our pieces are not.

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Challenger Rising ( must be an edited down shorter version )
http://www.broadjam.com/player/player.p ... 7_657688_3
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Mobilize at Midnight
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=31891
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To The Limit
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... =felixwong
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Thank you for your service
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=49775
------------------------------------------

Hope that helps !

If you are getting regular forwards you must be doing something right.

Mark

[WeWillWriteUaSong]

I feel your pain as do many others. I have taken down my post and decided to simply write to Michael about it.

Marcus

[coxnvox]

Thanks, Mark, and Marcus, I'm hoping something positive comes of your post. I think we all just want a fair playing field and consistency.

[cosmicdolphin]

I think we all just want a fair playing field and consistency.

309 has consistently returned 6 of mine as well so I think the playing field is level, maybe he/she only screens higher bar listings.

[coxnvox]

Thanks again for the links to the forwards, Mark. They were all quality tracks, and they definitely fit in well with several of the examples.
It's frustrating that they included so many examples but then only chose the ones that sounded like, really, one of the examples.

I feel better having gotten this out! Group therapy rocks!

kerry

[MattCurious]

only chose the ones that sounded like, really, one of the examples

Hi Kerry

This kind of thing can be really frustrating. I've expressed that on the forums a few times myself!

The thing about production music is that it isn't meant to be all that groundbreaking. Although there are movements in trends, they tend to be created by the Hans Zimmers, Trent Reznors, etc of the world rather than us.

Our job is largely to produce sound-a-likes. Specifically, the library / show / whatever is looking for something that evokes a certain mood, and that often means hitting certain tropes (albeit making sure your sound palette is up-to-date etc). Sometimes, it's even less sophisticated and is really just about something that "sounds like" the references.

The trick (and I'm not saying I've learned it) is to be creative within that framework.

Best wishes
Matt

[andygabrys]

Our job is largely to produce sound-a-likes.

I would say "feel-a-like" is closer rather than sound alike. It's VIBE rather than a certain sound.

IMO that's how they managed to include all those genres in the refs.

[MattCurious]

That's a much better way to put it, Andy - and not just the correct spelling!

[Joseph]

Your comment was "This is very close, your style is a little too musical." I honestly have no idea what this means...."too musical" as in the piece of music that I created is too musical?!?! This is bizarre. If you mean "too musical" as in "Broadway musical,' it's still fairly bizarre that you would reject a piece that sounds like an extremely hot style right now. (I'm thinking of Hamilton.)

I don't quite think the military wants to go the Broadway musical route for their recruitment campaign just yet. Maybe they will in the next few years, though.

-Joseph