19 forwards, no $$

[neuphoria]

for perspective: i've had 60+ forwards over about nearly two years, with only two deal offers (one very, very bad library and one indie show w/no money); in that same time i've done 30+ paying deals (with good upfront master/synch fees) on my own. some tracks that have not made it through the taxi screeners have been very, very successful. elsewhere. (not complaining, just stating.) i'm not going to renew i think. i think taxi is very good for people who compose music specifically for background; not so good for people doing music as artists or bands.

[mazz]

Quote:Thanks for the input. I have been "pro" for 17 years, since I was 16 years old. I have had songs on MTV, ESPN, CBS to name a few. My previous band, "Motorplant" had and indie label deal and we did all of our own marketing with our manager. I have done well regionally with my current band, but I have yet to land some of the same deals. I know full well what it takes in this industry and understand that it could very well be my songs. Anyway, I was under the impression that a forward from Taxi was worth more than sending out discs myself. So far I have landed more paying gigs myself. I find Taxi's critiques valuable and I still love a forward, but at what cost? I am running a business here and in 18 months of Taxi I have yet to see a return.Forwarded songs:http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... tream=true http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... eCurrently we are composing the music for a video game licensed by Microsoft and Crytek. Again, I landed that deal myself. Also, I did accept the licensing deal, you never know.I want to make it clear that I am not complaining here, just tying to figure out my best strategy moving forward.-Steve If this had been your first posting, I wouldn't have responded the way I did. Your first post didn't come off "pro" at all, I thought you were another complainer looking for instant gratification.Sounds like you've done well on your own and that is probably the best way to go with TAXI as a good way to expand your odds.We're all running a business here at one level or another and it takes a long time to get a business going in any field. 18 months is a blip in time, give it another 18 months or even 24 months. The membership is tax deductible and who knows, the little deal you just signed might net you thousands over the next 20 years. Since you're still young, you've probably not even hit your stride as far as your music goes so take the long view and keep doing what you're doing.To paraphrase Edison "most failures are by people that quit one day too soon" or something like that. I think you know what I mean.Good luck,Mazz

[davewalton]

Quote:for perspective: i've had 60+ forwards over about nearly two years, with only two deal offers (one very, very bad library and one indie show w/no money); in that same time i've done 30+ paying deals (with good upfront master/synch fees) on my own. some tracks that have not made it through the taxi screeners have been very, very successful. elsewhere. (not complaining, just stating.)I don't know how many forwards... probably 60+. Two deals, one with a library that placed music into a show that generated around 60 airings on cable television. Another where I write music for a daytime TV show... music airing every week, almost every day on network television. Admittedly that's a "cream of the crop" thing and not "ordinary" but that's why I'm here. At least four other guys on this forum alone with that same deal.Don't ask Gitarrero about deals in just his first year if you're wanting "Taxi doesn't work" examples.

[davewalton]

Quote: i think taxi is very good for people who compose music specifically for background; not so good for people doing music as artists or bands.I read, saw, heard somewhere that Fox Sports placed over 1 million tracks of music last year in all of the shows, etc that it does. That's just one (admittedly rather large) entity. Add in all the other opportunities for placement in cable and network television, films, etc. That's a LOT of slots. MillionsNow consider artists, bands, etc looking for a record deal... how many slots are available for that? Certainly not millions. Maybe just a couple from each label? It's not a "Taxi thing". Statistically it's MUCH easier to get a background music placement on TV than be #1 on Billboard. Show me any place that says through them it's easier to get a record deal than getting a background music placement through Taxi... and I'll RUN, not walk, the other way. It's almost easier to be in a plane crash than it is to get a REAL record deal... not surprising that any place has more opportunities for film/tv placement than for record deals. Regarding these deals, there's a good number of these high-end listings through Taxi. They're a one in ten-billion shot but Taxi gets listings from all the major labels, for Country, Pop, R&B, Rap, etc. You get forwarded, your music gets sent to the decision maker's desk at a major label (because he/she asked for it). How much more of an opportunity do you want or do you have outside of Taxi? Try sending a blind demo to Sony BMG and see how far it gets.

[jameii]

Hey Dave I didn't think you seemed ungrateful or angry...I could see how you would wonder the things you asked in your post.I'm a new member since around November and I"ve had 7 forwards (some of those were for more than one song) and I think 2 were Artist forwards. EAch time it happens I just really dig the fact that I KNOW somewhere out there my music is being heard. I didn't have that chance..that SAME chance before Taxi made the listing and selected my song.I agree that there are ways to put yourself out there other than this...but it's kind of like shopping I guess..if you goto one store you can get what you need but if you goto 2 stores you might find there are better things at store 2 and for better prices, etc. That's kind of how I see Taxi..it's another step in the right direction.I know that when you get a forward you may never hear about it again...I jsut stay positive and hope that eventually all these "seeds" will flourish in SOME way!REmember.....it only takes ONE song to hit to "make" you....Here's to that one song my friend!!!Best of luck...and we are glad you are here!Jamie

[davewalton]

Quote:Hey Dave I didn't think you seemed ungrateful or angry...I think that was Steve... I'm grateful and happy.

[jameii]

LOL..OOPS!!!!! Sorry Dave YES!!! I meant Steve My bad!

[neuphoria]

in case dave misinterpreted, i was stating from the perspective from one who sell songs written for music to be released and sold on a cd that can be purchased, and that "stands on it's own" separate from a visual image... it does seem, from my perspective, that the people getting the payback on their taxi investment are the ones who are writing specifically for tv placements (matt, dave, gitarerro, etc), as opposed to those placing songs written for their artist-release albumsbtw, this isn't a taxi-doesn't work complaint, and the info in my previous post shouldn't be interpreted as such, tho it seems it was.

[mazz]

Quote:. it does seem, from my perspective, that the people getting the payback on their taxi investment are the ones who are writing specifically for tv placements (matt, dave, gitarerro, etc), as opposed to those placing songs written for their artist-release albums.I think you're right for the reasons others mentioned above: there's fewer opps for artists with established labels and way more opps in TV, what with hundreds of channels going 24/7/365. That's a lot of music!!Of course, it takes a bunch of background instrumental placements to equal the pay for one foreground song but there's a lot more minutes of background in most shows than there is song. Most shows have one song at the end but they have 15 to 30+ minutes of instrumental depending on the show. It's a numbers game.

[davewalton]

Quote:in case dave misinterpreted, i was stating from the perspective from one who sell songs written for music to be released and sold on a cd that can be purchased, and that "stands on it's own" separate from a visual image... it does seem, from my perspective, that the people getting the payback on their taxi investment are the ones who are writing specifically for tv placements (matt, dave, gitarerro, etc), as opposed to those placing songs written for their artist-release albumsYep, we agree there. I'm just saying that it's universally true because there are just more opportunities for $$$ via film/tv than there are real opportunities to make $$$ selling CD's. I don't see it being a "Taxi thing".Stepping back from all this, let me throw out my philosophy (pronounced "FILL-o-SOFF-e" around here ). If I'm an alt-rock group wanting to make money selling music via CD's (artist-released, through indie or major labels, whatever), I submit to Taxi listings similar to this...Quote:ALTERNATIVE ROCK/AAA BAND a la Flaming Lips, Arcade Fire, Polyphonic Spree, etc. is sought after by the General Manager of a very successful Independent label with major label distribution. Your overall vibe should be very unique, yet commercially appealing and viable. Emphasis is placed on commercial potential, excellent live performance abilities, established fan base, Internet presence and work ethic -- you MUST be a hardworking, touring band in order to be considered. So, over time, I get forwarded to 60+ companies like these who are actively seeking bands like me. 60+ times, my CD has landed on the desk of a decision maker and SOMEBODY is getting a deal. So far it hasn't been me. The label's decision to go with one of the other of the thousands of groups that landed on his desk through Taxi, through agents, through attorneys, through "insiders" at the label. What does his/her decision to sign someone else have to do with Taxi? So I have a definite source for listings like the one above. They're DEFINITELY looking to sign a deal with a group, they're ACTIVELY seeking submissions and SOMEBODY is going to get a deal.Why would I drop Taxi, thereby making a conscious decision NOT to send anything to these listings when I know specifically that they're looking for groups like me? Whether you're targeting a record deal like you or simply a song in the background of an episode of Monk like me, I don't get the concept of specifically ignoring a valid source that sends my music to those decision makers. That's in addition to whatever I dig up on my own. Regarding film/tv stuff... that can lead to the end result you're looking for. Bands like The Plain White T's, Zero 7 (Sia Furler) got a big bump when they did music either as a theme (like "Our Time Now" for "Greek") or as a prominent song in a show (like "Breathe Me" for "Six Feet Under"). Some shows even have websites dedicated to the artists they use on the various episodes.Anyway, that's my FILL-o-SOFF-e. Dave