Taxi - is it worth it?
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- SimonF
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Taxi - is it worth it?
Hi all
I've been a member for about 2.5 years and I am starting to question whether Taxi is really worth it. I'm a part-time composer (I have other jobs) but I have about 100 tracks signed with about 10 publishers / library companies - yet I'm not getting much joy through Taxi and I've been kind of alarmed by some of the feedback on 2 recent submissions. Don't get me wrong the feedback has been generally pretty useful - often fair - and I believe the bar is high, but recently I've started to question it. First off I thought that I would publish my stats:
ID - Listener ID
C - Closed (ie rejected) = 107
F - Forwarded = 22
R - Request = 1
(Unfortunately I couldn't get this post to keep my formatting)
ID C F R
19 10 0 0
132 2 1 0
226 3 0 0
276 1 0 0
299 1 0
309 22 2 0
315 2 0 0
325 15 0 0
347 7 1 0
368 2 0 0
374 17 1 1
384 2 0 0
396 1 0 0
401 1 1 0
402 2 0 0
403 4 0 0
406 2 8 0
412 1 0 0
414 1 0
416 10 3 0
419 1 0
421 1 0 0
428 2 2 0
---------------------
Totals 107 22 1
It would be great if Taxi added the Listener ID to the Music request (I've asked) - I can see that some of the listeners like my stuff - and I have a good hit rate with them - others obviously don't. So if I knew there was a particular listener associated with a request I might choose not to submit.
Instrumentals:
C F R Grand Total
29 13 0 42
31% forward rate - 0% requests.
Songs:
C F R Grand Total
78 9 1 88
I have a poor forward rate on songs - 0% success on songs recorded in the 90s, 2000s, but actually a 100% forward success rate on new songs specifically written for a request.
So what has alarmed me recently? I just had feedback on a song that the vocals were pitchy and so rejected. They're not. This same song with the same vocals has already been forwarded 5 times and had a request for it once (my only request!). So that's a worry.
I submitted 3 tracks for a tension cues request. I expected to get 2 out of 3 forwarded. I made sure that they were pretty close to the examples. One followed the exact structure and similar instrumentation. I also noticed that they all had a particular frequency range and pattern - I made sure that my tracks also had the same curves (I used Izotope Insight to constantly compare). All 3 tracks were rejected. One of the criticisms was the frequency range not being the same as the reference tracks... To check I also cut one of my tracks into the trailer replacing the original music (the same film as one of the reference tracks) to check it worked. You can see it here:
https://youtu.be/TKSFldNVnpw
So what do you guys think? Is Taxi worth it?
Simon
I've been a member for about 2.5 years and I am starting to question whether Taxi is really worth it. I'm a part-time composer (I have other jobs) but I have about 100 tracks signed with about 10 publishers / library companies - yet I'm not getting much joy through Taxi and I've been kind of alarmed by some of the feedback on 2 recent submissions. Don't get me wrong the feedback has been generally pretty useful - often fair - and I believe the bar is high, but recently I've started to question it. First off I thought that I would publish my stats:
ID - Listener ID
C - Closed (ie rejected) = 107
F - Forwarded = 22
R - Request = 1
(Unfortunately I couldn't get this post to keep my formatting)
ID C F R
19 10 0 0
132 2 1 0
226 3 0 0
276 1 0 0
299 1 0
309 22 2 0
315 2 0 0
325 15 0 0
347 7 1 0
368 2 0 0
374 17 1 1
384 2 0 0
396 1 0 0
401 1 1 0
402 2 0 0
403 4 0 0
406 2 8 0
412 1 0 0
414 1 0
416 10 3 0
419 1 0
421 1 0 0
428 2 2 0
---------------------
Totals 107 22 1
It would be great if Taxi added the Listener ID to the Music request (I've asked) - I can see that some of the listeners like my stuff - and I have a good hit rate with them - others obviously don't. So if I knew there was a particular listener associated with a request I might choose not to submit.
Instrumentals:
C F R Grand Total
29 13 0 42
31% forward rate - 0% requests.
Songs:
C F R Grand Total
78 9 1 88
I have a poor forward rate on songs - 0% success on songs recorded in the 90s, 2000s, but actually a 100% forward success rate on new songs specifically written for a request.
So what has alarmed me recently? I just had feedback on a song that the vocals were pitchy and so rejected. They're not. This same song with the same vocals has already been forwarded 5 times and had a request for it once (my only request!). So that's a worry.
I submitted 3 tracks for a tension cues request. I expected to get 2 out of 3 forwarded. I made sure that they were pretty close to the examples. One followed the exact structure and similar instrumentation. I also noticed that they all had a particular frequency range and pattern - I made sure that my tracks also had the same curves (I used Izotope Insight to constantly compare). All 3 tracks were rejected. One of the criticisms was the frequency range not being the same as the reference tracks... To check I also cut one of my tracks into the trailer replacing the original music (the same film as one of the reference tracks) to check it worked. You can see it here:
https://youtu.be/TKSFldNVnpw
So what do you guys think? Is Taxi worth it?
Simon
- funsongs
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
From a lurker in The Peanut Gallery - it's not a 'one size fits all'... so, the question doesn't fit everyone, either.
TAXI has been worth it for many. That doesn't mean it will be 'worth it' for everyone.
Seems the best advice given has consistently been: "Use what works best for you."
And then, there's always the cliché disclaimer: "Your mileage may vary."
Good luck with making your choice work for you.
TAXI has been worth it for many. That doesn't mean it will be 'worth it' for everyone.
Seems the best advice given has consistently been: "Use what works best for you."
And then, there's always the cliché disclaimer: "Your mileage may vary."
Good luck with making your choice work for you.
Peter Rahill - aka "funsongs"
NOW, back on YouTube (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
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“The future aint what it use to be.” - Yogi Berra
NOW, back on YouTube (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
https://peterrahill.bandcamp.com/
“The future aint what it use to be.” - Yogi Berra
- cosmicdolphin
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
Good post Simon
I would say :-
1. It's only worth it if you think it's worth it - everyone's journey is unique
2. 31% Forward Rate is good so you're clearly doing something right
3. If you have 10 Publishers do you really need more ? I have 10 as well with 400 tracks signed ..I would say 3 or 4 are worth it...the rest not so much
4. Screener 309...couldn't barely ever get anything past that dude/dudette
5. Pitchy Vocals - Hear them a lot ( trained ears ) from people who swear they aren't - would have to listen to agree/disagree - sometimes they are but it doesn't matter - other times pitch is non negotiable
6. Trailer track - It's a perfectly decent tension underscore but it's nothing like the actual trailer - Doesn't work as a trailer track for me but would be fine in a TV scene
7. Songs are hard..Like really hard. Signed a few , placed none.
8. What are the results form the 100 tracks in the 10 Libs ?
Mark
I would say :-
1. It's only worth it if you think it's worth it - everyone's journey is unique
2. 31% Forward Rate is good so you're clearly doing something right
3. If you have 10 Publishers do you really need more ? I have 10 as well with 400 tracks signed ..I would say 3 or 4 are worth it...the rest not so much
4. Screener 309...couldn't barely ever get anything past that dude/dudette
5. Pitchy Vocals - Hear them a lot ( trained ears ) from people who swear they aren't - would have to listen to agree/disagree - sometimes they are but it doesn't matter - other times pitch is non negotiable
6. Trailer track - It's a perfectly decent tension underscore but it's nothing like the actual trailer - Doesn't work as a trailer track for me but would be fine in a TV scene
7. Songs are hard..Like really hard. Signed a few , placed none.
8. What are the results form the 100 tracks in the 10 Libs ?
Mark
Buy me coffee https://ko-fi.com/cosmicdolphin78382
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
To be fair, the last year or so has been a big anomaly due to the pandemic, and a lot of tv/film crews down, so not a representative period to evaluate. Even if you have had more signed, the libraries might just have been sitting on it. You may have felt better, but with same results. It may still be a while before things get back to normal. Value is subjective, so can't help you there.
Ceo of my own life
- jdstamper
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
Taxi helps me to make better music, to get better deals and better placements.
Taxi is worth it.
Good luck! Jim
Taxi is worth it.
Good luck! Jim
Jim Stamper
Production Music ... from Underscore to Overdrive
https://www.taxi.com/members/jimstamper
Production Music ... from Underscore to Overdrive
https://www.taxi.com/members/jimstamper
- crashgates
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
.
Last edited by crashgates on Wed Apr 28, 2021 9:30 am, edited 1 time in total.
- cosmicdolphin
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- funsongs
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
Yep... and all of that, right AFTER you get done with:
paying your taxes, insurance, fees, dues, housing expenses, utility bills,
the butler, the driver, the maid, the CPA... etc. etc. etc... your bar tab...
you know the drill.
"The Circle of Life"
At least you can look forward to the Road Rally... can't you?
paying your taxes, insurance, fees, dues, housing expenses, utility bills,
the butler, the driver, the maid, the CPA... etc. etc. etc... your bar tab...
you know the drill.
"The Circle of Life"
At least you can look forward to the Road Rally... can't you?
Peter Rahill - aka "funsongs"
NOW, back on YouTube (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
https://peterrahill.bandcamp.com/
“The future aint what it use to be.” - Yogi Berra
NOW, back on YouTube (2022)
https://www.youtube.com/@peterrahill9263/featured
https://soundcloud.com/funsongs-1
https://peterrahill.bandcamp.com/
“The future aint what it use to be.” - Yogi Berra
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
put it in a code block.
SimonF wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 amID - Listener ID C - Closed (ie rejected) = 107 F - Forwarded = 22 R - Request = 1 ID C F R 19 10 0 0 132 2 1 0 226 3 0 0 276 1 0 0 299 1 0 309 22 2 0 315 2 0 0 325 15 0 0 347 7 1 0 368 2 0 0 374 17 1 1 384 2 0 0 396 1 0 0 401 1 1 0 402 2 0 0 403 4 0 0 406 2 8 0 412 1 0 0 414 1 0 416 10 3 0 419 1 0 421 1 0 0 428 2 2 0 --------------------- Totals 107 22 1 Instrumentals: C F R Grand Total 29 13 0 42 31% forward rate - 0% requests. Songs: C F R Grand Total 78 9 1 88
. . . www.superblonde.org "All Kale Seitan! ♭II ‼" -Moshpit Chant of the Vegan Metalhead
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Re: Taxi - is it worth it?
That is not a good track in my opinion. I wonder if you have had formal music theory training?SimonF wrote: ↑Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 amTo check I also cut one of my tracks into the trailer replacing the original music (the same film as one of the reference tracks) to check it worked. You can see it here:
https://youtu.be/TKSFldNVnpw
. . . www.superblonde.org "All Kale Seitan! ♭II ‼" -Moshpit Chant of the Vegan Metalhead
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