Today's Taxi TV, & Dangerous Gender Topics

[Casey H]

I assume (maybe I shouldn't) that a lot of people picked up on a couple of major themes on today's broadcast. I got two: 1)you had better be writing for a female audience, or you are toast. 2) listeners respond differently to songs, depending on the time of day they hear them. There were a few other themes, but those two stuck out for me. Though I'm not currently pitching songs to TAXI (a situation that will change), why not have the TAXI screeners identify their gender, and the time of day they listened to a member's song? Is it possible that your forward depends on the gender of the listener, and the time of day he/she listened to your tune? It's an interesting question. I'll add that I got returns, no matter what the time of day it was. Usually darkest midnight. Ott

I think the point Ralph Murphy made is totally missed if one thinks that the gender of the screener and time of day of screening is relevant. Too much focus here on trying to "fix" Taxi screening and not on writing better songs for an intended market.

What he's saying is write a song that a young female, driving to work at 7AM would want to hear in the car. A well-trained, male or female screener at any time of day can judge that. Duh! Last time I checked, Ralph Murphy was male. It's not a matter of who screens or when your song is reviewed. But it matters, for example, if a young female might feel like the male singer is saying all the words she'd like to hear.

Ever hear the song, “Hey There Delilah” by Plain White T’s? What woman wouldn’t want that sung to her?

Casey

[ottlukk]

Casey: I wasn't trying to "fix" TAXI screeners. I think it's fairly obvious that people's reaction to a tune, especially the first time they hear it, can be colored by all sorts of things, but especially what's happened to them recently., say within the last 24 hours? Had a fight with your boyfriend/girlfriend? How much you going to enjoy screening love songs? Also, I don't like "Hey There Delilah". As a matter of fact, I hate it. But, it's on the charts, and I'm not. On rare occasions, the stars align in your favor. We're all here, looking to line up our stars. Ott

[mojobone]

Ralph Murphy has a frame of reference; he's talking about writing hit songs for the country radio market. In terms of record sales, there basically isn't any other country market, because radio still drives sales in the mainstream/contemporary country genre. He knows his demographic intimately; the ideal country radio listener is thirtyish, female and employed. (where else would she be driving at nine AM?) This is why the biggest country stars are all male.

As to why you should ask, "What's in it for the woman?", That's easy; the man doesn't care, he'll punch the number of a song he thinks a girl will like into that jukebox, if he wants someone to dance with, cuz it isn't always Ladies Night, but it's always ladies' choice.

[ottlukk]

Jesse: Not that it's relevent to this topic, but I went and listened to a few of your tracks. Was impessed, you should post some up on peer to peer, and make some new friends! And welcome to the forums! Ott

[Hookjaw Brown]

Here is a love song that I just saw on YouTube. All the specs are met, just the object of desire is different...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTY-eVZL ... e=youtu.be

[shoodBworkin]

Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, Sugarland, before that Faith Hill, Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter, Jo Dee Messina, Reba, The Judds, Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless, Lorrie Morgan, before that Jeannie C. Riley, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, Lynn Anderson, Patsy Cline, Kitty Wells . . . the biggest country stars aren't all male.

[Hookjaw Brown]

Except for Dolly Parton and Taylor Swift, I think most of the female country stars used the boys on 13th avenue to write the songs. Ms Parton is a top notch writer and Ms Swift is coming into her own.

[Hookjaw Brown]

One way to think of POV from a woman think about the lyrics:

"Hello, are you free tonight
I like your looks, I love your smile
Could I use you for a while"

"Tell me sexy loving lies"

Were these written by a man or a woman?

[shoodBworkin]

Even if most of the female country stars did use the boys on 13th avenue to write the songs the statement "the biggest country stars are all male" is still nonsense.

. . . Martina MacBride, Lady Antebellum, The Band Perry, Eden's Edge, Little Big Town, SheDaisy, The Dixie Chicks, K.T. Oslin, Holly Dunn, The Mandrell Sisters, Tanya Tucker, Bobbie Gentry . . .

[Casey H]

First, disclaimer... I'm not at all into country music.

Just wanted to say this... It would seem to me that whether a song is performed by a male or female, the concept of making it appeal to the most important demographic-- young females during morning drive time, is still very valid.

My assumption would be if it were a male singing, the female listener would be most likely to not change the station if she heard the male saying things she would want to hear. If it were a female singing, she would want to identify with the singer and what she is singing.

Whether songs are WRITTEN by males or females doesn't really matter. But the ones that have a greater chance of being Billboard charters, tend to be ones that women want to hear.

To say that any rule is cast in concrete would be silly. One can always name lots of exceptions. But as unknown writers, it's always best to tilt your odds in every way possible.

JMHO and again I don't listen to country music so grain of salt.

Casey