TAXI.com

Well....

Im frustrated.

I submitted my song "War of Minds" to this listing...... here is a link to the song if anyone has any suggestions.

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_9806528

The song went through 3 drafts and 3 other composers for input and was written specifically for this listing. I thought I hit everything they asked for, as well as they state the company is in need of alot of cues as it says in the listing.

I really dont think I missed what is asked for, but I guess Im "stylistically off target" - I even modelled elements of the examples listed.

High-Level Music Licensing Veteran needs ACTION ADVENTURE and DRAMATIC INSTRUMENTAL Cues for FILM and TV TRAILERS. They have a direct relationship with the Trailer Company and they’re building a stash of cues to feed them on a regular and ongoing basis. Your cues need to be EXCELLENT to impress them, with “Legitimate, Modern Orchestral and Electronic Elements in your composition. A fusion of those styles would be great, and don’t forget to give us GREAT melodies!” Cues can range from Dark to Uplifting, Orchestral to Heavy Drums/Percussion (Taeko, etc.). Your cues need to evoke strong emotions from the start and BUILD EXCIEMENT. You CANNOT USE ANY SAMPLES of other artists’ songs in your productions—PERIOD, no exceptions! Here are some examples of CURRENT, CONTEMPORARY sounding Trailer music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VdONYkK ... ure=fvwrel http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQdIT6C7 ... ure=relmfu http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oazFv302 ... ure=relmfu Your (virtual instrument) samples will need to be top-notch, you’d be wise to have some awesome crescendos and stabs in all the right places. Big, dramatic, buttoned endings would be smart. And again, don’t forget to include AWESOME melodies. Your cues should be at least 3 minutes in length. Cues that are easy-to-edit, and easy-to-edit-TO will get a lot of attention. NOTE: We’re giving our TAXI Dispatch Members first shot at this, but if we don’t get enough great stuff to Forward, we may have to put this out as a TAXI Special Listing to all TAXI members later. This company needs to find a LOT of GREAT cues! The listing company is not sure at this time how their deal will shake out. We know them VERY well. They’re TOP industry pros who are completely buttoned up, and VERY highly-regarded, so no matter which way it shakes out, their deal offer will be very fair and typical of industry norms. DO NOT SUBMIT cues that are licensed to other libraries, not even Non-Exclusive libraries!! You MUST own or control the copyright and master recordings for all submissions. All submissions will be screened by a HAND-PICKED SCREENER on a YES/NO BASIS. NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than Monday, August 15th at 10:00AM (PDT). Dispatch # D110815IN

and got this critique after it was rejected..

Hello Chris,

Thanks for submitting "A War Of Minds" for this listing. The licensing company is looking for tracks with a slightly different stylistic dynamic for these specific spots.

I look forward to hearing more music from you in the future.

Best.

I mean - I dont want to be a bitch but where did I go off stylistically? I dunno, I guess Im getting frustrated with this whole service. I cant seem to get past the screeners no matter what I do, yet I can get placed through other libraries.

I really like the forward momentum of this track, tho I believe the "gentle" choral sample might not fit the "Terminator-like" drums. The percussion is driving this track and the choir seems to lessen the overall impact, as if the two were competing for the listener's emotions. Also the really high choral notes don't sound natural to me, they sound like my 'choir girls' ensoniq disk when I play it too high on the keyboard it just doesn't sound real to me. Then again I don't know what the screeners want either. Maybe try it without the choir? Just my opinion & I certainly ain't a professional!

I think you're on the right track stylistically. It's a cool piece.

Things that stick out for me:

1. Very little melody. This is a textural piece and the listing specifically says "and don’t forget to give us GREAT melodies!”. The violin melody near the end adds melodic interest but is more of another textural voice, it doesn't stand out as a "great" melody.

2. Not a lot of "building excitement" happening here. Not a lot of awesome crescendos and stabs, and the crescendos that do come are usually after fairly long periods of static texture.

3. Your music is evocative, but I don't get "strong emotions" from it (another direct quote from the listing), rather more exotic and suspenseful but not very "strong".

4. Your piece doesn't "BUILD EXCITEMENT" (direct quote and all caps from listing). It does build somewhat, but not in an ultra exciting manner.


I could certainly see this piece getting signed for some uses, but IMO it doesn't fit this particular listing.

The Taxi screeners are tough, I'll agree, I have had some success with Taxi, but at the cost of many many returns in proportion to forwards. In fact, a library I write for on a custom basis via a deal I got from Taxi, doesn't take everything I send them at all. It's a fact of life that writing to specs is a hit and miss proposition, inside or outside of Taxi.

Keep pitching, your music sounds good, that's not in question. Another set of chops to develop is targeting listings. And yet another set of chops is patience and dealing with "rejection".

Hang in there!

Mazz