Highjacking Songs (Song Rewrites)

[rpezzo51]

Howdy Song Junkies!

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but it's a common practice for staff writers of record and production companies to highjack new song ideas.
Originally, I asked Taxi the question: Do you screen the companies requesting new material and do you know their track record concerning song submissions? They never answered my question nor did they approve my first posting of this topic. I can tell you this from experiance that song highjacking or rewriting is common practice in the music industry as is rewriting book and screenplay ideas because it happened to me. The copyright laws are not as full proof as we all think and they can be munipulated. If Taxi doesn't approve this post or answer this question I definitely will use it to ask for a refund. So whats your take on this my fellow artists? Feel free to vent your thoughts regarding this flagrant act to heist what basically comes from the creative juices within your highly charged imaginations!

What Say You Songsters?

[Casey H]

Howdy Song Junkies!

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but it's a common practice for staff writers of record and production companies to highjack new song ideas.
Originally, I asked Taxi the question: Do you screen the companies requesting new material and do you know their track record concerning song submissions? They never answered my question nor did they approve my first posting of this topic. I can tell you this from experiance that song highjacking or rewriting is common practice in the music industry as is rewriting book and screenplay ideas because it happened to me. The copyright laws are not as full proof as we all think and they can be munipulated. If Taxi doesn't approve this post or answer this question I definitely will use it to ask for a refund. So whats your take on this my fellow artists? Feel free to vent your thoughts regarding this flagrant act to heist what basically comes from the creative juices within your highly charged imaginations!

What Say You Songsters?

Taxi doesn’t routinely answer questions on the forum. If you have a question like this, you should call them at 1-800-458-2111. Someone will cheerfully discuss your concerns with you.

My understanding based on my own experience and talking with successful Taxi members who have been doing this very a long time, is that stealing our songs is extremely rare, virtually unheard of. If you are THAT paranoid about it, you may as well quit making music now because you’ll never send a song to ANYONE, whether through Taxi or directly to industry folks.

Casey

[allends]

I notice that you're a new forum member. Welcome!

I'm sorry to read that you've been ripped off in the past. I'll second what Casey has said, that this issue hasn't come up in all my years as a Taxi member because it's really a non-issue. Personally, I focus my attention on writing for music libraries, and in that world, there is no incentive to steal ideas: they just want to stock the shelves with your awesome music! You are awesome, aren't you? We would all like to get to know you better. Honest!

You didn't ask for advice, so I sincerely apologize for offering it, but I can't help saying that it's probably not wise to ask for a refund based on Taxi's lack of interest in this one single insignificant subject. I don't know how you worded your earlier comment, but maybe it could have been perceived as insulting. It's possible.... that's all I'm sayin'. It's possible.

Anyway, stick around and have some fun with us. There are some amazingly smart and talented artists here!

Cheers,
Allen

[NYWest]

Howdy Song Junkies!

I'm not sure if you're aware of it or not, but it's a common practice for staff writers of record and production companies to highjack new song ideas.
Originally, I asked Taxi the question: Do you screen the companies requesting new material and do you know their track record concerning song submissions? They never answered my question nor did they approve my first posting of this topic. I can tell you this from experiance that song highjacking or rewriting is common practice in the music industry as is rewriting book and screenplay ideas because it happened to me. The copyright laws are not as full proof as we all think and they can be munipulated. If Taxi doesn't approve this post or answer this question I definitely will use it to ask for a refund. So whats your take on this my fellow artists? Feel free to vent your thoughts regarding this flagrant act to heist what basically comes from the creative juices within your highly charged imaginations!

What Say You Songsters?

Taxi doesn’t routinely answer questions on the forum. If you have a question like this, you should call them at 1-800-458-2111. Someone will cheerfully discuss your concerns with you.

My understanding based on my own experience and talking with successful Taxi members who have been doing this very a long time, is that stealing our songs is extremely rare, virtually unheard of. If you are THAT paranoid about it, you may as well quit making music now because you’ll never send a song to ANYONE, whether through Taxi or directly to industry folks.

Casey

*Said with a smile*

Interestingly enough...
Every Lyric Casey posts in 'Peer to Peer' starts like this

Tomorrow's Kiss (c) CPH ... Do Not Steal!
What If I Told You How I Feel? (c) C.P. Hurowitz... Do Not Steal
A LONG, LONG DAY (c) CPH ...Do Not Steal
A Hart Act To Follow © 2011 CPH (Do Not Steal)

...And on and on and on...Wha?? Paranoid? Nah!!

All the Best...
Billy

[Casey H]

@Billy

Yea, I always figured writing "Do Not Steal" is the foolproof way to prevent any manipulation of copyright laws! I have the same thing on a sign on my car window. I'm sure it wards off car thieves! They are terrified of a "Do Not Steal" sign!!

Casey

[allends]

Every Lyric Casey posts in 'Peer to Peer' starts like this

Tomorrow's Kiss (c) CPH ... Do Not Steal!

As truly hilariously ironic as this is, I'll jump back in to mention that the original poster wasn't really talking about the risks of collaborating in an open forum like this one. He was asking for feedback about whether our submissions are at risk on the client end and he got a good answer from Casey.

It's worth mentioning that many of us do collaborate freely here - despite the obvious risks to our ideas - because our music gets so very much better after getting feedback that the chances of getting placements is much-much-much greater after opening up and asking for advice. Even Casey-The-Fearful takes this risk!

-Allen

[Casey H]

"For avoidance of doubt", as laywers love to say, my "Do Not Steal" note next to my lyrics is humor about fear of someone stealing lyrics from someone else. If I was concerned, I wouldn't post the lyrics!! Just in case someone doesn't 'get' it, I thought I'd mention that. Does anyone seriously think that "Do Not Steal" offers protection (or that *I* think that)??

I've made thousands of pitches to Taxi listings, direct to music libraries & publishers, industry pros, etc. in my career. I've also collaborated with many other songwriters. Never have I had any experiences which would make me worry about my music or lyrics getting stolen.

This post is (c) 2012 TAXI (All Rights Reserved) and protected by applicabale copyright laws.

Casey

[rpezzo51]

Thanks Fellers!

I appreciate the imput. I see there are some good people on this site and I thoroughly didn't mean to challange the integrity of Taxi. I was a little ticked because it took awhile to get an answer on my first post. "That's why I Sort Of Raised Cain!" I did get ripped off on a screenplay idea that took them two years to rewrite because they knew if it even closely resembled my copyrighted material I would of sued them for a big chunk of change. There's no integrity in the songwriting buisness that's for sure because I personally withnessed two songs being nabbed by a ceo at Tree Records concerning the Ifal Tower and a song written by an artist from Tucson, titled "I love My Truck", when I was in Nashville in the 80's. This clearly opened my eyes concerning pitching uncopyrighted song ideas to industry execs. I don't know what kind of deals are being made on this site because like others, I'm in the dark as to what music outfit I'm dealing with and all contracts are negociable. Yet, Taxi should be more forthcoming with the company names. It helps us do research into their business practices and gives us insight as to what artists recorded their songs. I did research on the man who started this site or I wouldn't be here. Anyway, good luck to you all, and for now, like yourselves, I'll have to wait and see.

[rnrmachine]

Thanks Fellers!

I appreciate the imput. I see there are some good people on this site and I thoroughly didn't mean to challange the integrity of Taxi. I was a little ticked because it took awhile to get an answer on my first post. "That's why I Sort Of Raised Cain!" I did get ripped off on a screenplay idea that took them two years to rewrite because they knew if it even closely resembled my copyrighted material I would of sued them for a big chunk of change. There's no integrity in the songwriting buisness that's for sure because I personally withnessed two songs being nabbed by a ceo at Tree Records concerning the Ifal Tower and a song written by an artist from Tucson, titled "I love My Truck", when I was in Nashville in the 80's. This clearly opened my eyes concerning pitching uncopyrighted song ideas to industry execs. I don't know what kind of deals are being made on this site because like others, I'm in the dark as to what music outfit I'm dealing with and all contracts are negociable. Yet, Taxi should be more forthcoming with the company names. It helps us do research into their business practices and gives us insight as to what artists recorded their songs. I did research on the man who started this site or I wouldn't be here. Anyway, good luck to you all, and for now, like yourselves, I'll have to wait and see.

Taxi can't be more forthcoming... then every a++hole would contact said company and ruin it for the rest of us. I understand your fears and I COMPLETELY relate. IF you read some of my old posts you will see. I joined Taxi highly skeptical.. not so much because the membership fee is too high, but because I don't like being made a fool!! I'll be skeptical for 10 cents if there's a chance I'll look a fool... lol

I do agree with you that people steal music, steal ideas, steal screenplays, etc... there are greedy jerks out there and have no morals. Anyway they can make a buck and they are there. IF stealing the bread you're about to put into your child's mouth feeds them, then so be it.

I refuse to contribute to this, HOWEVER, I have no problem with being "inspired by" because MOST of the time you can easily see what they were inspired by.

YOU MUST BE WARY of going to certain places... NO different then walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night in a big city... you're asking for trouble if you do that. IF a company accepts unsolicited material.. be VERY WARY!!! There is a reason they let everyone submit to them. They wanna rip you off.. AND they will be sure there is no record that they "received" anything from you. Through Taxi, you have a record!!!

I believe that Micheal does everything he can to keep Taxi's reputation intact. Including screening companies prior to listing them... he even asks us what we think of certain deals before he'll even list them...

Don't take my word completely for it either. Spend sometime on the forum, read old posts, you'll see.

Nothing is perfect, everything has it's good and bad, but imho, Micheal tries to supply us with the best he can. And he'd like it to be bigger... you can only do that by building a good rep in this business. While other submittable companies fall by the wayside, Taxi keeps on chugging away.

[rpezzo51]

Hallelujah rnrmachine!

That's a pretty explination and I dearly appreciate the imput you just gave me. I did recieve a hostile e-mail I believe from Craig, but he didn't get where I was coming from and I appoligize to him for being parinoid as he put it. I'm sorry for being an insecure artist, but thats how we are because it adds to our creativity. I probably put the scootch to myself now and I could be fluffed off for being a trouble maker, but I'll hang in there and pray someone will except some of my songs. I've been writing since I was sixteen and I can assure Taxi or anyone interested I can write a hit song. In fact, if you listen to the songs posted on my home page, you'll notice I don't write any one song the same, which allows me more of a field to market my music. I don't know what you mean by libraries, but apparently-like you said-they shelve the material until its time to pitch the song to the right artist that matches their style of music. They were doing that at Acuff and Rose (Now Sony Corp) when I was in Nashville. Not knowing anything about Taxi and it's business practices, which by the way resemble a scam, I had to test the waters. Then again, I don't want Taxi to get upset with my terminology, because they're not really a con game or they wouldn't be rated by the BBB. So don't get your dander up Craig, I'm truely a good egg that sometimes gets stupid, but I feel some of my concerns are legit and rnrmachine pretty well addressed them.

Good Luck My Brothers In Song!