Disappointed, But A High Bar Listing?

[ChipD]

I was disappointed that my song "Touch Me In My Dreams" (on my Taxi page) was returned for Y130205PO:

GRAMMY-WINNING RECORD PRODUCER needs CONTEMPORARY POP SONGS for a FEMALE artist looking to record a HIT. They're looking for songs in the range of "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" by P!nk, "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield, etc. Submit well-written MID-to-UPTEMPO songs with a current, radio-friendly sound. If your song is chosen, it will be re-recorded but you'll need to send us a demo with strong vocal and instrumental performances to get their attention. FEMALE vocals ONLY. Instrumentals are not needed at this time. Songs will be screened by a TAXI screener hand-picked by this Producer. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - by a TAXI screener handpicked by the producer and must be received no later than Tuesday, February 5, 2013. TAXI #Y130205PO

The reason given was "This is a good song but to work for this producer both the hook and melody would need strengthening."

I read you guys posting about listings being "high bar."

Should I assume that a "Grammy-Winning Record Producer" listing is high bar?

How many forwards do you guys actually think make it through to listings like this?

And how does that number compare to "low bar (?)" listings?

Any thoughts on the song are also welcome!!! Can this song make it as a cut for an artist if the producer isn't a Grammy winner?

[simonparker]

I was disappointed that my song "Touch Me In My Dreams" (on my Taxi page) was returned for Y130205PO:

GRAMMY-WINNING RECORD PRODUCER needs CONTEMPORARY POP SONGS for a FEMALE artist looking to record a HIT. They're looking for songs in the range of "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, "Blow Me (One Last Kiss)" by P!nk, "Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield, etc. Submit well-written MID-to-UPTEMPO songs with a current, radio-friendly sound. If your song is chosen, it will be re-recorded but you'll need to send us a demo with strong vocal and instrumental performances to get their attention. FEMALE vocals ONLY. Instrumentals are not needed at this time. Songs will be screened by a TAXI screener hand-picked by this Producer. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - by a TAXI screener handpicked by the producer and must be received no later than Tuesday, February 5, 2013. TAXI #Y130205PO

The reason given was "This is a good song but to work for this producer both the hook and melody would need strengthening."

I read you guys posting about listings being "high bar."

Should I assume that a "Grammy-Winning Record Producer" listing is high bar?

How many forwards do you guys actually think make it through to listings like this?

And how does that number compare to "low bar (?)" listings?

Any thoughts on the song are also welcome!!! Can this song make it as a cut for an artist if the producer isn't a Grammy winner?

Yes, a Grammy Award winning producer is considered a "high bar" listing. The number of forwards depends on the quality of the song and if it's on target for the listing. A great country song that might be a "hit" probably won't get forwarded to a pop/dance listing. As for a "low-bar listing, I'm not sure there really is such a thing. All songs that generate revenue in the music industry must meet a certain standard in order to be successful. Therefore, a listing that isn't quite as specific and demanding as a marketable song for a pop artist via a Grammy Winning producer might have more flexible criteria - i.e. lyrics don't have to be perfect, instrumentation can be unique, dated sound is ok, etc.

However, I do believe that you have to have some proficiency in your music and lyric writing in order to get any kind of forward to listings that Taxi provides.

[CHuckmott]

When I asked upon joining, in general roughly 8% of submissions are forwards. CAn't speak for the Grammy producer type listings. HAven't listened to your track and only speaking in my case, but that doesn't necessarily mean that 1 out of 10 of your tracks will be forwards.