What style/genre would you put this in?

[jessicajohnson.net]

OK, I always get good reviews on lyrics, vocals, production, etc...but the #1 reason I never get forwarded is "not on target". I always submit to Pop and try to look for listings that mention Lady Gaga for "Break Out", "Behind the Wheel" and "A League of My Own" and Kelly Clarkson for "Hazy" and "Mess of Love". Am I just way off base here? What do you guys think...which artists should I be looking for in the listings?

Here's the link to my widget. I recommend right-clicking and opening in a new window...but you already knew that

http://widgets.clearspring.com/o/4a37fa ... fd5354857d

Thank you!!!!

[kvnlnt]

Hey Jessica, You're stuff sounds great...well produced as you stated. I think your self classification is very accurate too...and I personally don't think you're doing anything "wrong". I'm new to taxi (3 months) and am trying to come to grips with some of the "reasons" for my own returns (so far I have 9 returns, 1 forward). I've got returns for "not on target" and on account of production...but on songs I had produced by people who can do some serious name dropping...and the songs ARE well produced...I could conclude the screener was a dumbass, but really I feel like the screener just didn't like the song...didn't want to forward it for whatever reason and had to somehow pigeon hole their feedback into a templated form. So personally, I'm thinking some of the feedback is a bit misleading and can really only help us zero in on things that are obvious. I don't know what listings you specifically submitted to but I'm confident that if you keep submitting to said listing types, you'll be forwarded. Good luck!

[jessicajohnson.net]

Thank you so much for the feedback For the most part I submit to tv/film listings that make any mention of Lady Gaga. One of my most recent "rejections" gave a RAVE review on my song "Break Out" but didn't forward b/c they felt it did not fall into the "dance" genre...but I watch "So You Think You Can Dance" and let me tell you, almost anything could fall into the "dance" genre. lol Needless to say, that was a little bittersweet...LOVED the review, but didn't love not getting forwarded

[mazz]

"but really I feel like the screener just didn't like the song...didn't want to forward it for whatever reason and had to somehow pigeon hole their feedback into a templated form. So personally, I'm thinking some of the feedback is a bit misleading and can really only help us zero in on things that are obvious"

From my understanding of the process, a screener must keep the listing in mind when they are listening to the music. Even if a screener, for whatever reason doesn't "like" a song, they will still forward it if it fits the listing. As a video producer, you've probably come into situations where your personal taste in music may not fit the project at hand so you may need to venture into territory you don't like or aren't familiar with in order to make the production as good as it can be. Imagine if your friend's band submitted music to your production and as much as you love them and their music, it's just not right for the project. Would you jeopardize the project and put the music in anyway just because of your friends? This process isn't personal, it's whether, in the educated assessment of the screener (or the producer/client), the music fits the needs or not. It's as simple as that. Emotion makes it more difficult than it needs to be. But it's a learning process.

[kvnlnt]

I feel your pain....not getting forwarded is frustrating....and if I'm not forwarded, I want my $5 worth of reasons why!

[jessicajohnson.net]

So Mazz....what genre/style would you classify my music?

[kvnlnt]

Hey Mazz, I'm not a video producer...I think you misread my past posts. You do bring up a good point, screeners SHOULD be judging the tunes based on how well it fits the listings...and I'm sure they do a good job MOST of the time. IF I WAS a video producer and a song came to me that I didn't like but I thought it fit...I'd first look for another song until I was forced to use it...and with these listings...that just doesn't happen, there's too much to choose from. If a screener doesn't like it, they aren't going to forward it, period. Why? They have about 500 left to go through and there are bound to be some that DO fit and they DO like. Anyhow, as far as this thread is concerned, Jessica is inquiring what GENRE she should be listing...I'm simply saying she is already right on target and was trying to say simply to take the screeners feedback in context...and it's no stretch of the imagination to think we get shot down on account of personal taste.

[mazz]

So Mazz....what genre/style would you classify my music?

Sorry Jessica, I got sidetracked...........

I think you're right on with your self assessment. I do hear the influences of Lady GaGa in there. I'm not expert on pop music or songwriting but I think you're well within the ballpark.

Obviously I don't agree that personal taste on the part of the screeners is that big of a factor, in fact, TAXI trains their screeners quite strenuously so they aren't as influenced by their personal likes and dislikes. But that's a different thread! Sorry!

I think that you will make it through eventually. Targeting the listings is a skill that you develop, but it's not an exact science by any means (if machines could pick hits, this would be a different world!), so keep submitting and give it time. At least via TAXI you aren't "cold calling". If you get a forward, it's a solicited submission to the client, which puts you way ahead of the hordes of folks that just send in CDs cold.

I like your music!!

Thanks!

[mazz]

Hey Mazz, I'm not a video producer...I think you misread my past posts. You do bring up a good point, screeners SHOULD be judging the tunes based on how well it fits the listings...and I'm sure they do a good job MOST of the time. IF I WAS a video producer and a song came to me that I didn't like but I thought it fit...I'd first look for another song until I was forced to use it...and with these listings...that just doesn't happen, there's too much to choose from. If a screener doesn't like it, they aren't going to forward it, period. Why? They have about 500 left to go through and there are bound to be some that DO fit and they DO like. Anyhow, as far as this thread is concerned, Jessica is inquiring what GENRE she should be listing...I'm simply saying she is already right on target and was trying to say simply to take the screeners feedback in context...and it's no stretch of the imagination to think we get shot down on account of personal taste.

Hi Kevin, I'm going to leave this now. I think you should contact TAXI and learn a bit more about how they operate before you make the assumptions you're making.

Cheers!

Mazz

[kvnlnt]

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