Library Responses to Forwards: A series of questions

[RealPickle]

I'm sure all of this has been discussed at some point on the board, but I couldn't find specific posts about it and figured it's worth having some new info from Taxi vets.

I've only been with Taxi for 3 months but have started getting some more consistent forwards, which has made me wonder about a few things.

I'm just curious what's typical regarding library responses to forwards. First off, I understand that things can vary wildly. I also understand that most forwards never get any response from the library. I understand the idea of "write, submit, forget, repeat". I just like to know what others' experience has been with this. So having said that, my questions:
1-What's the fastest a library ever reaches out? What's the longest lag you have experienced between forward and library contact?
2-Those of you who have been in the game a while, what's your estimate for average response rate from forwards? Do 3 out of 10 forwards get a response? More? Fewer?
3-Is there anything in our control that might help or hinder a response? The reason for this question is I'm trying to figure out where I fit best in this world and have submitted for a range of briefs. I'm a little concerned even if a library owner likes my track, they may be turned off after visiting my Disco page and only seeing one or two tracks total in that genre.

Thanks in advance for whatever answers you can offer!

[cosmicdolphin]

1-What's the fastest a library ever reaches out?

A week

What's the longest lag you have experienced between forward and library contact?

3 months

2-Those of you who have been in the game a while, what's your estimate for average response rate from forwards? Do 3 out of 10 forwards get a response? More? Fewer?

1 in 20

3-Is there anything in our control that might help or hinder a response?

Put your contact info in the ID3 tag

Other than that , write great sounding tracks that are on brief and be ready with you PRO info etc. should you be contacted.

[jefflaplante]

1-What's the fastest a library ever reaches out?

The day after the forward.

2. What's the longest lag you have experienced between forward and library contact?

Over a year.

3-Those of you who have been in the game a while, what's your estimate for average response rate from forwards? Do 3 out of 10 forwards get a response? More? Fewer?

1 in 20 forwards sounds about right.

4-Is there anything in our control that might help or hinder a response? The reason for this question is I'm trying to figure out where I fit best in this world and have submitted for a range of briefs. I'm a little concerned even if a library owner likes my track, they may be turned off after visiting my Disco page and only seeing one or two tracks total in that genre.

First, check your SPAM folder every day. Almost all of my initial libraary connections sent messages which landed in my SPAM folder. Secondly, and probably even more important...make sure your online prescence is attractive. Many publishers will visit your social media just to see how you conduct yourself and if you are a cool/kind person. No one is going to want to work with you if you come accross as arrogant, mean spirited, or unprofessional.

[RealPickle]

First, check your SPAM folder every day. Almost all of my initial libraary connections sent messages which landed in my SPAM folder. Secondly, and probably even more important...make sure your online prescence is attractive. Many publishers will visit your social media just to see how you conduct yourself and if you are a cool/kind person. No one is going to want to work with you if you come accross as arrogant, mean spirited, or unprofessional.

Thank you both for your feedback. This is really excellent advice as I had never even thought of that before (the spam folder).

Also, I really hope libraries like random landscape videos with my music attached because that's all I ever post to the socials

[BradleyHagen]

I echo this thanks....... I have had about 25 forwards in the past 6 months, and crickets so far......

[DiamondJoe]

I have been contacted the day after I got the forwarded email from Taxi, I have also been contacted about 6 months after. I think 1 or 2 out of 10 forwards for me have resulted in contracts. I have a song that was signed in 2016, that was just used in Greece and in Japan. So go figure. Sometimes it is a long time between these milestones.

[MelleMelCreations]

I was just wondering the same thing BRO I got 2 fwd. not a lot at all so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up at all until I hit the 20 mark and get that 1 lol.

I was also wondering how do they contact you, would it be via taxi or something. I had no idea it would be through your email you signed up for so I definitely didn't look at my spam folder. No I'm wondering if I did get a contact and I deleted it as I just normally clear my spam folder UGH..

I think it'll be a good idea to actually look through that folder I guess. I wish there was a way I could have a link or something that they go to if they like my music that I can make a custom page and then a contact form that I know will NOT end up in spam due to a email rule.

Glad I'm not alone in the crickets realm, and here I was think that you get a fwd, your guaranteed at least a call or something. buuuuut guess not.

[cosmicdolphin]

I was also wondering how do they contact you, would it be via taxi or something. I had no idea it would be through your email you signed up for so I definitely didn't look at my spam folder.

Yes theye always contacted me through the email address held by Taxi - the chances of being contacted after just 2 Forwards is pretty slim though

[MelleMelCreations]

I was also wondering how do they contact you, would it be via taxi or something. I had no idea it would be through your email you signed up for so I definitely didn't look at my spam folder.

Yes theye always contacted me through the email address held by Taxi - the chances of being contacted after just 2 Forwards is pretty slim though

Its all good thanks for the reality check. I'll just keep trudging along.

[cosmicdolphin]

Its all good thanks for the reality check. I'll just keep trudging along.

I had a quick listen to some of the tracks on your YouTube channel and there's probably a few things you can do to improve your chances.

1. The track titles didn't really give me any idea what to expect from the cue. For example you have one called "Strummin'" ....anyone looking at that would have expected a guitar track but it's an Orchestral piece

2. Most of them lacked any obvious edit points. LIttle pauses in the track where an editor can snip it and transition to the next cue.

3. There was a lot of repetitiveness - i.e. they kinda went round the same idea over an over without enough development or variation. Generally you want the last section to be the most intense and have some kinda breakdown or B section in the middle.

4. The quality of the sounds and production could be improved especially stuff like Hip Hop where it's widely used. Make sure you A/B reference your track against the ones in the listing to check if you're in the ballpark.

5. None of the tracks I listened to seemed to have a definitive ending, they just seem to peter out. You need to use what's called a button ending where it ends definitively on the home chord because editors will need to splice that ending onto an earlier part of the track when they need to get out of your cue and into the next one.

Hope that helps. You might want to look into something like Sync Academy as there are tutorials on all this sort of stuff that's specific to this industry.

Mark