Ratio of Forwards to Contracts

[JohnnyP]

Hi,
I was responding to a post from a relatively new member regarding a forward and a quick response from the library his song was forwarded to, and it made me curious. I wondered how many forwards we receive before we get a contract or contact from the library or music super the song was forwarded to?
I write vocal songs in several genres, so that may effect my responses. I'm sure this has been covered before but I must have missed it.

I went back through my records to when I joined TAXI in the fall of 2015 and added up my forwards. 26 forwards to music supervisors/TV Shows and libraries in 28 months (we won't count the rejections- ). Out of those forwards no contact from a library until last night! My song Blind Spot was offered a contract from the library in the listing below.
Honestly until last night I regarded my forwards and rejections as milestones along the path of getting better, writing in one genre at a time and honing my abilities. All the libraries my music was in (including one placement) prior to yesterday were through contacts I made at the Road Rally in '15, '16 & last year.

Now I realize my other forwarded songs may still be on hard drives, and the world turns slowly in our business but I was wondering what other writers results were?
Here's the listing and a link to the song.
Thanks! John

https://soundcloud.com/jp-pearson-1/bli ... 16/s-ZiZEl

S180208CR
CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY ROCK SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by a well-respected Music Library with a very solid track record of TV and Film placements. This company ran a lot of listings with TAXI about 10 years ago, and they successfully placed a bunch of material for our members. They’re currently building a whole new library, so this is a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. This company pays an Upfront Fee to Composers and Songwriters! They’re looking for great songs that are Mid-to-Up-Tempo, and could generally fit in the stylistic wheelhouse of these references: “Bottoms Up” by Brantley Gilbert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukick72Qafc “Good Girl” by Carrie Underwood: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-uothzTaaQ “That's My Kind Of Night” by Luke Bryan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crCqWK3SmRo Please submit current-sounding songs that have great melodies, solid hooks, and a compelling chorus. Your submissions should have stellar Country production with an obvious Rock influence that would sound at home on a playlist with the references above. Be sure your vocal performance is believable, with an honest Country vocal delivery. Lyric themes can be in the range of what you would typically hear in a Country song. You’d be wise to avoid lyrics that mention specific dates, times, places, profanity or brands if you’d like to increase your chances of getting placed in this Music Library! Do not copy the referenced acts or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). This Company pays $100 per Song added to their Library. They offer an EXCLUSIVE deal. They’ll get 100% of the Publisher’s share, and you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share. Sync fees over $1000 will generate additional income for the composer. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. Since this is an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed with any other Libraries or Catalogs. Please send as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than 11:59PM (PST), on Thursday, February 8th, 2018. TAXI #S180208CR

[nylyrics]

JP:

Congrats on the contract offer. I listened to Blind Spot. Strong song - sounds like Kieth Urban. Did you write this from title? (just curious).
As to the subject posed in the post = my guess is you wont be able to pin down a solid time frame.

Best of luck with this tune and all your music.

Andy

[JohnnyP]

Hi Andy,
Yeah I have a feeling you're right. The results of my "survey" would be all over the map depending on genre, equipment, # of submissions, etc. I was just curious after seeing that other post re contracts and and having gotten my first in the same 24.
As far as Blind Spot I wrote it from the hook.
Thanks for the kind words!
Best, John

[cosmicdolphin]

Hey John

I think we had about 70 Forwards over 2 years and were contacted 3 times and signed 2 deals..although the most recent came about 9 months after the Forward...so you never know...but I start getting itchy around 20+

Mark

[JohnnyP]

Hi Mark.
Wow 70 forwards is awesome! Sounds like you’re kicking some musical a**! Congrats on the contracts too!
I know what you mean about getting itchy. I go through dry spells where nothing gets forwarded and I’m wondering what I’m doing wrong.. it’s usually just me submitting to the wrong listing.

I know we’re all at different places in our careers but I thought this may be an interesting topic for some who don’t think the 5 year plan is valid.
It is for me. And by the way imho the Road Rally has been the best part of taxi.

[levelone]

Nice Track! Congrats!

[thegajman]

Congrats John!

Mark: Awesome that you've had 70 forwards, congrats!

On the subject of this post... 70 is a reasonable sample size, so you would think it is a good representation of the callback rate. So 3 contacts from 70 forwards means I might need a 50 year plan!

[DesireInspires]

Hey John

I think we had about 70 Forwards over 2 years and were contacted 3 times and signed 2 deals..although the most recent came about 9 months after the Forward...so you never know...but I start getting itchy around 20+

Mark

Two deals in two years after 70 forwards? That isn’t great news.

I don’t think you did anything wrong, but I don’t understand what takes these companies so long to make deals. Did you avoid other deals for your music while waiting to hear back from the companies you did deals with?

You obviously have great music since you are getting a good deal of forwards. I mean, the music was vetted by Taxi, so the companies were getting quality stuff. It does make one wonder what goes on sometimes with music supervisors, music libraries, publishers, etc.

[DesireInspires]

I guess if you want to blame yourself you can.

But everything isn’t in the hands of the composers in my book. It’s a two-way street. And I think the companies that get all of this great music from Taxi members should be signing more deals. I mean, no one wants forwards and no deals, right?!?

Keep on truckin’. And don’t feel bad about these things. You guys are doing well. You just need that shot of luck to take you over the top.

[cosmicdolphin]

Two deals in two years after 70 forwards? That isn’t great news.

I think it depends on your perspective. From a standing start 2 years ago I now have music in the hands of libraries actively placing stuff in popular TV shows...I got skin in the game as it were ( and a couple of placements already I'm just waiting to filter through to my PRO )

For the 25 yrs before that I was making music all I have to show are a couple of reviews in Sound on Sound & Future Music magazines circa 1997, about 30 CD sales and not enough streaming revenue to even cash out . That's a huge shift in 2 years IMHO

I don’t think you did anything wrong, but I don’t understand what takes these companies so long to make deals.

Oh I did plenty wrong, I'm not even sure how some of the early stuff got forwarded to be honest ! I agree sometimes it would be better if you got a " thanks but no thanks " from the library it was forwarded to but I guess that would be too much admin.

Did you avoid other deals for your music while waiting to hear back from the companies you did deals with?

No, I just cracked on with writing new stuff and seeking out other deals.

You obviously have great music since you are getting a good deal of forwards. I mean, the music was vetted by Taxi, so the companies were getting quality stuff. It does make one wonder what goes on sometimes with music supervisors, music libraries, publishers, etc.

Well it's certainly improved in that 2 yrs that's for sure and I'm still learning believe me ! I guess they know what they want when they hear it ..and if they don't hear it then they don't want it.

But those 2 Libraries are pretty active and they are keeping me busy..and the harder I work the luckier I will get

Mark