What do you think on this return?

[Casey H]

I was surprised by this return and the reason. What do you guys think? I realize this was a very high bar listing.

The listing:

Several FEEL-GOOD, RETRO-Style POP SONGS with Male or Female vocals are needed by a Film/TV Music Publisher for an (up to) $30,000 placement in an upcoming movie to be released on a Major Streaming Platform!

This Publisher is looking for some feel-good Songs In the general stylistic wheelhouse of the following references they sent us:

"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra https://youtu.be/aQUlA8Hcv4s?si=S0EqJGOBpil0TiG2

"Happy Together" by The Turtles https://youtu.be/9ZEURntrQOg?si=k0ZGf7eLh0eD9xPp

"Golden Brown" by The Stranglers https://youtu.be/Qca9ByvLhBA?si=ndZ0Z1wtNufq5UjJ

Quoting the Publisher: "I need a couple of retro feel-good Pop songs. Songs need to be emotionally upbeat, nothing dark or sad will work. Submissions must have a retro sound (whether it was produced in the 70s or today). The budget quoted is for a single use, however, this song may be used more than once, including as an End Title so there could be additional sync income."

NOTE: You can submit recently recorded/produced Songs with a retro sound in the general style of the reference, OR if you have high-quality vintage recordings (recorded back in the day), they would love to hear those as well!

Please submit well-crafted Pop songs with a retro sound (think '70s, give or take) and a feel-good vibe! Your submissions should have throwback motifs, solid arrangements, memorable choruses, uplifting melodies, and well-crafted lyrics. Instrumentation in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the reference Songs will work best for this opportunity. Please make sure any virtual instruments or samples you use are high-quality and era-appropriate. Well-performed vocals that capture the style and sound of the era are what this Publisher is looking for!

Avoiding references to specific names, dates, times, places, brands, and profanity could make your Songs easier to place. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed. Era-appropriate Broadcast Quality is needed for vintage submissions.

The estimated license fee for this placement is up to $30,000, depending on the ultimate use. This Publisher offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE, 50/50 deal. You’ll split any applicable sync fees 50/50. You’ll keep 100% of the Master rights and the Writer’s share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher's Share for any placements they generate. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit for this opportunity. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by a TAXI screener that was handpicked by the Music Publisher. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Sunday, July 7th, 2024. TAXI # S240707FG

The song: https://s.disco.ac/cmwhkjslkxmp (A 60s style, upbeat song)

The feedback:
https://www.taxi.com/members/NgzgvadjQC ... A_ZMU8sQ9w

Thanks!
Casey

[funsongs]

Tough one... since the screener wasn't GRABBED by the MOOD (off-target for this listing)...
seems the instrumentation, tempo, and vibe were - but, apparently, the HOOK is/was lacking...
"It's the emotion, Mate.."
(stealing Michael's Barry Gibb quote from yesterday's TAXI TV) - and I think I agree.

Your mileage may vary.

[eeoo]

I think it checks most the boxes. It didn't sound like 60s pop/rock until the vocals come in, to my ear. You know how supes are, trigger finger after a few nano seconds and all. Also, and grain of salt, I'm listening on laptop speakers atm, I didn't hear any bass and the drums were really hot. I know you didn't ask for mix comments but mix is pretty tied to vibe. My 2c.

*Ok, just checked with cans, bass is there, sounds pretty good overall. I feel like it shoulda been a forward, who knows...?

[funsongs]

I think it checks most the boxes. It didn't sound like 60s pop/rock until the vocals come in, to my ear. You know how supes are, trigger finger after a few nano seconds and all. Also, and grain of salt, I'm listening on laptop speakers atm, I didn't hear any bass and the drums were really hot. I know you didn't ask for mix comments but mix is pretty tied to vibe. My 2c.

*Ok, just checked with cans, bass is there, sounds pretty good overall. I feel like it shoulda been a forward, who knows...?

Interesting comments, Ethan - listening on my JBL 305s (as I commented to Casey) the mix sounded a bit 'tinny' and 'thin'.
Perhaps an intentional thing to sound era-authentic... but, for these old-guy ears, missed the mark.
That stated - QUESTION: would a more robust mix have solved the emotion or mood issue? Probably not to the screener's satisfaction.
Good A&R discussion to have, IMHO.

Cheers.

[AlanHall]

Casey,
The screener says "The mood and vibe were right but..." and then the 'Mood off target' box is checked. I'm thinking they ticked the wrong box.
My only critique is that the ref tracks and the listing are asking for a 70s retro sound, and your track to my ears is solidly 60s 'mod' rock. Yet that's not the screeners complaint, so who knows? I hear early The Who in your song. Sounds great, by the way!

Maybe with the 'outside the box' comment the screener was asking for a more adventurous, 70s psychedelia rather than the 60s mod/psychedelia that you gave them?
Alan

[Casey H]

One of the things I love about Taxi is they cheerfully respond to emails and calls, especially when you conduct yourself politely as a professional. That has been my experience for over 15 years. I dropped a note to head screener and they replied that in this case, the screener was the client for the listing. Hard to debate with that!

So, it's all good. The client heard it, didn't think it was a fit. Write, submit, forget, repeat!

Best,
Casey

[BradleyHagen]

I dig it!! I think Alan mentioned early The Who, I definitely hear some of that, and I also hear some 60's Turtles as well, which is one of the reference tracks. The song structure and vibe is VERY 60's British Invasion, and I like it! The production sounds like a reasonable attempt at retro, and I am assuming that is what they wanted? I don't know...the ELO tune is vastly different from the Turtles, and the other one, so it is a confusing brief to say the least, but then again, I am always confused by most of these briefs!
I would say forward if it were a TAXI screener.....I am going to be curious to see what was accepted - I guess we will know soon....In fact, I am going to go and look at the blog right now! Great work man!

[cosmicdolphin]

I was surprised by this return and the reason. What do you guys think? I realize this was a very high bar listing.

Before I read the screener feedback and any other comments......

I am very familar with 2 of the Ref tracks, my Dad is a fan of ELO and he's always putting Mr Blue Sky on his HiFI when I go round, I even had to take him to see a very good tribute band last year and this was the song that closed the set. I was at school with a huge stranglers fan so Golden Brown is a well known song too.

So with that in mind I listend to your song.......afraid to say it's totally wide of the brief IMHO! I think you went too 60s

Overall it isn't uplifting enough for me either. It's got slight downer vibe. I'll go and read the screener comments but I could have saved you $5

Mark

[Casey H]

It's all good. Sometimes it just doesn't fit and like I mentioned, the screener was the client. The good news then is the client actually heard it and you can't ask for more than that from Taxi!

I wouldn't have submitted if "Happy Together", a 60s hit, wasn't listed-- I would have had the same concern that they weren't looking for 60s. I don't think it has any downer vibe but it's apparently not upbeat enough for this one. Moving on...

Thanks for the feedback. Much appreciated.

W S F R
Casey

[WSAO]

Cool track, Casey.
Alan's comment, along with the others, covered everything.
I had no idea that the client could also be the screener—that's interesting.