TAXI.com

Hello,

I am new to all of this.

I am an Americana/country songwriter. My goal is to get other artists (even up and coming, etc) to cut some of my songs.

At the Road Rally, I asked how to go about this, and the answer I got was "Don't."

ie just try to get sync placements and give up trying to get songs to other artists.

But anyone still trying to pitch to artists or get songs to up and comers?

Any tips?

Or does it just all happen organically ie just hang out with songwriters, go to shows, go to conferences, hope for the best?

Thanks everyone and excuse my naivete!

Ben Gilmore
www.bengilmoremusic.com

benitogilmore wrote: ↑

Wed Jan 22, 2025 5:46 pm

Any tips?

Are you the brother of an upcoming artist? If so, that helps. Being famous yourself also works wonders.

Presuming you have neither of those advantages (given you asked the question), I'm afraid the advice you've been given is sound: don't. At least not while you are "new to all of this".

Given all the commercial and creative risks involved, why would any artist that is truly up and coming (e.g. signed to a record company or somehow independently successful) pick your songs over those written by themselves or songwriters who are already established?

Once you've established yourself as a great writer of sync placements, doors may open that increase your chances of getting a cut (or not... there are no guarantees in this business).

Sorry to be a bummer!

There are Taxi members who've had artist cuts so it's defintely achieveable.

Back in the day Taxi was all about writing for artists, I remember getting their listings via snail mail - it never said who the artists were but gave a few clues on the style and whether they were established or up and coming. Things have changed since those days and library music has become a much easier way to get into the industry from a home studio

The problem you have is the bar is super high especially in CCM where most of the writers live in Nashville and co-mingle. Your demos need to sound like records and might actually end up being the record ( if you've hired top session players ) just with a diffrent singer. I think Taxi superstar Matt Vander-Boegh put it best in his latest video, you can aim to pick the golden cherry off the top of the tree and likely never succeed or you can pick the low hanging fruit off the bottom of the tree ( cues and songs for TV libraries ) and fill your basket over time.

https://youtu.be/yoij0CMQx50?si=qJpKiutXyGur3Krz

Mark

Shouldnt the quality of the song speak for itself ? How will the artist know if they dont at least listen? Can taxi help at least have them listen ? yes Im new. Gotta start somewhere lol