Why I'm not renewing

[billg1]

It's good to know you're not discouraged to the point where you want to give up music, that would be sad!

There are many instances where a song is chosen for tv/film that is less than perfect. You know, strange sounding mix, imperfect pitch/tuning etc. It's obvious that people who are actually choosing music to be used will often overlook a lot of technical things if the "vibe" is right. The problem is that sometimes folks who filter the music (not just talking about Taxi here, but EVERY person or company that screens music) use a more "technical" barometer that an artistic one. It has to be that way. Artistic merit, being able to get the music with just the right vibe for a scene is a pretty specialized job & not everyone can do it. Screeners etc. don't have the artistic freedom that a music super has, they have to play it more or less "safe" and you really can't expect it to be any other way. They have to know that the songs they send up are at the very least not "flawed".

A while back I posted a song I like as an example of what might endure the test of time. There was a post in reply that questioned the less than perfect production. This person was correct, the production was not "broadcast quality" by the standards to which we're usually held. A couple of days later I heard it on Gray's Anatomy.

It's just the way it is.

[Casey H]

It's good to know you're not discouraged to the point where you want to give up music, that would be sad!

There are many instances where a song is chosen for tv/film that is less than perfect. You know, strange sounding mix, imperfect pitch/tuning etc. It's obvious that people who are actually choosing music to be used will often overlook a lot of technical things if the "vibe" is right. The problem is that sometimes folks who filter the music (not just talking about Taxi here, but EVERY person or company that screens music) use a more "technical" barometer that an artistic one. It has to be that way. Artistic merit, being able to get the music with just the right vibe for a scene is a pretty specialized job & not everyone can do it. Screeners etc. don't have the artistic freedom that a music super has, they have to play it more or less "safe" and you really can't expect it to be any other way. They have to know that the songs they send up are at the very least not "flawed".

A while back I posted a song I like as an example of what might endure the test of time. There was a post in reply that questioned the less than perfect production. This person was correct, the production was not "broadcast quality" by the standards to which we're usually held. A couple of days later I heard it on Gray's Anatomy.

It's just the way it is.

Bill
Congrats on a Grey's Anatomy placement!! Those are tough to score! A lot of the songs are from up and coming arists with CD's getting good sales on iTunes, etc. We watch the show all the time. Do you know the particular episode? I'd love to watch and listen for your song!

You make a good point about the way things are. All we can do is tip the odds in our favor by eliminating the obstacles that will have front line screeners reject our songs. It's like the double standard pitching songs to artists. We usually have to be as good as or better than the competition in most cases. Not always... But just the odds.

Great to hear about this success!

Casey

[billg1]

Ha! Casey, I didn't say that I had the placement in GA! (I wish). I said I posted a song as an example of something that could be timeless . . . It wasn't my song that I posted, but thanks for thinking that one of my tunes could've made the grade!

Speaking of writing for artists . . . I don't know of ANY songwriter in the past few years who has had more songs covered than Daniel Johnston. If you don't know who he is, google him.

EDIT: I wouldn't want anyone to miss this just beacuse they're too lazy to google!
http://www.hihowareyou.com/

This is proof that if you're searching for melody and art you can find it & If you're seaching for imperfections that's all you'll find.

[rld]

Ha! Casey, I didn't say that I had the placement in GA! (I wish). I said I posted a song as an example of something that could be timeless . . . It wasn't my song that I posted, but thanks for thinking that one of my tunes could've made the grade!

Speaking of writing for artists . . . I don't know of ANY songwriter in the past few years who has had more songs covered than Daniel Johnston. If you don't know who he is, google him.

EDIT: I wouldn't want anyone to miss this just beacuse they're too lazy to google!
http://www.hihowareyou.com/

This is proof that if you're searching for melody and art you can find it & If you're seaching for imperfections that's all you'll find.

Hey Bill,
I've never heard of Mr. Johnson, and after listening to him your remark "This is proof that if you're searching for melody and art you can find it & If you're seaching for imperfections that's all you'll find" is right on point.
I'm curious...when you say, "I don't know of ANY songwriter in the past few years who has had more songs covered than Daniel Johnston."...who is doing his songs?

[greggo]

Ha! Casey, I didn't say that I had the placement in GA! (I wish). I said I posted a song as an example of something that could be timeless . . . It wasn't my song that I posted, but thanks for thinking that one of my tunes could've made the grade!

Speaking of writing for artists . . . I don't know of ANY songwriter in the past few years who has had more songs covered than Daniel Johnston. If you don't know who he is, google him.

EDIT: I wouldn't want anyone to miss this just beacuse they're too lazy to google!
http://www.hihowareyou.com/

This is proof that if you're searching for melody and art you can find it & If you're seaching for imperfections that's all you'll find.

Hey Bill,
I've never heard of Mr. Johnson, and after listening to him your remark "This is proof that if you're searching for melody and art you can find it & If you're seaching for imperfections that's all you'll find" is right on point.
I'm curious...when you say, "I don't know of ANY songwriter in the past few years who has had more songs covered than Daniel Johnston."...who is doing his songs?

The Flaming Lips, Pearl Jam and Tom Waits have all done songs by Daniel Johnston recently. Kurt Cobain had been a big fan as well. The documentary, "The Devil and Daniel Johnston" was pretty great. He almost reminds me a Wesley Willis.

[raymy]

I have a feeling that making music for yourself and your family will bring you way more pleasure in the long run, if not more dough. However, you never know. Sometimes it just takes putting all the thinking aside for a while. Maybe what comes out will be more authentic and might even find a life beyond what you think. Good luck.

[billg1]

Beck , Bright eyes Wilco have covered Daniel Johnston as well.
heres the very cool Bright Eyes version of Devil Town
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3PoP85f ... re=related

and a cover of his "True Love Will Find You In The End" by Wilco.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t59QTEWtTJo

A cover by Sparklehorse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1i8s245jxRE

Nina Persson (The Cardigans)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ABWJ103 ... re=related

sorry for the hijack-

[t4mh]

But that's not a crit of the screeners

A more true statement would be "a crit of the client". Your anger and rage has been directed at the wrong people. The screeners just know what the clients are looking for and send them what fits THEIR criteria. Not your criteria. Your track obviously didn't do that. Write another. Ya know, in some ways I agree with you. Don't pretend that you're alone here. One part of me wants to get really mad when I get a return. I'm thinkin' who the hell do these people think they are to tell me about all sorts of subjective things when I've been playin music all my life. But then, my more rational side kicks in and I think, well somewhere out there is a client who knows very well what he/she WANTS TO HEAR. They know it very well AND they are actually paying money for it. If I can't please the client then what good was I ??? If I can't please ONE client can I reasonably expect to please LOTS OF CLIENTS in the way of paying customers on iTUNES or other sales sites ???

You have to understand, it doesn't matter how well the track was recorded, or by whom, or what great instruments/singers were used, or anything else. If its not what the client wants to hear its a zero for THAT listing. Period. Doesn't mean you can't do something else with your great track if you want to.

HTH
Keith

[53mph]

Keith,
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not angry with anyone here. I’m not flaming taxi as I think they do their jobs well. I'm just resigned to my limitations, and that in itself is a pretty tough thing to swallow right now. I've been with taxi for about 5 years and I know the ropes pretty well, so I've got a pretty hard skin when it comes to the crits...I'm just having a reality check here. I'm not up to the standard of what gets past. I've had my share of forwards over the years, though my forward to return ratio was not what I'd have liked it to be, but I've actually found that over the years my forward ratio has decreased, not increased. I tried to follow advice on production, song writing, rewriting to suggestions, being more selective on what I submitted to etc.. basically I tried to absorb as much as I could from Taxi, but I actually found my forward ratio drop as a result, which either means I wasn’t able to apply what they suggested or that I just don’t have what it takes. So, I’m gonna take a break from taxi and see what I can write when I’m not trying to write for submissions. Perhaps I need to relax and detaxi for a while to find where I want to be. The sound I want is in my head but I’m finding it hard to put it down to track. [shit, that sounds so stupid!]
If I had more ready cash I might follow Casey’s advice and hire in session players/singers, but at this stage in my life I’ve got to cut back on things. [personal reasons]. Thanks for the offer though Casey.

Billg, I too understood your first post in the same way as Casey. I thought, who the f**k is this guy rubbing salt in my wounds. [joke]

I appreciate everyone’s input on this…never thought people would respond.

[michael11]

Keith,
Please don't get me wrong. I'm not angry with anyone here. I’m not flaming taxi as I think they do their jobs well. I'm just resigned to my limitations, and that in itself is a pretty tough thing to swallow right now. I've been with taxi for about 5 years and I know the ropes pretty well, so I've got a pretty hard skin when it comes to the crits...I'm just having a reality check here. I'm not up to the standard of what gets past. I've had my share of forwards over the years, though my forward to return ratio was not what I'd have liked it to be, but I've actually found that over the years my forward ratio has decreased, not increased. I tried to follow advice on production, song writing, rewriting to suggestions, being more selective on what I submitted to etc.. basically I tried to absorb as much as I could from Taxi, but I actually found my forward ratio drop as a result, which either means I wasn’t able to apply what they suggested or that I just don’t have what it takes. So, I’m gonna take a break from taxi and see what I can write when I’m not trying to write for submissions. Perhaps I need to relax and detaxi for a while to find where I want to be. The sound I want is in my head but I’m finding it hard to put it down to track. [shit, that sounds so stupid!]
If I had more ready cash I might follow Casey’s advice and hire in session players/singers, but at this stage in my life I’ve got to cut back on things. [personal reasons]. Thanks for the offer though Casey.

Billg, I too understood your first post in the same way as Casey. I thought, who the f**k is this guy rubbing salt in my wounds. [joke]

I appreciate everyone’s input on this…never thought people would respond.

Hi 53,I.ve arrived at the same decision as you for pretty much the same reasons.

A modest forward ratio, then it decreased to zero,I felt demoralised,I was a member but didn't submit for a year, it was during that period there appeared to be a large proportyion of Y/N listings and so to be turned down with no helpful explanation it became less and less of an incentive to submit, so when my renewal came up,I talked it over with my wife,she was fairly ambivilent but would support my decision either way,I talked it over with my son who is far more ruthless when it comes to spending money and he said,have you had £****** value from your Taxi membership,I said no (though it's my own fault) and he said there's your answer.
What finally tipped the balance for me was during one of Michael's excellent live broadcasts he said Taxi doesn't want dreamers,or words to that effect,and I woke up!

Also,there is a geographical consideration, Apparently,Europe is suffering far more from the recession than the US and the people that govern us are saying things are going to get a whole lot worse,so in effect,batten down the (financial) hatches,the exchange rate now compared to when I first joined Taxi in (2004/5) is awful so that hasn't helped.

There is also a musical difference,when I listen to the work of Matto,Mazz,Dave W (and lots of others on this board) I hear a musical sophistication that I can hardly comprehend let alone try to equal or surpass and so like you,it was reality check time.

Anyway,

Next time I am in Italy or you are in London lets get together and compare notes!

Pun intended.

Michael.