TAXI Nashville/Country Panel June 8th, 2009

[ontariolightning]

yes taylor swift is a really good songwriter, we all could learn a lot from her and what todays country is really all about, just have to get rid of your pride and listen to some teeny bopper music haha, if you're new to taylor swift i suggest listening to, teardrops on my guitar, tim mcgraw, our song, white horse, love song, breathe, fifteen

[ontariolightning]

also she co writes mostly with liz rose who worked with her BEFORE she got famous..she noticed taylor had all of this talent and now liz rose is a household name in nashville for songwritinghttp://www.larrywayneclark.com/lizrose.html

[jchitty]

Jun 1, 2009, 9:56am, aubreyz wrote:Jun 1, 2009, 5:34am, jchitty wrote: And while I have respect for Aub, and I know he's passionate about his opinions, I didn't agree with his assessment of you being self serving and pretentious. Statements like that put people on the defensive, and they end up creating a pissing contest....which always ends up as an exercise in futility. Point well taken. I probably should have chosen the higher road, but called it how I saw it. It just annoys me that ML & Taxi in general bends over backwards so many times for those with squeaky wheel syndrome, and then gets slammed for something insignificant like "failing" to respond to a post. Right or wrong, that was my observation and opinion and I have just as much right to stand up and say "reality check" as those who go off on their little conspiracy tirades.Warren, I would respond point by point to your post, but there really seems to be no point. In all honesty, I've read the caps laden response a few times now and I'm still scratching my head. That was somehow intended as a rebuttal?? Unintentionally, I think you've probably reinforced my initial opinion better than I ever could have.I mean come on. What is this crap about "learning not to ask tough questions"? Really? I mean you have blatantly accused ML of purposefully ignoring you and that Taxi chooses who it supports-- like there's some big plot out there to keep Warren down. The thing that gets under my skin is that ML provides this forum freely, and people like you blast opinion based nonsense without having the facts or common decency to pick up the phone and talk to the guy. How do you "know" you were purposely and personally ignored? Are you also psychic?But let's get past the personal stuff. Okay, I'll admit to not being perfect, not always choosing my words correctly - I have even been stupid a time or two and of course am not always right-- but what's the real point here? Who's right and who's wrong? Or is there a higher goal?I don't have a horse in this particular race. I'm not trying to crack the Nashville code. But whatever the goal is, there are two things that are vital. Your product has to be incredible if you have incredible goals, and your relationships and connections need to be just as incredible. I've heard some very good country stuff around here, but I've not heard anything on the level of "The Chair", "The Dance" or "I Love This Bar". I think the real crux of the matter should be, how do we write songs like that? How does a writer get to the level where he/she writes an undeniable hit? If country was the game I was playing, I'd hock one of my kids to go to this listening panel. Why? Because I know ML well enough to know that he wants us to succeed. He wants to provide us with the tools to not just pass the screener bar, but to compete with the best out there. How do I know that? Vital point number 2: Relationships.The level of competition in this biz is staggering. How many humans on the planet right now are trying to write country hits? There are so many choices for artists/publishers/producers. For many top artist albums, thousands of songs go through the mill before the top 12 to 15 are chosen. With so many choices, if a writer is unreasonable, illogical, hard to work with or not very educated about the industry then it is going to be difficult to build the kind of relationships necessary to even get in the running. Of course there's the occasional idiot who just happens to be a genius that would be an exception to the rule, but for most of us our people skills need to be on the same professional level as our musical skills.Instead of jumping up and down demanding that someone tell you if your stuff is good enough, why not keep working and writing using every available resource to improve your skills. As a writer, that's more productive and will also go a long way toward developing relationships.So you can take my initial post as some kind of personal slam, but it wasn't intended that way. The real reality check is not just the opportunity to hear inside information from a top listening panel. What possible benefit do you expect to reap by ranting on this forum? You can be factually right and still look like a jerk. Who's going to want to work with someone who will post accusations on a public forum without first talking to the person accused? Whether or not any "industry" elite frequents these forums is not even the point. It's the principle that is important.I've had my problems with Taxi. Me and a few screeners have gone round and round. I've called that 800 number several times to make my case about things I've had issues with. So you can't justifiably accuse me of being a Kool Aid drinker. But because of Taxi, I now have some pretty incredible contacts. I just got an email from one of the top writers/producers in my genre. I have his cell number and he takes my calls. All because of relationships that have been developed thanks to Taxi. How stupid would it be for me to call this person and say, "I really think my stuff is good enough, why won't you sign me?" I know the duty is mine to produce stuff that is undeniably hit material, and because of this and several other relationships, I've had the opportunity to get feedback from some of the best ears in the industry. When I succeed at that goal, the groundwork has already been laid. Sure, I could spend my time complaining about why this track didn't get forwarded... blah, blah, blah -- but how does that benefit me? It's difficult to throw mud around and not get muddy.Why can ML make a few phone calls and line up a panel with heavy hitters like this? Relationships. There's so much that we can learn from this guy and this company, and he's eager to share.Warren, I apologize for putting you on the defensive. It probably wasn't necessary and I do get the irony that it made me look muddy too. I'm just fed up with this crap, and not just from you in particular. Time and time again complainers get coddled to. You know what? I've never had a CD played at a listening panel either. I've never complained and got a free trip to tour Taxi. I've not canceled my membership and then been offered a screening by Nashville insiders. I think it would be entirely justified to complain that squeaky wheels sometimes get undeserved fringe benefits. But why in the heck would I complain? Taxi has given me the tools to improve my skills, and it has worked. Taxi has given me the opportunity to network with some of the top people in the industry and it has worked. Taxi has provided opportunities to get my songs signed, and it has worked.How's that complaining working for ya'?AubAub, I can understand. I have the same thoughts about Michael and this Nashville meeting.....he is being extremely generous doing all this for us....magnanimous to the umpteenth degree, so I hear ya. I don't wanna look a gift horse in the mouth.....I say we all just go and ENJOY. One thing though...I don't think Warren was trying to be rude....I didn't take his post as an attack....maybe he felt a little left out because other people got responses to their posts by Michael, and he didn't, but I also realize that Michael doesn't have that kind of time...he's very busy with the meeting. I think Warren was just saying that he was 'deciding not to go,' but I don't think he meant it disrespectful....I saw that he meant it 'with resolve,' a kind of 'oh well, I guess I just won't be able to go.'Anyway, y'all have a good day...I'm gonna sign off now. BTW, congrats on your contracts!

[ontariolightning]

Well Warren I read your post and I think where your problem lies is you're not focusing on one specific genre, you're writing for a whole bunch of genres, so how can you really improve?Country songwriters are just country songwriters because writing for country is difficult enough so all of their creative time is focused on improving in their genre of countrysame with rock songwriters they only focus on writing rock songsSame with pop songwriters, rap, hip hop and R & BIt's better to master one thing than to be average in everything else is how I thinkHope that helps

[heinsite]

hi Aub--that was one intelligent, well thought out and mostly accurate post up there--and i have to agree with much of the general stuff you said--i just don't agree with some of the stuff you said about ME. i obviously was not trying to throw or speak "crap." i don't have the time nor the inclination or need to defend myself. i respect your opinion, but i'm not intentionally trying, as chits says up there, to be rude to anyone. we all come at this business with different luggage, skills and dreams.i don't think i was ranting (unless the caps bugged you like it does some) but yes, i felt the need to defend myself. we all do that from time to time. i have ZERO bad feelings towards you, heck we met at the rally, and talked a bit 'o politics 'cuz i thought we were digging it. i sought out ML and shook his hand and told him the truth, he is a good biz man and has a great thing here, and explained one of my posts. thought it was cool he took a moment to chat. but i also don't agree with everything around here. so what? if we all agreed on everything--how we should speak, or listen, or "act", well that would be a very dangerous thing, no?if somehow i said stuff that inflamed you, i apologize. but man, i still think it's important to say what we feel. and sorry, this is capitalized because it's important...IF ANYONE THINKS I'M A COMPLAINER, THAT IS YOUR OPINION. i have submitted as i was always taught, solutions to complaints, several to Taxi directly, and by coincidence probably, some stuff has changed for the better.COMPLAINING DOESN'T WORK FOR ANYBODY, DOES IT? if pointing out problems i have with either people here (very few) or the organization (again, very few) is complaining, well i guess you're right. but you need to know one thing--IF I'M A "COMPLAINER", THERE HAS BEEN NO, ZERO, NADA SPECIAL TREATMENT COMING THIS WAY....SO YOU CAN'T BE TALKING ABOUT ME IN YOUR REFERENCE. i'm done, i wish you all the best Aub. tried to hold the caps down to a warren minimum...LOL.warren

[claire]

ooh, lots of good stuff to read. before I get into it, though, all of youse who are calling it "country and western" or "c/w" have got to stop doing that... Claire

[heinsite]

thanks lightning man,pm'd you back. on the genre thing, i honestly try to write in different styles, because that's what my opinion of songwriting is, versatility. but your point is well taken, if i focused on just one style, there is a good chance i might become more proficient there. but the honest truth for me is, i write what i feel, so maybe i'm just not a good "tactition", which in turn may end my butt in nowhere land. but we'll see i guess. talk to you soon.warren

[heinsite]

...and thanks chits....and yep claire, sorry, the c/w is just so darn easy to type!xoxowh

[claire]

I am hoping that those of you going will try to get the Nashville panelists to admit that Nashville is a very ingrown, incestuous town with all too many writers working for Music Row publishers who easily crank out today's hits (often by "committee") and are much better positioned to get their material cut by the hit artists. Favors given, favors returned, keeps the Nashville world revolving ("The family that plays together, stays together"). Mark - so what you're saying is that Taxi is of no use in getting songs cut for the country market? That only inside writers who live in Nashville stand any chance at all? Damn...Claire

[aubreyz]

Warren,No ill feelings here either. We can agree to disagree about the complaining part, or anything else as far as that goes. I enjoyed our hang at the rally and would look forward to a repeat. As you have the right to your opinions and impressions-- so do I. Speak your mind. No grudge match here.I will say that I never for a minute thought it was your intent to be rude. The thing about forums is that you don't get to actually have inflection, body language or any other clues. You are pretty direct and opinionated in person, and that's not a bad thing. I share some of that too THOUGH I SELDOM SPEAK IN CAPS. Aub