Looking for some advice from those in exclusive contract arrangements and who submit to TAXI.

I'm entering my first exclusive agreement (seems to be where the industry is going) and, as it is time based, I feel fine with that.

However, what do composers do when they've got a track registered with a catalog company yet, at some point, it's an appropriate track for TAXI listing submission?

Do you (can you?) submit the track to TAXI? (what if the supervisor looking wants that one specific sounding track that's already placed elsewhere under an exclusive arrangement?)

Has anyone had any experience where they've entered an arrangement with different tracks other than the initial track(s) that got them the forward? My thinking is here - the track that gets you a forward is only to demonstrate your style/skill.

Whilst I don't have a specific case in hand, I'm eager to plan ahead and know what to do if I've already placed a track under an exclusive arrangement yet I feel it's a good one for a particular listing if and when one comes up in the future.

What do composers in this situation do?

Thanks!

Write more songs....

Rob,

If the listing is looking for specific tracks to be used in a specific project/situation (as would be typical of direct to supervisor, placement company and ad agency listings), then you cannot submit a song that's signed excusively elsewhere. These types of listings often make that very clear by saying something to the effect of "you must control master and publishing for all tracks submitted" which you would not if the songs has been signed exclusively.

If the listing is more generic, looking for composers or talent or show reels, then it's perfectly fine to submit songs that are signed elsewhere.

matto

This answers my question fully and clears that one up. Many thanks, Matto.

I would suggest talking directly to the publisher about this. They might be 100% fine with you submitting the song to listings as long as you notify them of any forwards the song gets.

We have a good relationship so that's a great idea. The more I think about it the less likely I am to be faced with such a situation. Who knows?

Thanks for the advice.

Good comments here.

I've heard from others, and as Matto said, if it is a general, introduction to a library kind of listing, it is fine to submit signed songs.

We had a discussion about this at the Rally. Some members said they contact the publisher that has signed the exclusive track and let them know they are submitting it just for an introduction. You never know, the same publisher may be the ones running the listing and it may be awkward for them to get a track they already signed.

I think more communication is better than less. I haven't found myself in this position yet, but if I were, I would contact my signed publisher and let them know.

Cheers -
kc

thanks kc. Over-communication is more often better, I agree!



...and that's a really valuable point - how awkward that would be - another reason to over-communicate and contact the publisher in the first instance.

Thanks!

And I think that there's a difference between overcommunicating with a Library who has not YET signed you and communicating with an already established customer. I know it may seem obvious, but I felt it needed to be said. In case someone thought - I should overcommunicate with that library that TAXI forwarded me to, but hasn't yet called me!

ah yes. Great point, Debra! I should have been more clear.

Cheers -
kc