So confused and, honestly, disappointed, Listener 309...
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2016 5:37 am
I have been submitting to Taxi for I think 17 years now. Most of my stuff has not been good enough, and I think I've been pretty honest about my deficiencies over the years.
But I've been learning a lot lately, and my writing has improved, AND I've been learning how to match what a listing is asking for, and my forwards have climbed rapidly.
This return on U160615IN has me baffled. I listened to all the examples, and my submission seems to fall well within the range they were asking for...maybe cheesier than a few, but much less cheesy than most of the examples. I used a single, simple, familiar-feeling but still original musical thought, and I developed it well over a brief 35 seconds. I used instrumentation, production, and harmony to create levels that keep it moving and building to a climax.
Now, hear me out....I'm NOT saying I've created the greatest piece of music ever written!! But from everything I've picked up over the years, this is a piece that should have had the chance to be listened to by the ad creators.
Your comment was "This is very close, your style is a little too musical." I honestly have no idea what this means...."too musical" as in the piece of music that I created is too musical?!?! This is bizarre. If you mean "too musical" as in "Broadway musical,' it's still fairly bizarre that you would reject a piece that sounds like an extremely hot style right now. (I'm thinking of Hamilton.)
The fact that the listing agent was open to a broad range of styles makes your rejection based on the style of my submission bizarre as well. They are not really too sure what they want, and are open to hearing a range of styles, but you reject mine purely for the style being off...that doesn't pass the smell test.
For everyone who may want to listen, here is my submission and here is the listing. Thanks.
https://soundcloud.com/kerry-cox-9/sign-on-soar-higher
U160615IN
HIGH-IMPACT INSTRUMENTAL CUES with a heroic, epic, and tough vibe are needed for a NON-Exclusive, $8,000 to $11,000 placement by a Music Publisher that’s feeding music directly to Music Supervisor of a :35 second International Military Recruitment-style Commercial. They’re looking for energetic, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the music used in these commercials (but don’t limit yourself, they’re open to many different genres and styles): US Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mmDdeqUPk US Navy Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teASv__suoA US Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdPfbOp_8g British Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhvjBwuix4 Canadian Forces Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K69jwRkm04 French Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RamMieNvJ6E Indian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYH6TgmnBw Colombian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcEuBdoKE3M Dutch Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iStJoC9SVs Russian Military Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJPnMP3j_Uc Quoting the source: “We’re looking for Mid-Tempo and Up-Tempo tracks that have an energetic, heroic, epic, and tough feel to them for a :35 second recruitment-style military commercial. The client loves the idea of exploring the direction of a track with an Urban Beat, but they’re open to pretty much anything that’s current, as long as it has a heroic feel to it. The commercial is filled with action scenes of Marines, so the music needs to help draw the intensity out.” Please submit action-packed Instrumental Cues that support and amplify the sense of heroism, pride, and excitement of the action-based scenes in the commercial. Genres that could work include: Orchestral, Rock, Urban, Electronic, or hybridized combinations like Orchestral/Rock, Orchestral/Urban, Orchestral/Electronic, etc. Whichever genre you choose to submit (hybrid included), be sure they use authentic and current sounding instrumentation. Anything dated, stiff, or MIDI-driven won’t work well for this pitch. Melodies and arrangements that evoke emotions like pride, then challenge, and finally excitement should work well for this commercial. Build as it progresses, and finish with a bang (no pun intended). Due to the length of the commercial (:35 Seconds), be sure you get right to the “red meat,” with little, to no intro at all. Your submissions should be no longer than the commercial itself, :35 seconds max, including the ring out and reverb tail at the end! Good edit points and Non-Faded/Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best for this pitch. Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this use is $8,000 to $11,000. This Publisher offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of the sync fee and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of sync fee and 100% of the Publisher’s Share. You’ll keep 100% of the original copyright. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit for this. All Submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis by a TAXI screener handpicked by the Publisher. No full critiques. Please submit 1-3 Songs no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016. TAXI #U160615IN
But I've been learning a lot lately, and my writing has improved, AND I've been learning how to match what a listing is asking for, and my forwards have climbed rapidly.
This return on U160615IN has me baffled. I listened to all the examples, and my submission seems to fall well within the range they were asking for...maybe cheesier than a few, but much less cheesy than most of the examples. I used a single, simple, familiar-feeling but still original musical thought, and I developed it well over a brief 35 seconds. I used instrumentation, production, and harmony to create levels that keep it moving and building to a climax.
Now, hear me out....I'm NOT saying I've created the greatest piece of music ever written!! But from everything I've picked up over the years, this is a piece that should have had the chance to be listened to by the ad creators.
Your comment was "This is very close, your style is a little too musical." I honestly have no idea what this means...."too musical" as in the piece of music that I created is too musical?!?! This is bizarre. If you mean "too musical" as in "Broadway musical,' it's still fairly bizarre that you would reject a piece that sounds like an extremely hot style right now. (I'm thinking of Hamilton.)
The fact that the listing agent was open to a broad range of styles makes your rejection based on the style of my submission bizarre as well. They are not really too sure what they want, and are open to hearing a range of styles, but you reject mine purely for the style being off...that doesn't pass the smell test.
For everyone who may want to listen, here is my submission and here is the listing. Thanks.
https://soundcloud.com/kerry-cox-9/sign-on-soar-higher
U160615IN
HIGH-IMPACT INSTRUMENTAL CUES with a heroic, epic, and tough vibe are needed for a NON-Exclusive, $8,000 to $11,000 placement by a Music Publisher that’s feeding music directly to Music Supervisor of a :35 second International Military Recruitment-style Commercial. They’re looking for energetic, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the music used in these commercials (but don’t limit yourself, they’re open to many different genres and styles): US Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2mmDdeqUPk US Navy Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teASv__suoA US Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkdPfbOp_8g British Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOhvjBwuix4 Canadian Forces Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K69jwRkm04 French Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RamMieNvJ6E Indian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFYH6TgmnBw Colombian Army Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcEuBdoKE3M Dutch Marine Corps Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iStJoC9SVs Russian Military Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJPnMP3j_Uc Quoting the source: “We’re looking for Mid-Tempo and Up-Tempo tracks that have an energetic, heroic, epic, and tough feel to them for a :35 second recruitment-style military commercial. The client loves the idea of exploring the direction of a track with an Urban Beat, but they’re open to pretty much anything that’s current, as long as it has a heroic feel to it. The commercial is filled with action scenes of Marines, so the music needs to help draw the intensity out.” Please submit action-packed Instrumental Cues that support and amplify the sense of heroism, pride, and excitement of the action-based scenes in the commercial. Genres that could work include: Orchestral, Rock, Urban, Electronic, or hybridized combinations like Orchestral/Rock, Orchestral/Urban, Orchestral/Electronic, etc. Whichever genre you choose to submit (hybrid included), be sure they use authentic and current sounding instrumentation. Anything dated, stiff, or MIDI-driven won’t work well for this pitch. Melodies and arrangements that evoke emotions like pride, then challenge, and finally excitement should work well for this commercial. Build as it progresses, and finish with a bang (no pun intended). Due to the length of the commercial (:35 Seconds), be sure you get right to the “red meat,” with little, to no intro at all. Your submissions should be no longer than the commercial itself, :35 seconds max, including the ring out and reverb tail at the end! Good edit points and Non-Faded/Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best for this pitch. Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this use is $8,000 to $11,000. This Publisher offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE 50/50 deal. You’ll get 50% of the sync fee and 100% of the Writer’s share. The Publisher will get 50% of sync fee and 100% of the Publisher’s Share. You’ll keep 100% of the original copyright. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit for this. All Submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis by a TAXI screener handpicked by the Publisher. No full critiques. Please submit 1-3 Songs no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Wednesday, June 15th, 2016. TAXI #U160615IN
