Is Taxi Geared for Original Sounding Music?

[wta]

I've spent the last 20 years of playing music trying to be genre specific but at the same time creating an original vibe, feel and even writing style to a certain degree trying to break the molds and intentionally staying out of the box but the more I'm studying the commercial side of the music biz, that way of writing "may" only be good for singer/songwriters who have no intention of having a taxi style commercial success. Looking back over the years at all the tunes I've worked on they really wouldn’t find a place on most of what I'm reading for listing ops BUT there is a gold mine of ops for writers who know traditional commercial song writing or catalog style productions/works! I think the tubes in me amp are finally really starting to warm up with what the heart of taxi really is. It's been tricky because my brain has been wired for one way for so long that now that the rest of me brain is turning on now even what I thought was commercial writing when I joined Taxi has gone through a complete overhaul. I am excited to say that my last week of studio time has been very fresh with the new things I've learned from the threads here, the u-tube videos and from Michael Laskow as well. There is a man who’s got his finger on the pulse of the commercial market and how the taxi model can fulfill a big need for not only artists but a lot of music supervisors and A&R reps from labels and beyond. Funny how much my perception of Taxi has changed over the six months of being on board. I used to be a Tonos guys but this really is a well that I have yet to find the bottom of...

[geo]

Yes... if that's what the client wants..... How you doing... I'm Geo... been following a couple of youe threads ang thought I'd give my 0.02...I am not too different from you.... I posted threads similar to some of yours when I first started here... no harm in that... Here's how my view has evolved.... Taxi is what it is.... it fills a need within the industry.... and it's standards and listings are industry driven.... Taxi doesn't reject our songs... the client does... Taxi acts as an extension of the client operating under the clients specifications.... I'm glad to read your taking some of the stuff you've learned here into the studio with you.... you can do original music.... but it has to be great.... BIG HOOKS.. arrangement .... chops... all gotta be there so learn the lessons and move forward my friend...Peace, Geo

[davewalton]

The answer is always "Depends on the listing". For example, this listing...COMPLETELY UNIQUE PUNK-ROCK/POP-PUNK/DANCE-PUNK ARTISTS in the range of Social Distortion, Bikini Kill, The Offspring, Bad Religion, Le Tigre, LCD Soundsystem, Blink-182, The Go! Team, etc. are sought after by a really well-respected and successful Independent Record Label. This label specializes in new, fresh artists who have a completely unique approach and sound/style. In this case, the answer is "YES!" but it doesn't have anything to do with Taxi, it's what the listing company is asking for. Now take a look at this listing...ORIGINAL "OLD SCHOOL" SOUL/R&B SONGS a la Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Gladys Knight, etc. are needed by an established Music Publisher in Los Angeles. This company specializes in Film/TV and has signed & secured placements for many TAXI members. Male or female vocals are just fine for this one, but remember - no profanity or uncleared samples. These songs should be original, but with a close "soundalike" quality to the songs and style of the referenced artists. It's says "Original" but that means essentially "No cover songs". It goes on to say that "These songs should be original, but with a close "soundalike" quality to the songs and style of the referenced artists". So if you misinterpret "original" and do something that sounds nothing like the referenced artists, you'll get a return.So depending on what you're wanting to do, it's a matter of scanning the listings for a period of time and then determining, on average, how many opportunities present themselves for what you're wanting to do. I wound up doing more things that I had originally thought I'd do so it's been a way for me to expand my musical horizons as well as getting "deals".HTH,Dave

[ggalen]

Good explanation, Dave.In the second case listed, the buyer wants a tune that gives the listener the EXACT, SAME emotional feeling as the original, if possible.That means the "sound" should appear as if Aretha cut another track, didn't release it, and it has now been "found".Does that seem about right?

[billg]

Well, remember that Taxi is a tool associated with the business side of music and not really the creative side. The business side always demands the "unique but familiar". So if you are so totally creative and original that you can't really think of anybody that you sound like, well then Taxi probably isn't for you.

[mewman]

I'm sorry, billg, but I have to respectfully disagree. One listen to some of Vicky the Bass players music is proof that some really creative "non commercial" stuff has a place in this system as well. In fact, i've heard quite a few things that I would consider non commercial and creative posted in the Peer To Peer and Forwards section. Maybe there aren't as many opportunities as for, say, the country or AC listings for the "Creative" types, but there are still lots of listings for a wide variety of styles that are about "feel" ( Love, Drama, Tension, Car Chases, Impending Disaster, etc).Hey wta, don't give up! I think if you dig deep enough you'll find your place, one way or another. I mean, twenty years is not a drop in the bucket. You have real staying power if you can keep it up for that long......Uuuuh, no pun intended!Mewman

[davewalton]

Oct 10, 2008, 10:23am, mewman wrote:I'm sorry, billg, but I have to respectfully disagree. One listen to some of Vicky the Bass players music is proof that some really creative "non commercial" stuff has a place in this system as well. I'll just agree with you instead of disagreeing with Bill... staying on his good side for future co-writes. I haven't looked to see how many listings are similar to that Punk listing. I know that I seem to see, on a regular basis, artist/band listings looking for something new, something unique. I know that Taxi doesn't turn those away so I'd say that Taxi is whatever the listings happen to be at the time. The "unique" listings probably ebb and flow like everything else.

[billg]

hey, maybe I'm wrong. Won't be the first time . . . or the last time.

[wta]

I was wrong once but I was mistaken... It must be dreadful being wrong.

[matthoggard]

I was that guy too Dubya-Tee-Ayy. Ive got two albums of original cuts that may or may not be marketable. My old band way back in the 90's had some pretty serious interest from Arista records at the time. (remember them?)A guy listened and loved our stuff. Really really liked it. At the time our sound was very modern/prog rock. This was when grunge was exploding everywhere. Although he loved our sound and our music he asked us, "now how am I going to market this"? We had a hard time understanding then why he didnt just sign us and get it over with. Alas, a deal never appeared. Now I can totally understand what he was talking about. We didnt have the sound that the public/industry was looking for. BUMMER!A lesson learned hard. But i am wiser for it now. M~