Return listing Y130531PO

[Kevm]

Hey,

I did taxi the other year but had some issues with the service that I didn't care for, I have done some new music and figured I'd give taxi another shot since I don't have many other options, hoping not to have the same issues as before.

This is the first listing I submitted to since renewing and I just got it back - Here is the listing

Y130531PO

VERY ACTIVE FILM/TV MUSIC PUBLISHING COMPANY needs TOP 40 POP SONGS that would be heard on the same radio station as artists like LMFAO, Bruno Mars, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ellie Goulding, Katy Perry, Maroon 5, etc., to pitch to a TOP TELEVISION SERIES on a MAJOR NETWORK. Quoting the company's owner: "I'm looking for straight ahead Pop songs that belong on TOP 40 radio stations." MALE and FEMALE vocals are both welcome. Lyrics must be PG-rated, and relatively general, broad, and universal. Please avoid specific names, dates, times, places, brands, and profanity. Yeah, we know that some of the referenced artists' songs have lyrics that wouldn't qualify as "universal," be your songs need to be for this pitch. Your song should be a minimum of two minutes long. Instrumentation must sound authentic. As always, do not copy or rip off the referenced artists or their songs in any way, shape, or form! No samples of other songs or artists can be incorporated into your track. You must own or control 100% of the Master and Composition rights to submit for this listing. The ESTIMATED upfront fee for this project will be $5,000, which will be split 50/50 with the publisher. This is an exclusive deal. Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent home recordings are fine). Please submit one to three songs online. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than Friday, May 31, 2013. TAXI #Y130531PO

Anyway, I got my submission returned with this response: Hi Kevin,

"Good song, direction and production but the chorus and melody may not be at the level of Top 40 radio songs and artists mentioned in the listing. Thanks."

Here is the track - http://soundcloud.com/fampf/firefly or firefly on my taxi profile http://taxi.com/fampf

Now, I know my song isn't exactly in line with what they are asking for. I have trouble finding listings that fit my stuff like a glove; I don't compose for listings, I just have the songs I have. So if this is an issue I'm going to continually run into with taxi, should I bother with the service? I don't agree with him, I think the chorus on that track is very strong. I mean we've all heard say LMFAO's "Party Rock Anthem", the chorus is well.. It is what it is. I'm not sure that that's some next meta level chorus/melody you know what I mean?

I'm just sort of trying to figure out if I need to be extremely selective with submissions and don't even bother unless I think it's an exact fit (which I've never really seen tbh), or just hope for some better luck? I'm really just trying to figure out how to have some success with anything regarding these songs after spending a bunch of time and stuff on them, whether taxi is something I should continue with or if it's going to be more of the same?

Thanks!

[davewalton]

Now, I know my song isn't exactly in line with what they are asking for.

For any listing but especially for a listing that's going to license music to the tune of $5000/track to place into a top television show on a major network, whatever your question was I think you answered it right there. If you/we send in music that we know isn't in line with what they're asking for, yes, we'll get the same results consistently.

[Kevm]

For any listing but especially for a listing that's going to license music to the tune of $5000/track to place into a top television show on a major network, whatever your question was I think you answered it right there. If you/we send in music that we know isn't in line with what they're asking for, yes, we'll get the same results consistently.

And that's fine, but I'm really trying to figure out if there's any point to taxi for me if that's how it's going to be. And I think my track fits the listing, just it's not the exact sort of pop they referenced. But they'll never have a listing that is *that* accurate for me, so is there any point? Or is just the 5000$ listing I should avoid?

Because for example on this listing it simply says could be heard on the same radio station. I myself imagine if say this particular track somehow got radio play that it would be on a station with those sorts of artists, it's that sort of ballpark.

And then the reason the screener listed for returning was that the chorus and melody may not be at that level, which I don't really agree with but I've been wrong plenty before. So I guess I'm feeling like, did I target this listing poorly IE this track just would not be seen on a radio with those referenced artists, or I got the targeting correct but need to do more work on my songwriting and singing and stuff?

[andygabrys]

And then the reason the screener listed for returning was that the chorus and melody may not be at that level.......... I got the targeting correct but need to do more work on my songwriting and singing and stuff?

IMO Kev you are headed the right direction but you do need to step up a couple things to match the level of those multi-platinum artists.

the specific mention is of the chorus - to my ears........

instrumentally and mix wise, all the choruses are the same. no build. Vocally you have some BG's in the last chorus on the double at the end. you could do more earlier. Mix-wise I feel you could make more of a doughnut hole to put the lead vocal into as well.

melody wise - you have a long sustained note. you have given up the opportunity to have a melody that is based on a more intervallic (i.e. leaping) profile, something that would be a little more ear catching. In general more notes equals more excitement, and resting on the vocal for several bars is one way to make things slow down - stupid to say I know, but hey, you want the momentum building during your song right?

vocal production - I get the feeling listening that your instrumental had more current production than your vocal. love it or hate it, a lot of these ref. artists have either super-tuned vocals, or completely obvious auto-tune ear catchers. Most have big harmonies in the choruses - like your ref of LMFAO - its got both. yeah, I am sure their tune isn't rocket science, but they followed the formula.

If you do your own production and mixing, then you can turn this suite of tunes into anything, if you want to.

Whether or not TAXI is for you: that is a common question. Well what is your goal with TAXI?

[Kevm]

Thanks for the reply I really appreciate you taking the time, some very good points and suggestions.

I do feel like to do this style of electronic dance ish stuff you almost have to do the tuned sound, I don't mix the tracks but I comp the vocals and 'produce' the song and stuff, make all the final decisions. I liked how this one came out without going into the tuned pop sound, but I do understand why it's hard to do this style and not tune it. Maybe I will work on a new track with this sort of instrumentation but try to be more top40 in the vocal production and see how I like it as this one I wrote a while ago but it's a fairly new recording, but don't feel like messing with it unless it's a different vocalist doing it.

I do have a few tracks where I do more towards that sound but I like the melody of the chorus especially the high long note and this track may be the most poppy sounding of the lot, which is why I submitted it instead of others, maybe I should have done multiple.

My goal with taxi really is to just make back the yearly fee and submissions, I don't do this stuff live and have no way of getting the stuff anywhere but enjoy writing and singing so figured maybe licensing and such is the way to go for me, but since I don't write for listings it seems to be difficult to find stuff up my alley. I never intended on making electro dance top40 pop, it just seems that is the inevitable direction to go with this style of music, I had hoped to be able to just sort of do my way of writing and singing and that I'd be able to find somewhere for it, rather than moving towards the demand.

[Kevm]

Welp, got back a couple other listings that I had submitted to at about the same time as the first, same sort of thing that I was worried about when I renewed with taxi. Oh well, lesson learned, I've lost 300$ before

"I'd recommend a fresh vocal performance here, for a more confident energy behind the song concept. Nice moments in the vocal, but a really powerful arrangement could definitely help to "sell" this song in a stronger light. I'd also suggest a tightening of the instrumentation in the mix to present a really clean "broadcast quality" presentation throughout - again, nice moments in the production but I'd suggest a bit more polish. Thanks for submitting!"

"Hi! Kevin, Firefly is such a cool title! I really like your verses. The Pres lose momentum. The melodies could be more exciting. The Chorus sounds good, but after listening a few times I can't sing it back to you. Try playing with a few alternate melodies. Maybe you can find something a bit more memorable. Thank you for submitting today. I look forward to hearing more from you soon!"

If it was stuff I could sort of agree with such as this sort of thing needs to have the top40 tuned vocals, or at least my performance requires it. But it's just stuff I really don't agree with, I actually was worried about the verses more than the pres, I prefer the prechorus to the verse, and the chorus to both. I think the melody is very catchy, I have no changes to the melody although I can understand some viewpoints, which I can incorporate into future stuff, but really I like the chorus melody. I like the entire melody. I don't think the vocal performance is perfect, I did it in front of my computer through a live mic directly into my computer the same day I was writing it; but I'm not seeing any major issues in the performance, it could be tuned to make anything slight unnoticeable but would that have gotten forwards?

And it's not like I'm just being blind to my own stuff I am very critical about my vocals, the melody was good enough for the producer who helped me with the chorus melody (and he did the instrumental), he's written on some big tracks and he really loved the chorus melody. My vocal teacher whom I trust deeply regarding issues such as melody and my vocal performance didn't have any of these sorts of concerns with it. So what gives? =)

Well, anyway. Disappointing but that's life.

[Piewackit1]

Kev,

I too have problems writing for the listings and have questioned my membership to Taxi.

I am forced to agree with Taxi on this one. Although the song is good, it lacks a real catchy melody...as a matter of fact I couldn't sing the chorus(remember it) 5 minutes after I heard it. IMO the song needs more contrast between the verses and chorus...or at least a better build up...and a more memorable melody in the chorus. I know...it's easier said than done.

I had the opportunity to work with a producer who got a Grammy for an Aerosmith song in the 90's. I submitted the song we did 3 times...all three were returned by Taxi...so believe me when I tell you I feel your pain.

You have talent...I wouldn't give up.

[Kevm]

Hey,

Thanks for taking the time and thanks for the words,

Maybe I just need to try submitting a different track of mine or just continue to write, it's always difficult for me to tell which of my tracks are catchy and yada yada and which aren't quite there.

[Kevm]

We redid a little in the mix and stuff, how does this sound?

http://soundcloud.com/firefly

[Kevm]

"Melodically, I wanted to hear a more memorable, melodic "hook" in the chorus. Vocally, the chorus notes were pitchy and a bit brash. Revisit and really "nail" those notes. Good start."

"Great verse melodies however I felt that the chorus could be more effective. Don't just rely on holding out the title, as that always feels like a post chorus. Try to step into a melody that can be sung along to. Imagine the chorus being the part at the karaoke bar that everyone sings to. Good start, revisit!"

I really just have to say, Taxi is a very, very, very disappointing service. It takes a month and a half for them to return these listings, and it's just nonsense. The notes aren't pitchy, this isn't an opinion thing. I'm tired of these sorts of comments from Taxi listeners. And on the other one holding out the title? Every song doesn't have to have the same tired old structure, it doesn't have to have an OPA GANGNAM STYLE! The title wasn't being held out. That chorus WOULD BE SUNG AT THE KARAOKE BAR.

Bye bye, Taxi.