TAXI.com

Hi all

I've been a member for about 2.5 years and I am starting to question whether Taxi is really worth it. I'm a part-time composer (I have other jobs) but I have about 100 tracks signed with about 10 publishers / library companies - yet I'm not getting much joy through Taxi and I've been kind of alarmed by some of the feedback on 2 recent submissions. Don't get me wrong the feedback has been generally pretty useful - often fair - and I believe the bar is high, but recently I've started to question it. First off I thought that I would publish my stats:

ID - Listener ID
C - Closed (ie rejected) = 107
F - Forwarded = 22
R - Request = 1

(Unfortunately I couldn't get this post to keep my formatting)

ID C F R
19 10 0 0
132 2 1 0
226 3 0 0
276 1 0 0
299 1 0
309 22 2 0
315 2 0 0
325 15 0 0
347 7 1 0
368 2 0 0
374 17 1 1
384 2 0 0
396 1 0 0
401 1 1 0
402 2 0 0
403 4 0 0
406 2 8 0
412 1 0 0
414 1 0
416 10 3 0
419 1 0
421 1 0 0
428 2 2 0

---------------------
Totals 107 22 1

It would be great if Taxi added the Listener ID to the Music request (I've asked) - I can see that some of the listeners like my stuff - and I have a good hit rate with them - others obviously don't. So if I knew there was a particular listener associated with a request I might choose not to submit.

Instrumentals:

C F R Grand Total
29 13 0 42

31% forward rate - 0% requests.

Songs:

C F R Grand Total
78 9 1 88

I have a poor forward rate on songs - 0% success on songs recorded in the 90s, 2000s, but actually a 100% forward success rate on new songs specifically written for a request.

So what has alarmed me recently? I just had feedback on a song that the vocals were pitchy and so rejected. They're not. This same song with the same vocals has already been forwarded 5 times and had a request for it once (my only request!). So that's a worry.

I submitted 3 tracks for a tension cues request. I expected to get 2 out of 3 forwarded. I made sure that they were pretty close to the examples. One followed the exact structure and similar instrumentation. I also noticed that they all had a particular frequency range and pattern - I made sure that my tracks also had the same curves (I used Izotope Insight to constantly compare). All 3 tracks were rejected. One of the criticisms was the frequency range not being the same as the reference tracks... To check I also cut one of my tracks into the trailer replacing the original music (the same film as one of the reference tracks) to check it worked. You can see it here:

https://youtu.be/TKSFldNVnpw

So what do you guys think? Is Taxi worth it?

Simon

From a lurker in The Peanut Gallery - it's not a 'one size fits all'... so, the question doesn't fit everyone, either.
TAXI has been worth it for many. That doesn't mean it will be 'worth it' for everyone.
Seems the best advice given has consistently been: "Use what works best for you."

And then, there's always the cliché disclaimer: "Your mileage may vary."
Good luck with making your choice work for you.

Good post Simon

I would say :-

1. It's only worth it if you think it's worth it - everyone's journey is unique

2. 31% Forward Rate is good so you're clearly doing something right

3. If you have 10 Publishers do you really need more ? I have 10 as well with 400 tracks signed ..I would say 3 or 4 are worth it...the rest not so much

4. Screener 309...couldn't barely ever get anything past that dude/dudette

5. Pitchy Vocals - Hear them a lot ( trained ears ) from people who swear they aren't - would have to listen to agree/disagree - sometimes they are but it doesn't matter - other times pitch is non negotiable

6. Trailer track - It's a perfectly decent tension underscore but it's nothing like the actual trailer - Doesn't work as a trailer track for me but would be fine in a TV scene

7. Songs are hard..Like really hard. Signed a few , placed none.

8. What are the results form the 100 tracks in the 10 Libs ?

Mark

To be fair, the last year or so has been a big anomaly due to the pandemic, and a lot of tv/film crews down, so not a representative period to evaluate. Even if you have had more signed, the libraries might just have been sitting on it. You may have felt better, but with same results. It may still be a while before things get back to normal. Value is subjective, so can't help you there.

Taxi helps me to make better music, to get better deals and better placements.

Taxi is worth it.

Good luck! Jim

.

crashgates wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 10:21 pm

Lol , what money ?

Yep... and all of that, right AFTER you get done with:
paying your taxes, insurance, fees, dues, housing expenses, utility bills,
the butler, the driver, the maid, the CPA... etc. etc. etc... your bar tab...
you know the drill.
"The Circle of Life"

At least you can look forward to the Road Rally... can't you?

SimonF wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 am

(Unfortunately I couldn't get this post to keep my formatting)

put it in a code block.

SimonF wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 am

ID - Listener ID
C - Closed (ie rejected) = 107
F - Forwarded = 22
R - Request = 1



ID	  C	 F	R	
19	10	0	0	
132	2	1	0	
226	3	0	0	
276	1	0	0	
299		1	0	
309	22	2	0	
315	2	0	0	
325	15	0	0	
347	7	1	0	
368	2	0	0	
374	17	1	1	
384	2	0	0	
396	1	0	0	
401	1	1	0	
402	2	0	0	
403	4	0	0	
406	2	8	0	
412	1	0	0	
414		1	0	
416	10	3	0	
419		1	0	
421	1	0	0	
428	2	2	0	
		
---------------------
Totals	107	22	1


Instrumentals:

C	F      R	Grand Total
29	13	0	42

31% forward rate - 0% requests.

Songs:

C	F      R	Grand Total
78	9	1	88

SimonF wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 22, 2021 9:24 am

To check I also cut one of my tracks into the trailer replacing the original music (the same film as one of the reference tracks) to check it worked. You can see it here:

https://youtu.be/TKSFldNVnpw

That is not a good track in my opinion. I wonder if you have had formal music theory training?