TAXI TV

Recently, we ran a listing asking for Country Songs for a compilation that we're sending out to a bunch of our favorite Music Libraries, Music Supervisors, Ad Agencies, and Independent Film Makers. Tune in to this week's TAXI TV to hear some of the Songs that made it onto that list. Curious about how good a song needs to be to make it onto a TAXI Compilation, and why it landed on there? Join us as we play them and talk about what made us choose them!

There are 7.6 billion people on the planet Earth, but only a small handful of private citizens have ever been to space — the final frontier ;-) A TAXI member is joining that tiny handful of “regular” citizens who’ve been fortunate enough to travel to space. He launches on Tuesday, October 12th, and I want you to meet him before his flight! Chris Boshuizen is a musician, just like you. He’s a “regular” guy, who just happens to be going to space aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard. Chris and I became friends several years ago. I know his “story,” and I want him to share it with you. You’ll be fascinated and inspired. Chris is shining example of what happens when passion and persistence come together. Many of you have probably met Chris (aka Dr. Chrispy) at past Road Rallies, so this will be especially exciting for you. How many of us can say we know somebody who’s been to space? And how many of us have friends who get to ham it up aboard the “Vomit Comet” during pre-flight, Zero G training?!

Music Marketing expert Bobby Borg shares even more awesome tips on how to market your music and get more fans and income! Watch Last Week's Episode with Bobby here: https://youtu.be/7V-Mtpxf3uE Get Music Marketing for the DIY Musician here: https://amzn.to/3lytHbo Get Music Publishing for Musicians here: https://amzn.to/3Et4SWV

Bobby Borg is a fan favorite on TAXI TV, and this week he’s going to give you a ton of common-sense tips and tricks that will help you grow the fanbase for your music faster than you’re probably doing it now! Are you even trying to do it, now? “But Michael, I’m a composer and I don’t really need a fanbase. I’m trying to get the attention of music supervisors and production music libraries, not fans.” Guess what… music supervisors and music library executives prowl the Internet looking for new music, too! Why make it difficult for them to find you?! Bobby is going to make this easy for you! He’s watched more than 50 YouTube videos about this very topic so you don’t have to! And he’s consolidated the most impactful ideas and marketing techniques to market your music online into a concise list of the best-of-the-best! Oh! I forgot to mention that Bobby has a Master’s degree in marketing, and he’s the author of the best-selling book, Music Marketing for the DIY Musician. I don’t want you to think he’s learned all these great techniques by only watching YouTube… not by a long shot! Get Music Marketing for the DIY Musician here: https://amzn.to/3lytHbo Get Music Publishing for Musicians here: https://amzn.to/3Et4SWV

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out." And you should! Please join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together! Listen to the Top 10 here: https://www.taxi.com/songs/featured

If you’ve ever wondered what music publishers do on the “record side” of the music industry, you’re going to find out on this week’s episode of TAXI TV! Publishing executive Andrea Torchia has been in the music business for her entire adult life. She’s the daughter of legendary record producer, Denny Diante, and learned how to pick hits at a very early age. Here’s an excerpt from her bio: While other teenage girls might have enjoyed sleepovers, Andrea was evaluating playbacks at Devonshire and Conway studios. When her dad would bring boxes of demos, the two listened intently. “As he would break them down, I was his secretary,” Andrea remembers. “I might write ‘Lyrics not strong enough in the hook, ‘needs a bridge’ or ‘double chorus not necessary.’ I learned all about song structure.” While barely out of college, she began working in A&R, promotion and publicity at Chrysalis/ EMI while learning the music publishing business. As Creative Manager at Rondor Music Publishing, she represented contemporary and classic catalogs including the iconic songs of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. As Senior Creative Director of Zomba Music Publishing, she placed songs, connected writers and artists, and facilitated a roster with Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Macy Gray, and Justin Timberlake. At Universal Music Publishing, named Senior Director of Creative Services, she formulated relationships for Ron “Neff-U” Feemster, Harvey Mason Jr., and Lamont Dozier among others, while attaining covers for the company’s extensive repertoire. Her valuable industry experience led to her appointment as Vice President, A&R for TAXI Music, where Andrea achieved multiple label, film television and commercial placements for the company’s songwriters. Tapped as Vice President, Creative, with Razor & Tie Music Publishing, she worked the company’s multiple format catalogs, while guiding creative input and fostering partnerships both domestically and internationally. Two long-term consulting endeavors – with pop powerhouse Rock Mafia Recordings, and 1111/Universal Music Publishing, a co-venture with 16- time Grammy winner David Foster, preceded her tenure as VP Creative with the U.S. division of the Japanese company Avex. Andrea expedited a diverse roster ranging from the legendary Burt Bacharach to her signee, hit songwriter-producer Tommy Brown, whose number one Billboard debuts included “Thank U Next” and “7 Rings” for Ariana Grande, plus songs and productions for Juice Wrld, Meghan Trainor and many others. It was at Avex that Andrea signed The Attire, sparking their transformation into a modern pop duo. Post Avex, she continued the artist development process as co-founder and Senior VP, Creative at Base Station Media. Don’t Miss This Episode! We’re really excited to have Andrea join us so we can get a real insider’s look at what goes on behind the scenes at huge publishing companies today, and how things in the publishing world have evolved over the last decade or two!

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out." And you should! Listen to the Top 10 picks here: https://www.taxi.com/songs/featured

Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U-G3d5yLs2c At some point, most musicians dream of landing a record deal with a Major Label. It’s a tough road, and very few people ever get to grab the brass ring. Songwriter, artist, producer Greg Shilling is one of the lucky ones! But was it just “luck”? Greg has recently signed a record deal with BMG, and I’m going to dig deep to find out what his path to the “first level of success” has been. I’m also going to ask him what it’s like being signed, and what the process and label’s expectations are going forward. How did he get his songwriting craft to a “signable” level? What did he do as an artist to make himself appealing to a record label? How are things different today VS the good old days when a couple of great songs were enough to seal the deal? Check out "Naked" by The Attire here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHSAt7Sa3zM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2RDYXXL Amazon: https://amzn.to/3cmFODv Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!

Rob Chiarelli is a Multi-Platinum, Multi-Grammy-Winning Mixer, Producer, Engineer, and the story about how he got to where he is today is truly inspiring. There’s much you can learn from Rob about WHY he has been so successful, and he’s going to share what he’s learned along the way that will undoubtedly help you in your quest to succeed in the music business. It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to make it as a TV/Film composer, hit songwriter, or as an artist — Rob’s tips are applicable for all of those pursuits! Use code LOVE at finalmix.biz to get your free M1LimiterLite plugin!

I’m very excited to have my friend and music publisher Michael Eames join us on this week’s TAXI TV. Michael is a world-class expert on all aspects of publishing. He’s so knowledgeable that in my opinion, many music attorneys can’t keep pace with him. Here’s Michael’s bio: Michael Eames is a trained composer, songwriter, and pianist with experience in film scoring who studied music at Cornell University and UCLA Extension; Michael also secured a minor in Business Management from Cornell. As President of PEN, Michael oversees all aspects of the operation as well as focuses on pitching the catalogue to all media and business development. Prior to starting PEN, Michael oversaw the international activities and film & television department of Don Williams Music Group where he was responsible for song catalogues such as Jimi Hendrix, Chicago and Roy Orbison among numerous others. He also worked previously for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and the management and music supervision firms The Derek Power Co and Seth Kaplan Entertainment. Michael is a past President of the Association of Independent Publishers (AIMP) and proudly serves on the Independent Publishers Advisory Council (IPAC) of the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA). He is also a member of the California Copyright Conference (CCC) and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS). Michael wrote the music publishing section of the Hal Leonard-published book entitled Five Star Music Makeover: The Independent Artist’s Guide for Singers, Songwriters, Bands, Producers and Self Publishers, co-teaches (with Bobby Borg) the UCLA Extension class, Music Publishing: A Creative And Business Perspective, as well as the co-author (with Bobby Borg) of the new book, Introduction to Music Publishing for Musicians: Business and Creative Perspectives for the New Music Industry. Last but not least, Michael is a frequent guest speaker in classrooms and panel discussions worldwide, including the TAXI Road Rally and TAXI TV.

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out." And you should! Please join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together!

TAXI A&R team member Paul Taylor is one of our most valued and highly complimented screeners of all time. Our members regularly send thank you emails, and hundreds, if not thousands have benefited from his sage advice over the last several years. I’m very excited to have him as my guest on this week’s TAXI TV! Paul has asked me if he can start the episode by sharing some tips with members to help them overcome common mistakes that he sees over and over again. Mistakes that result in “returns” instead of “forwards.” Who wouldn’t want to know what those are? After that, we’ll move on to the Q&A part of the show. If you’ve ever wanted to get an inside look at what goes through our A&R team’s head as they listen to your music, then you really don’t want to miss this episode! This is the level of people who routinely screen your music at TAXI. Hopefully, you think Paul is qualified ;-) Paul Taylor has almost 30 years of experience composing, orchestrating, and conducting in the field of Film/TV, Video Games, and trailers. Recent and all-time favorites are orchestrating the video game scores for the Fallout series, Lord of the Rings series, the Syberia series, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Avatar, Fantasia;Music Evolved, the Dead Space series, and the upcoming Bethesda flagship game Starfield. Another Fantasia highlight was an orchestration of Jimi Hendrix’s Fire, with legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles). Paul has also worked with live orchestras all over the world, including the Video Games Live concerts, and has conducted session orchestras in Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Nashville, Budapest, and London. His recent projects include Heavyocity’s acclaimed brass and woodwind sample libraries, FORZO and VENTO, as well as orchestrating the video game scores for the latest installment of The Elder Scrolls franchise, Pub G mobile, Bandai Namco’s JumpForce, and Capcom’s Monster Hunters World. Trailer placements include Knives Out, A Christmas Carol, and The Shape of Water. TV/Film work include hundreds of library cues, a full-length feature, TV commercials for Beats and the U.S. Marines, and the Academy Award Winning short film, West Bank Story.

Watch this episode of TAXI TV to find out if this year's TAXI Road Rally will be live in person or virtual. Viewers also give their input on what they'd like to see at this year's FREE convention!

On this episode of TAXI TV with TV composer, Steve Barden, we tell you about mistakes that rookie (and even experienced) composers often make! Not only is Steve an accomplished composer, he’s also the author of the indispensable book, Writing Production Music for TV – The Road to Success, as well as his brand-new book, Deconstructing Production Music for TV! Buy your own copy of the book here: https://amzn.to/3zi05oC

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out." And you should! Please join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together! Listen to the Top 10 on your own time here: http://bit.ly/2ZcRS3C

Michael has put together a fun quiz to test your knowledge of the music industry, mostly from the Sync side of things, but not entirely! Let’s see if you’ve been paying attention during the last 12 years of TAXI TV and how much you’ve learned along the way. This should be lots of fun, and as always, painlessly educational!

While these Ten Commandments aren't nearly as impressive as the real thing, we think they could have a powerful impact on your life as a musician who's trying to earn a nice income from TV, Film, and Commercial placements! Will Michael be reading the Commandments from stone tablets or his phone? You'll just have to watch to find out! Here are links to the books Michael mentioned: Demystifying the Cue by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/3yhjS7b Demystifying the Genre by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/3fnL8rX Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/3uUS5r6 Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV By Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/3oozpgR

Our European audience really enjoyed having their questions answered in real-time during last week's LIVE episode that started 4 hours earlier than normal, so we did it again! Get "Music, Money and Success 8th Edition" by Jeff Brabec: https://amzn.to/3t9N0JO Get "Writing Production Music for TV" by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/3nRnMPq Get "Demystifying the Genre" by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/3h0stVA Get "Demystifying the Cue" by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/3ebdYfL

Here's your chance to ask me something I might have missed in the chat during a recent episode! Throw anything at me, and I'll do my best to give you a great answer. Ask me about anything – from TAXI-specific questions, to engineering or production questions, to music business questions, to music industry business etiquette queries, to questions about TAXI's screening/A&R process, to film/TV music questions (songs and instrumentals), to TAXI Road Rally questions, to just about anything else you can think of! There’s no reasonable question that I won’t answer – even at the risk of embarrassing myself!

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out." And you should! Please join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together!

If I had a nickel for every time a TAXI member told me music they thought was great at the time is now a little embarrassing in retrospect, I’d be retired. I asked TAXI member Greg Carrozza to send me some of his instrumental tracks that didn’t get forwarded by our screeners and other tracks in the same genre that did! Are there drastic differences between his early attempts and his more recent work? You tell me! Was the music Greg created when he was new to TAXI substandard? You tell me! Were the TAXI A&R Team members correct when they decided to NOT forward some of the music you’re going to hear? Again, you tell me! Please join Greg and me for what promises to be an eye-opening episode. We’re pretty sure this will help you get more forwards and experience less frustration!

TAXI Member Kali J. has become phenomenally successful creating music for TV Commercials and Film/TV placements. She's landed a bunch of her music in some very high profile TV spots in less than 4 years! Want to know the secrets to her success? Join me for an in-depth interview with Kali on this week's TAXI TV! Here's Kali's Impressive Bio: Kali J is an independent artist/songwriter from Atlanta GA. In the past 3 years, she has earned hundreds of placements with some of the biggest brands in the world including: Coke, Pepsi, Google Play, Google Pixel, Clorox, Facebook, Samsung, Bose, Hyundai, United Healthcare, Nestle, Nintendo, Nordstrom, Pizza Hut, Peloton, Target, and more. Known for her unique vocals (which can only be described as sassy talking), Kali J has built a brand that has allowed her to write for sync full-time, and she got her start, right here at TAXI.

I could tell Stephen Baird was going to be successful when I first met him at a TAXI Road Rally more than a dozen years ago. He was immediately likable, willing to work hard, and he was wearing a bright green T-shirt that read, “CARRIES NO CA$H.” He came to the Rally, asked the right questions, saw what his path needed to be, and then he got busy. VERY busy! No job was too big or small. No work day was too long. Stephen became a Six-Figure Composer faster than most because he worked harder than most! His music is in a ton of catalogs, and I have little doubt that it’s heard on TV every day of the year. Probably, all over the world! Here’s another reason I like Stephen so much – he’s a class act. While the majority of TAXI members who land deals and placements often forget to tell us when our work helps them get a deal or a placement, Steve Baird takes the time to write letters like this… Hey Michael, I joined TAXI in September of 2007 with nothing more than Reason 2.5 and an old Roland keyboard from the 1980's. Until joining TAXI, I knew nothing about the Film/TV/Advertising market. Actually, I was quite the newbie. Now, nearly 5 years later, I'm in my second year of making a full-time living writing for TV shows, commercials, promos, and movie trailers. Nearly every penny I have made can be traced back to TAXI. Either directly through a forward, or indirectly through people I have met at the Road Rally or on the TAXI forum. I'm really quite ecstatic with the way things have turned out. Not only am I making as much or more money than most of my friends, but I'm doing so via a career that I have dreamed about since I was a child. If it wasn't for TAXI, I wouldn't have a music career. I can't even imagine what my life would be like right now. So, I'd just like to thank you for offering such a great service to aspiring musicians, composers, artists, and bands. Not just for the opportunities offered through the listings, but for creating such a great environment for musicians to learn and grow. You've definitely changed my life, and for that, I am forever grateful. -Steve I think that letter is a great example of one of the 7 Habits of Successful Composers: expressing gratitude to those who have helped you on the way up. I have never forgotten how that letter made me feel when I first read it. But, expressing gratitude is just one of the 7 habits, and I’m going to ask Steve to let you know what the other 6 habits are on this week’s TAXI TV. There’s a lot to be learned from this young man, and you’ll only be cheating yourself by forgetting to watch the live show on Monday at 4pm (PDT).

Not sure what a particular piece of your music is? Let's see if we can help you figure it out! We listened to several tracks sent in by our members and the viewers shared what Genre they thought the songs (and instrumentals) were! It was a fun LEARNING experience!

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out" songs and tracks. And you should! Please join me on today's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together! We did it on a recent Quarantini Happy Hour, and the viewers of the live show seemed to love the experience. We hope you do as well!

Pro guitarist Sean Hurwitz plays with big acts on stages all over the world and gets paid well to do it! It’s got to be a pretty exciting life. During COVID, not so much! But Hurwitz is a “hustler” in the best sense of the word, so he’s ramping up his home studio productions of music for media to create future income while he’s got some unexpected and unwanted downtime. Sean always brings his “A-Game,” whether he's writing, producing, recording, or touring and playing stadiums with top-echelon artists like Enrique Iglesias, Smash Mouth, Gin Blossoms, and more. On this episode of TAXI TV, you’ll learn how this multi-faceted "hired gun" has built an enviable career and pivoted when he had to!

Do you think your ears are good enough to figure out which of the songs TAXI forwarded to the Music Supervisor of a Netflix TV series got picked to be in the show? We know how our viewers love to be in the A&R Hot Seat, so this episode should be especially fun for you. Why is that? Because you'll get to hear the great music we forwarded to the Supe, and you'll get some education about why one great song got picked over the other great songs. Intrigued? You should be! This episode will give you an insider's look into some of the variables that can determine what gets picked, and what doesn't. You really don't want to miss this episode, and PLEASE don't be late. Some of the information I'm going to give out at the top of the episode could help you pick the winner ;-) Here's the request we sent out! TAXI #S210117UR ORIGINAL SOLO ACOUSTIC GUITAR-BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER SONG needed by MUSIC SUPERVISOR VERY QUICKLY for NETFLIX SHOW! The Sync Fee is $2,000! We just got this before closing time at TAXI, but thankfully the brief we got from the Supervisor tells you everything you need to know, so we’re just pasting it in below. Quoting the Music Supervisor: “Here’s what’s going on, Netflix show I’m working on has a scene that takes place in the UK at an outdoor tourist market and they want something that sounds like a Male or Female Solo Guitar Busker is playing somewhere in the market, outside of the shot. Male or female vocal Solo acoustic guitar Folky, slow to mid-tempo, nothing too upbeat. Thick British accent, 'something that would signal British charm to the tourists.' Must be able to license master and pub from the creator. Additional note from the show’s editors: ‘[Producer] used the phrase “English Folk”, for what it’s worth. Not sure if that’s pushing more towards Sea Shanty/ pub song, or “Once” film territory…’ So I guess if they have something a little more traditional sounding, that’s fine too. Might help sell the British imagery. We have 2K all-in for this.” Pretty self-explanatory. Please make sure you are, or at least “sound” legitimately British for this request. Remember, you’re a busker, so some live feel is recommended! This is a Direct-to-Music Supervisor pitch, so you’ll keep 100% of the $2,000 sync fee, plus you’ll keep 100% of the Publishing and Master ownership. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to submit. Please DO NOT submit material that is already published by any 3rd party such as CDBaby Pro, Tunecore, etc. Please submit as many songs as you'd like, online (only). NO DEADLINE EXTENSIONS for this request. Sorry folks, but we're on an extremely tight deadline, so please don't ask! All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 12 NOON on Sunday, January 17th, 2021. TAXI # S210117UR

Michael Lloyd’s feedback sessions in the theater at the TAXI Road Rally have long been a fan favorite, so I'm inviting him to join me on this week's TAXI TV to review some of your songs! Michael's reviews are honest, in-depth, and encouraging. His feedback is pointed and helpful in taking your songwriting, production, and overall sound to the next level.

We’ve been chatting about mixing work flow and the “intent” you might have when you start a mix on TAXI’s Quarantini Happy Hours lately. I thought it might be cool to get some insight, tips, and ideas from a multi-Grammy-Winning Mixer/Producer, so I’ve invited Rob Chiarelli to join us on Monday’s TAXI TV to do just that! See Rob’s credits here: https://www.finalmix.com/discography This is going to be a great episode of TAXI TV, and if you join us for the live show you’ll have a shot at getting your questions answered in the last half hour of the show!

Pianist/Composer/Songwriter Bob Mete is on an airplane more than he's on the ground, yet somehow he finds time to create Jazz Piano Music that's regularly placed in top TV shows and movies on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Showtime, HBO and Netflix: Adult Beginners – Indie Film, The Undoing, Supergirl, Cobra Kai, The Voice, Younger, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Chicago Fire, Search Party, commercials for DKNY, Whole Foods, Public Storage, and more! I’ll be asking Bob questions that will help viewers learn how to best use TAXI, and what he’s done that has helped him become successful in spite of the fact that he travels a LOT for his "day job!" How to Be Successful with Your Music! This is your big chance to find out how a successful TAXI member decides which Industry Listings he chooses to submit to, how many submissions he averages per month, what he’s learned about creating music that’s more “useable,” how he finds time to write and record his music, and some of the misconceptions musicians have when they’re just starting out in the sync business!

Musicians have been hit hard by the pandemic-driven lockdown(s). Gigging, rehearsing, session work, and the day gigs that pay the bills for many musicians have largely ground to a halt. Unemployment and "stimulus" checks may help, but tragically, they don't cover the devastating loss of income most musicians are faced with. But I know somebody who just might be able to help you with that. My friend Dave Cool (yes, that's his real name), Bandzoogle's V.P. of Business Development, has ferreted out some practical ways to help you create income until we can finally rip our masks off and return to our normal lives! It looks like we've got at least several more months to go until that becomes a reality. Don't wait until you're really hurting to dig out this episode of TAXI TV and watch it. Get out in front of what could be a financial nightmare by joining Dave and me on this week's LIVE episode, so you can ask him questions after he doles out some actionable advice!

Our viewers love to tune up their ears by hearing submissions for a hot request from TAXI, then casting their votes to see if they line up with what our A&R team decided. One of our regular viewers summed it up nicely when she emailed, "Judging songs on TAXI TV helps me judge my own music more objectively. I create better music because of these episodes, please do more of them!" Join us for the fun, the education, and the community spirit in the live chat room during this week's episode of TAXI TV!

Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs or instrumentals that they've heard lately. We call them the "Top 10," but don't let that mislead you into thinking they're THE 10 best songs or instrumentals out of ALL the music our members make. Really, it's more like a list of, "Hey, these are really cool and you should check them out" songs and tracks. And you should! Please join me on today's episode of TAXI TV as we listen together! We did it on a recent Quarantini Happy Hour, and the viewers of the live show seemed to love the experience. We hope you do as well!

If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution that this is FINALLY going to be the year that you make some money with your music, but don't follow through, then do NOT miss this episode of TAXI TV! Why make broad, general, overreaching resolutions that you’ll never follow through with, when you can do the easy-to-follow steps I recommend and see real results? I’m going to give you some crystal clear resolutions that can really help you achieve what you've always wanted; to earn some income doing what you love most, creating music! How quickly will you see those results? You’ll need to watch this inspiring, laser-focused first episode of 2021 to find out!

Want to know what it takes to write music that gets more placements in Film & TV? We invited one of our A&R Team Members (and Instrumental Cue Expert), Craig Pilo, to join us for this episode of TAXI TV to review some viewers' music! Watch this episode to find out what does and doesn't work for Film & TV Instrumental Cues.

TAXI CEO Michael Laskow talks with rockstar Marc Ferrari completely revolutionized music libraries by signing Indie artists instead of using Marc Ferrari was in the “hair bands,” Keel, Cold Sweat, and Medicine Wheel in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. I personally think his greatest legacy might be starting the MasterSource music library in the early 1990s. Marc was a visionary who realized that music from independent musicians had real value in the music licensing industry. Especially at a time when virtually all the music in library catalogs was “canned.” He founded MasterSource to get more of his own music synced, and it grew from there until he sold it in 2007 to Universal Music. MasterSource signed quite a few TAXI members back in the day. Our companies sort of grew up together, so Marc and I have always had a warm relationship. He often reminds me that he was probably the first person to sign music from long-time TAXI member Matt Hirt. That relationship panned out really well for both of them! Marc will be my special guest on this episode of TAXI TV, and I think his insights will be valuable to all anybody looking to create great music for the Film/TV sync business. I might also get him to cough up a couple of behind-the-scenes stories about what it was like to be in bands that used hair spray. BTW, Marc appeared in Wayne’s World 1 and 2! Just sayin’!! Please join me for this very special episode!

During this episode of TAXI TV, songwriting coach Robin Frederick reviews viewers' songs and gives some tips on how to make them better! This is a great episode to watch if you want to write songs that are competitive in 2021!

Learn the secrets of successful songwriting in this episode of TAXI TV! Jai Josefs is a world-renowned songwriting coach whose students have had songs on the Billboard charts, major label record deals and publishing deals, and thousands of placements in film and television. He also has worked as a songwriter/producer on projects for such companies as Universal, RCA, Motown, and Disney and placed songs in over 80 network TV shows and 20 major motion pictures with such stars as Harrison Ford, Billy Bob Thornton, and Denzel Washington. In this workshop, Jai will give you insights into the melodic and lyric techniques successful hit writers use to create their songs that reach millions worldwide. Then, he’ll give you specific keys to immediately begin incorporating those techniques into your own writing to help you write BETTER songs! For more info about Jai and his various classes and coaching, please visit: http://jaijomusic.com/

More TAXI members are earning income from Instrumental Cues for TV than ever before! Sounds easy, right? Just mute the vocal, and there you go… wrong! There’s more to it, but frankly, it’s not that hard. Doing it well requires that you know what works, and what doesn’t. That’s what we’re going to talk about on this week’s TAXI TV – the do’s and don’ts of creating Instrumental Cues! Just a few of the many topics we’ll be covering: How long your Cues should be Which genres are the best for you to start with? Where to find inspiration before you compose Instrumentals VS Instrumental Cues How Cues are structured How to create titles that get your Cues used How to become more efficient and productive in cranking them out Much, much more! Get "Writing Production Music for TV" by Steve Barden here: https://amzn.to/36qZZif

TAXI has been getting some emails and phone calls from frustrated members who want to know more about some of TAXI’s listings that have language like this in them: IMPORTANT NOTE: This company offers an Exclusive deal, and is only interested in signing material from composers who have worked for libraries and licensing companies in the past and understand how standard deals work. If you don't have that experience and you don't know the drill on typical deals, then they politely ask that you don't submit to this request. IMPORTANT! Per our client, your Submissions must NOT be encumbered by ANY other publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals (whether non-exclusive or exclusive) including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, etc. NOTE: This company is NOT interested in composers that turn in 1 or 2 tracks every couple of months, they want composers who have experience writing full albums in this genre. They're only interested in signing material from composers who have worked with music libraries and music licensing companies in the past, and understand how those deals work. If you don't understand the drill on library deals, they politely ask that you don't submit to this request. IMPORTANT NOTE: This producer has specifically asked that you ONLY send UNRELEASED Songs that aren't already commercially available. If you've already commercially released them, then they can't use them! This includes releases on Spotify, CD Baby, etc. IMPORTANT! Per our client, your Submissions must: 1) NOT be encumbered by ANY other publishing, licensing, administration, and/or exploitation deals (whether non-exclusive or exclusive) including publishing/licensing agreements with CD Baby, TuneCore, DistroKid, etc. 2) Be 100% original – no soundalikes, Cover Songs, and no recordings with samples. Quoting the Company: “Only artists/writers affiliated with ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and APRA-AMCOS are eligible to submit their music for this opportunity.” We’re going to discuss this issue at length during this week’s show, and with any luck, you’ll be better prepared to make your music available to more companies that need what you’ve created!

TAXI’s Head Screener is on the front line of quality control, making sure our A&R team forwards the right music and gives great feedback. Angela Mukul was one of the best screeners on TAXI’s A&R team before she was elevated to her current position. We knew we made a great choice as she got settled in and earned the respect of the regular TAXI staff, as well as the screeners. Our choice was further confirmed when Angela sat on a panel during the Road Rally! She really shined, and that didn’t get past the audience. In fact, audience members recommended that we have her join us for some Q&A on this week’s TAXI TV! Great recommendation! If you‘d like to know: • What the Head Screener’s tasks are • What Angela’s background is • The most common mistakes members make that prevent material from being forwarded • How she helps the A&R team communicate with you better • What she looks for when she’s in quality control mode And much more…

On this episode of TAXI TV, TAXI CEO Michael Laskow calls viewers and answers their music industry questions LIVE on the show!

We had a blast on last week’s show when the live audience got to test their A&R skills on Country songs, so this week, we're listening to TAXI Members' Stomp-Clap, Blues Rock Instrumentals to see which ones could make the cut for film/TV sync placements!. Here's the opportunity we sent out to our members: MODERN STOMP-CLAP BLUES ROCK INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES Send them contemporary-sounding Instrumentals and/or Cues infused with lots of Bluesy Rock flavor. Be sure your submissions use standard Rock-band instrumentation. Killer melodies, great guitar riffs, and a solid rhythm section are all elements that will make your Instrumentals appealing to this Music Library. You’d be wise to avoid guitar solos (especially in the higher registers) as they tend to be distracting or overpowering when placed under dialogue. TAXI Tip: Pay close attention to the drum parts and rhythm sections in the referenced tracks. We think that capturing that authentic "stomp-clap" feeling they have in common could really help you stand out for this pitch.

If you've ever wondered, "How good does a Country song need to be to get forwarded by TAXI to an A&R Executive working with a HUGE Grammy-winning group?" then you're going to love being in the A&R Hot Seat during this episode! Here's the request we got from the Music Licensing Company! TAXI # S200803CS COUNTRY SONGS with REFLECTIVE Lyric Themes and Male Vocals are needed by a super well-connected A&R Executive for a HUGE chart-topping, Grammy Award-winning SUPER GROUP that’s working on their next album! The A&R Executive is searching for Songs in All Tempos that could be found on the same playlist as the following references: “How They Remember You" by Rascal Flatts “Letter To Me” by Brad Paisley “Time" by Dean Brody NOTE: The bar is high for this request, so pull out your best and pay special attention to your Songcraft! Getting Songs cut by this act could be absolutely career-changing! Please submit radio-worthy Country Songs that have solid productions and great lyrics with substance. Your submissions should have fresh, compelling Country melodies and super strong choruses that are ready for the charts! Please be sure your vocal performances are good enough to get this A&R Executive and Artist excited about cutting your Songs. Lyric Tip: We’ve been told that they're looking for "reflective" material, with lyric themes along the lines of (but not limited to) "This is my life" or "Taking a look back at our lives." The quality of your Songs should be competitive with material being pitched on Music Row – in other words, submissions have to be really, really strong! Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. Please include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Monday, August 3rd, 2020. TAXI # S200803CS Cast your vote! You're going to be in the A&R decision-maker's seat by voting with your fellow viewers. Did TAXI's A&R people get it right? Will you get it right? Let's see! Join us in the chat room to participate!

I’ve known TAXI member Ed Hartman for a number of years, and frankly, I had little idea just how successful he’s been! He’s pretty soft-spoken and humble. Ed specializes in making music with mallets, so maybe he’s not as “cool” as a guitar slinging Rock Star. But when rock stars look at his credits, they’re probably a little jealous ;-) His music has been in feature films like, The Blind Side, Scooby Doo, The Mystery Begins, The Cold Light of Day, Surviving Christmas, Into the Fire, Spirit of the Game, A Different Sun, Cool It, Mini's First Time, and The Turkey Bowl. He’s also scored music for the feature films, As the Earth Turns (34 best score awards/nominations), Fitz (Who Made Who Productions) - 2008 Alberta Film and Television Awards Nominee: Best Feature Film), and the documentary Project Colombia (The MapMakers). As if all that isn’t impressive enough, Ed has also scored a bunch of short films, including: “SHAM Therapy” (Web-series), “The Son, The Father,” “Pause,” “Little Peter Needs to Fly,” "End Zone,” “The Three Stars,” “Trauma,” “Winston,” “Those in Need,” and “A Rich Mann.” Some of his TV placements include: The Twilight Zone, Revenge, Motive, Twas the Night, Katie Morgan, Big Love, Lucifer, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Passions, Let's Make a Deal, Doc-Block, Greek, Emeril Green, Nature, Gourmet Adventures with Ruth, Channel 5 Takes Latin, Relic Hunter, Extreme Towns, America Now, Shalom In The Home, Toddlers and Tiaras, and many others we didn’t have room to list here! But it’s mainly the Short and Indie Film Scores I want to ask him about! I’m pretty sure many musicians would love to do some film scoring, but they all have the same questions… How do I find clients? How do you get paid? Should I do one on spec to get the experience? What do I need to know from a musical perspective? How did you learn the craft of scoring to picture? How much time does it take to score a short film? How many changes do you have to make? What kind of technical stuff do you have to know? Which instrument libraries do you find most useful? And many more questions you probably want answers to! Questions or comments for Ed? Please email him: edhartmanmusic.com

If you submitted for this Percussion-Based Instrumentals and/or Cues request, TAXI #S200823PC, you really don't want to miss this episode of TAXI TV! If you've ever wondered, "How good does an instrumental cue need to be to get forwarded by TAXI to a Leading Music Licensing Company that gets tons of placements in TV Commercials?" then you're going to love this episode! Here's the request we got from the Music Licensing Company! TAXI #S200823PC PERCUSSION-Based INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a Successful Publisher with an awesome track record of really BIG placements in TV Commercials! This Publisher is looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals and/or Cues in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the following references: ADT Commercial “Black Skinhead” (Instrumental) by Kanye West McDonalds Commercial Please submit driving, primarily percussive Instrumentals and/or Cues that could work well in the context of a National Ad Campaign. Your submissions can include everything from (but not limited to): Stomps, Claps, Slaps, Snaps, Taps, and Bangs, etc. You can include some additional instrumentation, but the majority of your Instrumentals should be Percussion-based. TAXI Tip: Per the client, “please try not to rely solely upon loops.” Get creative with your programming, and feel free to push the boundaries, but please avoid anything that’s so complex that it will distract viewers from what's on-screen! Our experience tells us that simpler is better. The ads that feature this type of music aren't looking for the most genius composer, so much as pieces of music that evoke excitement and emotion. All submissions should be about 90 seconds to 3 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded, Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best. Do not copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for the overall feel, texture, and tone. Broadcast quality is needed. This company offers an EXCLUSIVE, 50/50 deal with a 2-year reversion. If they do not acquire at least $1,000 in sync revenue from your tracks within the term, you can get your rights back. Pretty sweet! Any sync licensing fees are split 50/50. You’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share, and the Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share. Since this company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed to any other Libraries or Catalogs. You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Please submit as many Instrumentals and/or Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Sunday, August 23rd, 2020. TAXI # S200823PC You're going to be in the A&R decision-maker's seat by voting with your fellow viewers. Did TAXI's A&R people get it right? Let's see how you vote! Join us in the chat room to participate! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!

Last week's episode about doing Home Concerts was so information-packed that we couldn't get to questions from the live audience. It also felt like we needed to give Steven more time to dive more deeply into this super current topic! The solution? Bring Mr. Memel back for another episode! Please get your questions ready before we go live! Steven's Resume for your perusal! Steven Memel is an internationally acclaimed voice & performance coach whose unique and impactful techniques enable him to achieve rapid and dramatic results with all performers. He’s aided in building the careers of some of the most talented and successful people in the world of entertainment. Steven’s music clients have recorded on Sony, Jive, DreamWorks, BMG, and more. He’s worked with acts like Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, Jesse McCartney, and a bunch of very happy TAXI members over the years! He’s taught at Musicians Institute, UCLA, USC, and is a regular speaker at seminars, conferences (including the TAXI Road Rally), and universities around the world.

Doing HOME CONCERTS the RIGHT WAY [with Steven Memel] by TAXI Independent A&R

On this episode of TAXI TV, if you want to know the ins and outs of how to build a great working relationship with a Music Library, we've got the perfect person to tell you all about that! He's signed and placed tons of music from TAXI members and has lots of tips that will help you navigate the process of signing with a Music Library and the business etiquette that will make the relationship productive and profitable for both parties. Yay! Don't miss what we expect will be a treasure trove of great advice from somebody who is highly experienced in all aspects of the sync business. To Join the Live Chat and Ask Questions During the Broadcast… You’ll need to be signed up to YouTube (FREE) and be logged in to be able to join in on the chat during the show. Go to youtube.com and click the "Sign In" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page and fill out the short form to join. If you have a Gmail account, you’ll be able to associate your YouTube account with it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!

We're so excited to have legendary, Grammy-Winning Producer/Engineer, Ken Caillat join us for the entire episode of TAXI TV this week! He's best known for co-producing Fleetwood Mac's mega-hit, Rumours, as well as Tusk, Mirage, and Live. He has also engineered and produced for many other great artists, including his daughter, Colbie Caillat! Ken and I love talking about studios, gear, and production/engineering techniques, and you get to hang out with us while we do it! We'll be taking viewer questions, so if you want to know how Ken miked Mick's drums, ask him! Want to know how he recorded Lindsey's acoustic guitar, this is your chance to ask! If you love recording and production, you really don't want to miss this episode! If you want to read up more on Ken and what he's accomplished, click below! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Caillat To Join the Live Chat and Ask Questions During the Broadcast… You’ll need to be signed up to YouTube (FREE) and be logged in to be able to join in on the chat during the show. Go to youtube.com and click the "Sign In" link in the upper right-hand corner of the page and fill out the short form to join. If you have a Gmail account, you’ll be able to associate your YouTube account with it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn More About TAXI Independent A&R: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh Rub Elbows with Music Industry Pros at Our FREE Yearly Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp View Our Current Music Industry Opportunities: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd Connect with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs Listen on the Go with the TAXI TV Podcast: Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2afebwW Google Play: http://bit.ly/2a7cCQX Stitcher: http://bit.ly/2FuSTJQ Soundcloud: http://bit.ly/2icUDe0 TuneIn: http://bit.ly/2DCzKrd Follow Us On Social Media... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we SUBSCRIBE to our channel and comment below!