Songwriters who have gotten their songs cut by artists

[gerbil]

I have seen a lot of successes through Taxi as it relates to TV/Film placements. Where are the announcements of songwriters who have gotten cuts with artists seeking material? Thanks.

[brandonamatias]

Gerbil,

I know for a fact that on Taxi's Success Stories section, there are few people who have cuts with Jesse McCartney, Sugarland, and Kenny Rogers. I would also be very interested to hear if anyone else has had more recent successes

[ChristopherSwain]

Gerbil

I also would have hoped to have seen far more artist success.

I think, When they are looking through taxi I think they want a number 1 hit or nothing because they probably have a string of writers. So really good song is still not a great song for chart success.

Why give someone a cut of an album unless they have added a really outstanding contribution.

When you think of an artist the normally have 1, 2 maybe 3 great songs an album and rest are decent but average songs.

But they will just use their writers for though songs,

So If someone on here had writen "Poker Face" then a) they would brag about it and it would be a major event, and b) they would probably become a screener lol.

When you look at great song writers like Neyo and Lady Gaga, its a very high bar if a sure fire HIT is what is required.

maybe country is different.

[mazz]

It's a fact of life that there are a much much smaller number of opportunities for outside writers to get a cut on an album by a major artist than there are for film/tv. Think about how many TV channels there are out there broadcasting 24/7 and compare that with the number of albums released that actually create hit songs and I think you'll find that songwriters in any genre have a much smaller target to shoot at and from much farther away.

A tactic that has been suggested here many times is to try to find up and coming or even excellent local artists and have them sing and perform your songs and even co-write with them. If the artist is working hard to create a buzz, then they will have a following built up. If you can write a hit song with them, then when they get their shot, your song could be on there. You could certainly continue to submit to TAXI at the same time, covering as many bases as you can.

Mazz

[Kolstad]

Songwriters can't really expect to get cut's anymore with major artists, due to the decline in record sales and transition to downloads. Artists write those themselves with their producers. Even if you get one, chances are that in 99,9% of the cases, you won't get a dime, because albums just doesn't sell anymore, regardless of indie/major. Today songwriters has to deliver undeniable hits, that can be promoted for dowload, and even then their chances are slim, because major labels wants their artists to cowrite. There are very few major artists left that would consider outside songs. I would think Taxi lists most of the major opportunities out there, except for local national exceptions outside the US.

So the best strategy is to qualify to get into those narrow circles where the songs to be future hits are considered, written and selected. Nothing new there. You do that by writing top notch songs, with great recordings/demos/productions, that displays your talent. Those will work as your business card and can generate interest from supervisors at major labels and artists/cowriters. You can also build your credentials by getting songs places in film/tv ect. As I see it, Taxi provides a crucial first step into the music business, with real opportunities to get your music heard (and even placed, if it has that undeniable quality), so you can create those very important contacts and credentials. Taxi is a unique in the way that complete nobodys from outher space (well, you know, remote areas, when it comes to major music cities) will get heard and offered real opportunities, if they are serious and apt to learn. Everywhere else you will find closed doors to the music industry.

It's not about one song. It's about consistantly delivering broadcast quality work, that's competitive with what's on the radio today. Think of your songs as vehicles to find and build elationships in the music industry. If you a/b your songs with whats out there now, and think it's up to par, you are in the 10s of thousands that seriously tries to find and build good relationships in the music industry. If your song singles out from what's on the radio today, you are in the even narrower thousands that can get a hit anyday with the right contacts.

nocentsinvolved

[deankripp]

... about 85% of what I am now doing is for Film/TV - instrumental stuff - but I have had a few artist "cuts" as a direct result from Taxi listings. Although none have been hits.... yet.... my best cut through a Taxi Listing was with a European artist - Stefanie Heinzman (Universal)... My song "Do your thing" was on her CD "Masterplan" which went gold/platinum in Germany and Switzerland and made the Europe Billboard Top 10.

Taxi Listings have also landed me a few indie cuts with artists "on the bubble" so to speak.

I got a country song cut and released by Sarah Lenore ("When you kiss me goodnight") - through a Taxi forward...Sarah has been signed a couple of times in Nashville and was a top 10 finalist on the TV show "America's Got Talent" a few years back. She hasn't yet had that big success she's striving for but she's got the goods... it could happen.

Another song of mine was cut and released by an American Idol contestant "Sarah Burgess" on PME Records. That song was released as a single in Japan but kinda fizzled. Sarah Burgess has yet to "hit" in a big way - but again - the song was a cut as a result of a Taxi Forward and had a "shot" at getting itself that big brass ring

I've had another song cut by a huge producer for a new artist - he even invited me to sit in on the session at Capitol Recording studios.... I hesitate to say the names of these folks because nothing has been released yet - but the song they cut was "Don't You Worry" --- and I have a "ruff" of the thing with none other than "MC Lyte" doing a rap at the bridge section --- pretty cool - --- again - fingers crossed that it gets released...

In the not-a-cut-yet-but-just-signed category... I recently (in September) signed one of my country songs "My Lucky Stars and Stripes" to a Nashville publisher (through a Taxi listing).... so we'll see what happens there....

I’m babbling…

What the heck – I’ll keep goin’………

Also, my brother, a Taxi member (but not active on this forum), got a cut through a Taxi listing with a young teen artist - Katelyn Tarver - his song was the CD title "Wonderful Crazy" that I believe made him a fair five-figure chunk of change....

While these above cuts were not hits – and not all with major label artists - they, at least, got in the game to potentially become that coveted hit song.... they got me some GREAT connections and open doors, and they all made some dough! Whoohoo

I think that there are probably many other stories out there like mine where writers have gotten cuts through Taxi forwards and while they may not have had hits - they have got themselves into the game and made some extra cash....

Sometimes I feel like I should be pitching more "songs" to artists but I made the decision a few years ago that building a career in film and TV music seemed like much more of a "sure thing" for me.... and I'm always looking for a sure thing

dean

[ottlukk]

Dean:
I checked out the artists you referenced. All legitimate "maybe" stars, who knows? What I'm wondering about is the fact that I couldn't find you anywhere on the web . . . well, there was a link to some guy who writes religious music . . . is that you?
If I'd gotten cuts with the singers you referenced, I'd have a website advertising it. Even if the songs didn't chart. Or am I missing something here? No offense intended, I'm trying to learn something here.
Ott

[Kolstad]

Thanks a bunch for that posting Dean! Very inspiring post for us all.
Even though the majors are in a league of their own, there are lots of up and coming artists we can develop relationships with and write with and for.

Taxi is certainly instrumental to reach out to those opportunities!

[raymy]

Thanks for sharing Dean. I was not aware of all of those song placements. It gives me hope that TAXI as a vehicle for song placements is still possible. I agree that film/tv is a better bet, but I can't completely resist those song listings!

[ChristopherSwain]

Wow Dean thats excellent, I'm pretty new here and have barely got rolling, would love to hear sme of your stuff in one place, check out the standard, lyrics, do you have a myspace, facebook page or taxi page.

Good to see your are getting success

your a few hits away from getting yor wikipeda space