A true story

[musicliner]

I got a phone call from a guy on Friday, saying that he really liked one of my tracks forwarded to him via TAXI. His pitch was that he teamed up with LA-based library to be an aggregator for a Muzak-type of provider, and is looking for a particular niche World music in several styles (e.g. Japanese Pop, Greek Folk, etc); He also claimed having a large client asking for exclusive use. He urged me to start uploading my masters immediately, and contracts would follow, as his "lawyer is working on it". I just needed, according to him, to specify which songs are for exclusive and which are for non-exclusive use.

I asked for more details regarding the contracts and pay structure, and he said he would send me the info, along with the upload instructions.

Half an hour later, I receive email from him. The instructions for uploading of the songs are very precise. Details on the deal, though, were very generic and without any details.

I replied:

"... I've read the email with great interest, and I would like to learn a bit more before I start uploading the tracks.
Understanding the options will help me make decision on exclusive vs. non-exclusive use.
...

If you could send me draft contracts for both exclusive & non-exclusive use, that would be great.
I'm positive we will find a mutually workable solution very soon...."

As soon as I sent this email, within minutes I've received a one-line reply:

"I'm going to take a pass."


??? I don't know what to think about this one. Did this TAXI customer think I would hand over my masters without even seeing a contract? I'm puzzled....

[michael11]

Maybe he was kosher and you just looked a gift horse, or maybe it was fake,difficult to tell.

ML has said if people get too picky the library will move on to the next writer,of which their are zillions!


Be interesting to see the follow ups.

[mazz]

Have you alerted TAXI to this? IMO, I think the prudent thing would have been to start there rather than put it out here on a public forum at first, particularly when quoting an e-mail from the contact, even anonymously.

I understand your concern and need to inform/warn other members, but I think in the future it might be better from a business standpoint to take it to TAXI first and let them address it before posting it out in public like this.

Good luck with this!

Mazz

[musicliner]

Have you alerted TAXI to this? IMO, I think the prudent thing would have been to start there rather than put it out here on a public forum at first, particularly when quoting an e-mail from the contact, even anonymously.

I understand your concern and need to inform/warn other members, but I think in the future it might be better from a business standpoint to take it to TAXI first and let them address it before posting it out in public like this.

Good luck with this!

Mazz

Good point, Mazz. I have contacted TAXI as well.

[Casey H]

I do know this Taxi customer and this is a VERY legit opportunity with someone who has successfully placed tracks for other Taxi members.

??? I don't know what to think about this one. Did this TAXI customer think I would hand over my masters without even seeing a contract? I'm puzzled....

He didn't ask you to HAND OVER his masters, just to upload them for consideration. The word "submit" means just that, a submission of music for consideration.

If you had concerns as to whether this communication came from a reputable source, you probably should have contacted Taxi.

Sometimes, someone can give off vibes that they'd be a pain in the butt to work with. That seems to be what happened here, even if inadvertantly.

Casey

[musicliner]

Sometimes, someone can give off vibes that they'd be a pain in the butt to work with. That seems to be what happened here, even if inadvertantly.

I hear you Casey, and I thought about that while responding. This is a buyers market, and we need to act accordingly, that's given. Yet I just couldn't figure out how to classify material (exclusive vs. non-exclusive) without knowing what that means to me. I've seen enough oexclusive contracts to know that they can vary widely.

For confidentiality, I won't post details of upload requirements, but to me, it was far too elaborate (naming convention, hi-res wav/aiff) for a consideration. Perhaps different people have different habits, but in my experience so far, good quality MP3 or samples off my website (neatly organized by genres) were always sufficient for potential customers to make their decision...

With years of management experience and a masters degree in International Business, I like to believe I know how to draw the line between minimum level of information needed to conduct a business and being "a pain in the butt to work with".

"No business like the show business", though

[hummingbird]

THis is a general comment meant to be educational for anyone reading. Be prepared to deal with each individual library/publisher according to their needs. Different clients will require different things. Some will listen to your web site and tell you to submit audio CD. Others require aiffs or wavs on Data DVD. Some will give you specs to upload via FTP to their site. I have dealt with as many different kinds of specifications as I have deals. In some cases I do the work to submit the music according to their needs and in return I receive a contract in the mail. In other cases I upload the tracks and receive a contract in the mail. In other cases I submit the CD and a signed contract together. Whatever they require. I find the business of doing the paperwork and preparing the files to be time consuming, but it is important - extremely important - to be accurate, thorough and follow directions; as well as get things done and in on time. You don't have to do this or accept this, of course. They will move on to the next composer in that case.

[composer27]

Ok so as the poser of this thread all ready knows I got the SAME exact email on the same day... and let me say in no way am I accusing any client of Taxi of anything... BUT the bottom line question is for those on this board, or anyone from TAXI...

Is it "normal" to hand over your full Quality WAV files to someone you have not even spoken to without any type of protection, even a half page NDA in writing?

This client seemed annoyed at even asking these questions, which as you can imagine would lead anyone to think twice...

Again, I am not saying different styles and attitudes don't exist, but can you help a newbie to TAXI and the TAXI world out and tell me would you/have you handed over Full qualit WAV files without anything in writing?

Regards,
Bon

[guscave]

Hi Bon,
It's not uncommon to send hi quality WAV to a potential library. Even in this age of FTP uploads and free sites like MySpace and Reverbnation, many libraries still prefer to work the old fashion way and listen to CD's to review weather or not they'll proceed with an agreement.

[Casey H]

Ok so as the poser of this thread all ready knows I got the SAME exact email on the same day... and let me say in no way am I accusing any client of Taxi of anything... BUT the bottom line question is for those on this board, or anyone from TAXI...

Is it "normal" to hand over your full Quality WAV files to someone you have not even spoken to without any type of protection, even a half page NDA in writing?

This client seemed annoyed at even asking these questions, which as you can imagine would lead anyone to think twice...

Again, I am not saying different styles and attitudes don't exist, but can you help a newbie to TAXI and the TAXI world out and tell me would you/have you handed over Full qualit WAV files without anything in writing?

Regards,
Bon

Regardless of any other aspects of what happened here, it IS common for libraries to have people upload full quality wav files for submissions with contract to follow if there is interest. A number of libraries I've encountered use upload of .wav to an FTP site as part of the submission process.

The phrase "HAND OVER" bothers me here. It implies suspicion that the other party is out there to steal someone's music. Honestly, if you are worried that folks are out to steal your music you may as well give up this business. It's very rare that anyone, especially reputable music libraries and publishers, steal music. You will always be submitting your music for folks to consider in one form or another. What about CD submissions? They are usually full quality tracks too. There was a time when all submissions were done by mailing CDs... a great many still are.

Casey