Another 'Not Compelling/Distinctive'

[brendanlynch]

Hi All,This was the listing:LIGHT/INSPIRATIONAL ELECTRONICA INSTRUMENTALS for corporate motivation and Film/TV placements are sought after by a Major Music Publisher with distribution through a huge Production Music Library. This Publisher is also an Emmy-winning Composer for daytime television and this is a fantastic opportunity to be introduced to a Publishing/Licensing relationship as well as the possibilities of future composition projects with a VERY successful industry pro. Excellent arrangements, performances and recordings are a must! The stylistic approach is open here, but you'll want to be sure the tone isn't dark or heavy - think light, inspirational, uplifting. This Publisher will be looking to sign 8-12 tracks for an upfront "buyout" fee that will be in the $2K range. While it will be an exclusive purchase of the material, this Publisher will not take any portion of your writer's share. He won't be looking for custom compositions, but rather a collection of "B" material - tracks that are laying dormant in your catalog. While we can be a bit more liberal for this one, you'll want to be sure that the compositions themselves are very well written and the recordings are Broadcast Quality. Please submit 2-3 instrumentals online or per CD, but be prepared to send more if the Publisher gets in touch with you. He will ultimately be interested in signing 8-12 tracks for the buyout fee mentioned above. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than February 26, 2009. TAXI #Y090226EL.Here are the tracks:Nothing Unknown - http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... m=trueInto the Night - http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... trueComing Home - http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... truePoints I regard as relevant from the listing:Stylistic approach is openEnsure the tone isn't dark or heavy - think light, inspirational , upliftingCollection of 'B' Material - tracks lying dormant (so nothing that would be regarded as 'hit material' - more leniant therefore, perhaps?)Corporate motivation and film/TV placementsAll three were returned as 'Not compelling/distinctive' by screener #287Now here's the interesting part:In November 2008, 'Nothing Unknown' was forwarded by screener #263 on the basis of the following listing:CURRENT-SOUNDING/"EDGY" CORPORATE INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a Music Licensing Company run by a veteran in this industry. While Corporate Instrumentals are typically designed to be positive and light, with a tone that inspires productivity, this company is looking for an edgier/more aggressive tone. This doesn't mean that they want the opposite end of the spectrum, just a slight edge to the typical Corporate Instrumental. In other words, you might consider adding an electric guitar or a drum loop in the instrumentation - to add some intensity and inspire a healthy sense of competition. You can stretch in terms of stylistic approach, just keep the overall tone in mind. Prominent melodies not required and all tempos & types of instrumentation are just fine. The company is designed to help producers, music supervisors, etc. find material for their film/TV/commercial/video game project, as well as licensing content to large corporations for in-house presentations and ad campaigns. Performances should be excellent and must be recorded at Master/Broadcast quality. They offer a non-exclusive deal where all profits are split 50/50 between the company and the writer [you keep your copyrights]. Broadcast quality needed [excellent home recordings are OK]. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received by October 27, 2008. TAXI #Y081027INIn December 2008, 'Coming Home' was forwarded by screener #289 on the basis of the following listing:INSPIRATIONAL AND UPLIFTING INSTRUMENTALS in all styles are needed by a great Production Music Library/Publisher that has signed tons of TAXI members over the years, and has made money for many. These Instrumentals can be lush orchestral arrangements, simple/acoustic piano or guitar pieces, lilting/playful Alt Country/Singer-Songwriter tracks, etc. The only absolute must is that the overall tone is very inspiring, heartwarming and light. Think of a commercial where children are laughing, a couple is holding hands and walking along the side of a lake, a baby is playing and giggling with a grandparent, etc. - these pieces need to reflect a warm and glowing mood to support visual scenes of this nature. Tracks should ideally be between :60 and 3 minutes in length - you must be prepared to provide shorter edits with button endings, should the company contact you. Performances need to be excellent and broadcast quality is necessary - great home recordings should be just fine. Their deal is typically an exclusive agreement with a 5-year reversion clause. Please submit one to three tracks online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than December 19, 2008. TAXI #Y081219INBoth tracks were forwarded for similar listings (corporate, light, uplifiting instrumental, inspirational) and particularly 'Nothing Unknown' which was forwarded for something that required 'edgier/more aggressive tone'. Suddenly it is no longer compelling or distinctive enough. 'Coming Home' was forwarded for something that required 'Inspirational and Uplifting' - overall tone is very inspiring, heartwarming and light. Suddenly, it is no longer compelling or distinctive enough. 'Into the Night' is relatively new and currently has no reference with Taxi.Go back to the top of this post and tell me if this listing is THAT different to those from 2008 where these tracks were apparently 'ON TARGET'?? Considering that this listing is looking for 'B' grade material, you'd think the tracks actually stood MORE of a chance!So just how far apart ARE the opinions of these screeners? Do they bother to look at submission histories to see if the tracks might have been reviewed by other screeners for similar listings before them? How can their interpretations of the listings be so conflicting and divergent? Two of these tracks were sucessfully forwarded for listings that were fundamentally the same. It was the main reason I submitted them for this listing. As a direct result of their previous success, I was 'playing it safe' based on what Taxi had already regarded as material worth forwarding for this type of genre and remit. And really, the listings are so closely related that I'm now utterly incredulous as to how another screener suddenly feels that ALL THREE simply don't fit the bill. Why did I bother submitting material (and paying money!) for a listing of this nature that Taxi had previously regarded as suitable?Explain yourself, Taxi!

[davewalton]

Mar 13, 2009, 12:12pm, brendanlynch wrote:Hi All,This was the listing:LIGHT/INSPIRATIONAL ELECTRONICA INSTRUMENTALSNow here's the interesting part:In November 2008, 'Nothing Unknown' was forwarded by screener #263 on the basis of the following listing:CURRENT-SOUNDING/"EDGY" CORPORATE INSTRUMENTALSJust quickly (because I have to take off), this isn't a music thing because I don't have to listen to the music to see why any track getting forwarded for one (either one) would get returned for the other. One is looking for "Light Inspirational" and the other is looking for "Edgy". Those are so different I don't see any way to write one song to cover both. Doesn't matter which way it goes, if it fits one, it won't fit the other.Sometimes it's more of a "big picture" situation, rather than details. And once we miss the initial target, then the rest of the reasons are all moot points.Not that this helps, but honestly this is the learning process... something all of us, me, Mazz, Matto, Vikki, Big Blue, BillG, the whole crew, we go through this (annoying) learning period where nothing seems to make sense. But stick with it. Post songs in advance of submitting. You might get some alternate ideas for the music or a suggestion of an alternate listing.Anyway, while I was typing this I was listening to "Nothing Unknown". It's a really nice track... you're a very good composer/musician so please don't get frustrated (or rather let it get to you) with the targeting aspect of the music industry. It's not a Taxi thing... there's lots of people we have to get our music by and it's just a thing of the "art of interpreting their needs". Not easy and it takes time.This forum (and the critiques) is where I learned to do it. Hang in there and I hope others can give a listen and maybe offer more insight.Gotta run,Dave

[k o star]

Nothing Unknown does have an edginess to it... Beautiful track...Into the night is soothing & kinda Inspirational... Coming Home is Uplifting & Inspirational...They're all Brilliant... However, if I wanna be super picky while looking at that particular listing... maybe I could say none of them are Light enough?.. Well, LIGHT being the first word and emphasized in caps for that particular list...Hmmm, that's the only reason I can think of for those tracks not being forwarded.I don't know Brendan... I'm very new here... not quite sure how the listings work yet... but all I can say is keep doin what U do Best cos U got really Gr8 stuff...Regards,Kel

[louis2012]

Brendan, screener 287 is clearly talking out of his/her assYour tracks are perfect for the listing. Especially the corporate motivational side of things. You have enough evidence of past forwards to put in a genuine enquiry to taxi about this,in my opinion.

[benjamine]

Nothing Unknown is OK ish but those random Synth noises completely spoil it for me.Didn't listen to the others.

[silvercord]

Howdy Brendan,It is a high possibility that this listing has been screened bysome one from the company that wants these songs.So the horse's mouth may be checking out all of these tunesand forwarding/returning them as feel fit.

[brendanlynch]

I appreciate all your input - thank you.I haven't taken the issue any further and I doubt that even if I did I wouldn't get very far.I'll leave it at that and move on.RegardsBrendan