TAXI.com

Here is the listing in question:

HEAVY TENSION INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a Music Supervisor-owned Music Library that’s feeding music directly to an Investigative TV Series. They need a bunch of Tension Cues in a variety of tempos and styles. Please listen to the references below to get a general idea of the style they need:
“Slumber” Official Trailer
“Unfriended: Dark Web” Trailer
“Don't Knock Twice” Official Trailer
IMPORTANT NOTE: The references are in “Trailer form,” using three distinct sections or “acts.” This request is for TV CUES, not Trailer Instrumentals, so please take note of the style of music, but not the arrangement or forms used in the examples. No big stops and starts are needed!!
Please send them Instrumental Cues that use Electronic and/or Orchestral Instrumentation to evoke emotions like tension, suspense, danger, distress, anticipation, etc. Build your Cue around a central melodic theme that would support tension-filled scenes, while adding and subtracting layers of instrumentation as it progresses to create a dynamic build and forward momentum that leads to a crescendo and Stinger ending for a big finish.
All submissions should be about 90 seconds long. If you go a little over, don’t sweat it! Non-Faded, Stinger endings will work best. Please do NOT copy the referenced examples in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast quality is needed.
Note: This is a Music Library that very few TAXI members have music in, so this is a great chance to build a new relationship!
This company offers a really cool, musician friendly EXCLUSIVE deal: You get 100% of the writer’s share AND 30% of the publisher’s share! The company gets only 70% of the publisher’s share. You’ll also get 30% of any sync fees! After 5 years, you can choose to have all rights revert back to you, OR continue to work with this company on a year-by-year basis. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to pitch for this opportunity. Please submit as many Instrumental Cues as you'd like online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis - No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Saturday, July 7th, 2018.  TAXI #Y180707HT

Would you still go with a central melodic theme, even though none of the references have anything CLOSE to melody? I can see getting a return for having melodic elements with the screener saying that it is too unlike the refs. What would you do?

Thanks!
kerry

I was thinking the same thing. The music in those trailers is also kind of scattered. In the Forwards section, someone posted five tracks that were forwarded and they seem to not have a "traditional" melody and are more drones with some sound effect characteristics.

Actually it turns out the user in Forwards that I mentioned referenced the wrong listing.

Build your Cue around a central melodic theme that would support tension-filled scenes, while adding and subtracting layers of instrumentation as it progresses to create a dynamic build and forward momentum that leads to a crescendo and Stinger ending for a big finish.

No big stops and starts are needed!!

I think I would ignore that sentence. It seems to be a boiler plate statement that doesn't apply in this case.