TAXI TV: Recent Episodes
TAXI Independent A&R
🚕 World's Leading Independent A&R Co. 🏁 Music Opportunities with: Record Labels / Music Publishing / Film & TV 🎵TAXI.com Phone: (818) 222-2464 Email: taxitv@taxi.com
- Building genuine music industry relationships- Networking tips for introverts and shy musicians- How networking can lead to sync licensing opportunities- Writing to briefs instead of waiting for inspiration- Making virtual instruments sound more realistic- How many music libraries you should target- Understanding neighboring rights and international income- Practical strategies for growing your music careerWhether you're a songwriter, composer, producer, or artist, this episode is packed with practical advice for anyone looking to build a sustainable career in sync licensing and the music industry.You'll also hear about Hey! That's My Song!, Tracey and Vance Marino's guide to getting music placed in film, television, and media. Link to book: https://amzn.to/4fmVB7qIf you're serious about music licensing, networking, and building long-term industry relationships, don't miss this conversation.
Have you landed a sync placement through a TAXI listing or a connection you made at the TAXI Road Rally?This week's TAXI TV is all about celebrating member success stories, and one eligible member could win (up to) $400 USD of their Road Rally airfare reimbursed during the live broadcast.If your placement came directly from:• A TAXI listing that led to signing with a music library and ultimately a TV, film, or commercial placement, or• A face-to-face meeting at the TAXI Road Rally that led to signing with a music library and eventually a placement,you may be eligible to participate.During the livestream, eligible members can submit five qualifying placements in the live chat. At the end of the show, one placement will be randomly selected for airfare reimbursement (up to $400 USD).We'll also be celebrating the incredible success of TAXI members whose music has been placed in television, films, and commercials around the world.Whether you're already licensing music or working toward your first placement, you'll hear inspiring stories and see what's possible through sync licensing and industry networking.To participate:• Be present in the live chat.• Submit qualifying placements in the required format.• Placements must be directly connected to a TAXI listing or Road Rally meeting.• Verification will be required before reimbursement.Join us live and celebrate the successes of the TAXI community!
discover how a strategic shift in your songwriting could open the door to more TV, film, and streaming placements.
What's the biggest mistake musicians make?It's not a lack of talent.It's not a lack of hard work.It's a lack of strategy.In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow sits down with one of TAXI's greatest success stories, Matt Vander Boegh, to discuss the one thing that transformed his music career—and why it has nothing to do with writing more songs.Matt went from knowing virtually nothing about writing music for TV and film to building a thriving sync licensing career, with his music being heard around the world every day.In this episode, you'll discover:Why strategy beats working harderThe mindset that successful musicians developHow to build a sustainable music careerCommon mistakes that slow artists downThe role of strategy in sync licensingHow to think like a professional composer, songwriter, or producerPractical ways to improve your career without spending more time or moneyWhether you're pursuing songwriting, producing, composing, or sync licensing, this conversation will help you see your music career from a completely different perspective.Sometimes the biggest breakthrough doesn't come from making more music—it comes from making smarter decisions.If you're serious about building a long-term career in music, don't miss this episode.
TVCommon mistakes artists makeThinking like a professional creatorBuilding relationships in the industryWhy some talented musicians never break throughCreative and business lessons from decades at the topWhether you're a songwriter, composer, producer, artist, or sync writer, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.If you're trying to get music placed in TV, film, commercials, or production libraries, don't miss this episode.📺 Watch Part 2 and take notes — there are a lot of industry gems in this one!
What really separates music industry professionals from hobbyists?Is it talent? Connections? Expensive gear? Or is it something much deeper?In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow sits down with legendary producers, engineers, songwriters, and music industry veterans Rob Chiarelli and Michael Lloyd for an honest conversation about what they've learned from decades at the highest levels of the music business.Between them, Rob and Michael have worked on roughly 200 Gold and Platinum records, earned multiple Grammy Awards, produced hit records, supervised film and television projects, and helped countless artists develop successful careers.In this candid discussion, they share:What separates professionals from hobbyistsWhy talent alone isn't enoughThe mindset that successful musicians have in commonCareer mistakes that keep talented artists stuckHow professionals approach creativity and opportunityThe realities of building a sustainable music careerLessons learned from decades in the recording industryWhether you're a songwriter, artist, producer, composer, or musician trying to take the next step, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-earned insights from people who've spent their lives making music at the highest level.If you've ever wondered what it really takes to move from being passionate about music to building a professional career, this episode is for you.📺 Watch Part 1 and join the conversation.
Why do some talented composers consistently land sync placements while others keep getting overlooked?In this episode of TAXI TV, music library owner, composer, and longtime TAXI member Chuck Henry shares the common mistakes he sees from the library side of the sync business—mistakes that can quietly cost composers valuable placements.After decades in the industry, Chuck has reviewed thousands of submissions and worked with composers at every level. Surprisingly, many of the errors that hurt placement opportunities aren't made by beginners—they're made by experienced writers who simply don't realize what's holding them back.In this episode, you'll learn:Common sync licensing mistakes that hurt placement potentialWhat music libraries wish composers understoodWhy great music alone isn't always enoughSubmission and production issues that raise red flagsHow to improve your chances of getting signed and placedWhat successful composers do differentlyChuck also shares his inspiring journey from teaching piano lessons and performing in retail stores to becoming a successful composer and the CEO of a music library.Whether you're writing production music, composing for TV and film, or building a sync catalog, this conversation could save you years of trial and error.Join us live and learn how to avoid the mistakes that can quietly kill sync opportunities before they ever reach a music supervisor, editor, or library.
film musicPractical cue-writing advice you can apply immediatelyHow experienced sync composers think differentlyWhether you're brand new to sync licensing or already building a catalog, this conversation is packed with actionable insight for composers, producers, and instrumental writers looking to create more usable, marketable music.If you write production music, trailer music, underscore, cinematic cues, or instrumental tracks for sync, this episode is a must-watch.Reference Book 📚: Cue Tips: 50 songwriting, composing, and music production hacks to speed up your sync journey by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/4nD3uYP
TV to writing for advertising.John’s music has landed worldwide advertising placements with major brands like Chase Card, Hyundai, Samsung, Nissan, FedEx, Target, and Cricket Wireless, but his path wasn’t instant.We’ll explore:- Why commercials often outperform TV/film placements in payouts- What libraries and music supervisors are actually looking for in ad music- How John transitioned from Nashville touring musician to full-time sync writer- The real “secret sauce” behind landing premium advertising placements- How persistence and strategy change everything in the sync worldFrom placements in shows like Outer Banks, S.W.A.T., The Rookie, and more, then breaking into major global ad campaigns, John’s journey is packed with actionable insight for any composer, producer, or songwriter looking to break into sync licensing.If you're serious about getting higher-level placements and understanding how the industry really works, this episode is essential viewing.
Want to know how TV editors actually choose music for shows?In this TAXI TV episode, veteran TV editor and executive producer Biagio Messina breaks down the real-world TV editing process — from building scenes and shaping emotion to selecting, cutting, and using music in television.Learn:✔ How TV editors find and use sync music✔ What makes production music “usable” for editors✔ Why some tracks instantly work in TV shows✔ How edit points, pacing, and transitions affect placements✔ The role of temp music in TV editing✔ What composers don’t understand about editor workflow✔ How to create music that gets chosen more oftenIf you create music for sync licensing, TV placements, film, trailers, commercials, or music libraries, understanding how editors think can completely change the way you produce and structure your tracks.Perfect for composers, producers, artists, and musicians working in production music, sync licensing, film scoring, and TV music.
instrumental cues✔ The truth about AI music and sync licensing✔ How successful composers dominate music library catalogs✔ How to improve faster using TAXI critiquesPerfect for artists, producers, composers, and musicians working in sync licensing, production music, TV music, film scoring, trailer music, and music libraries.
Want to write music that actually gets placed in TV and film?In this TAXI TV episode, we break down a real production music track to show how developmental arcs, edit points, and structure make your music sync-ready.Learn how to:✔ Build tracks for sync licensing✔ Add clean edit points for editors✔ Create dynamic arrangement and transitionsFeaturing TAXI member Steve Barden, author of Writing Production Music for TV, with real-time waveform analysis and pro-level insights.Get the book on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4cxxSzYPerfect for composers and artists working in production music, TV, film, trailers, and commercials.
R listens for in the first seconds of a song• Why some well-written songs still never get cut• What separates a “good song” from a “cut-worthy” song• How authenticity in country music is judged today• Whether modern demos need to sound like finished records• How writers can stay current without chasing trends• What improves (or kills) your chances in co-writes and song camps• How new country artists are discovered and signedIf you’ve ever wondered how your songs are evaluated behind the scenes in Nashville, this conversation gives you a rare inside look.
Why isn’t your music getting placed in film and TV, even when it sounds great?Most composers assume that high-quality production is enough to land sync placements, but in reality, music for film, TV, and media is chosen very differently.In many cases, it’s not the music supervisor making the initial call—it’s the video editor. And editors aren’t looking for the most impressive or complex track. They’re looking for music that is usable, flexible, and easy to work with in a scene.So what actually gets your music placed?In this episode of TAXI TV, host Michael Laskow is joined by composer and educator Dave Kropf (52 Cues) to break down what editors really want and why so many tracks get passed over.You’ll learn:• What makes music “easy to cut to” for editors• The most common sync licensing mistakes composers make• Why simplicity often beats complexity in film and TV music• How arrangement and production impact usability• Why phrase lengths and edit points are critical• How to create emotional clarity that fits the scene• How to evaluate your own music more objectivelyIf you’re a composer, producer, or artist trying to get your music placed in film, TV, ads, or trailers, this episode will give you a clear understanding of how to make your tracks more sync-ready and increase your chances of getting licensed.Have a question or something you’ve struggled with? Drop it in the comments, I do read them!
R company, helping songwriters, composers, artists, and producers connect with music libraries, music supervisors, publishers, and record industry decision-makers since 1992.
TV opportunities but not getting licensed, this episode of TAXI TV breaks down 20 common reasons your music isn’t getting placed and what you can do to fix it.TAXI CEO, Michael Laskow, is joined by special guest Greg Carrozza to talk about the real reasons songs don’t get licensed for film, TV, ads, and trailers.Many songwriters believe they just need to write one great song and have the right person hear it. But sync licensing works very differently, and understanding how the industry actually makes decisions can dramatically improve your chances.In this episode, you'll learn:• The 20 biggest mistakes that stop songs from getting sync placements• Why good songs sometimes still don’t get licensed• How music supervisors and libraries actually choose songs• What makes music “sync-ready” for film and TV• How to increase your chances of getting placementsIf you’re a songwriter, composer, producer, or artist trying to get your music into film and television, this episode will help you better understand what the industry is really looking for.
TV music operates differently from the record business• The surprising advantages experience can bring• Common misconceptions that stop talented creators from submitting music• How the sync industry evaluates music vs. record labelsIf you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to break into music licensing, this conversation may change how you see your opportunities.
We’ve got a great show lined up for you today on TAXI TV! Joining me is six-time Grammy Award winner Rob Chiarelli, one of the most respected producers and mixers in the music industry. Rob has worked with countless major artists across multiple genres, and today he’s sharing real-world insight into what it takes to build a successful music career —creatively and professionally.We’ll be talking about:• What separates music that gets used from music that gets ignored• How to think like producers, labels, and decision-makers• Career lessons Rob has learned working at the highest levels of the industryIf you’re serious about improving your music and your chances of success, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based advice.
Biagio Messina is a successful TV and documentary film producer, director, editor, and music composer! Those roles make him incredibly well-qualified to explain how and why music gets used in media. He’s been on the main stage at the 2023 and 2025 Road Rallies, and the audiences loved him and learned a lot!I’m still many time zones away from Pacific Standard Time, and not able to do live shows until I get back in a few days, so I wanted to feature this interview I did with Biagio in 2025.I especially want to encourage new TAXI members to watch this. It’s like getting a free year of school. Actually, school was never this informative (at least the classes I took). More importantly, it’s real-world information that I don’t think any music schools currently teach. And the tuition for an episode of TAXI TV is… wait for it… FREE!If you want highly valuable sync tips and composing techniques that can help you navigate the music licensing world faster than you might have ever hoped, this is a great episode to watch!
Adonis Aletras is a long-time TAXI member and successful composer who lives on the island of Cyprus, several thousand miles away from the United States. But being thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the U.S. sync market hasn’t been an issue for him!As a matter of fact, he’s repeatedly told me, “If I can succeed at this from a tiny island nation in the Mediterranean, I think anybody from anywhere can do it as well.”I recently asked Adonis what he’d like to discuss on this episode of TAXI TV, and his answer was immediate: “Let’s talk about what composers and artists can do to make editors want to use their music more often!”I’ve been talking about the “usability” factor when creating music for sync licensing for years, so I was excited that he suggested that topic! Please join Aletras and me for this frank and informative conversation that could help you succeed as well!
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.
I had a whole bunch of questions I didn't get to ask our Head Screener the last couple of times he joined me on TAXI TV. He's a consummate pro, and you guys seem to love his answers, so I pulled out the unasked questions from his last two appearances and got some great answers!I'm not going to hype this up, but I really think you'll learn how to use your TAXI membership more effectively if you watch this episode. I'm also sure you'll learn how the sync industry really works, rather than relying on sketchy info and opinions from people who know some stuff, but not all of it.Do yourself (and your career) a favor and invest less time than it takes to stream another mediocre movie. Craig and I will give you more accurate inside information about sync than you'd get by taking a full-semester of a college music class. How do I know this? Because they don't teach this stuff in college!Get real-world tips that can make all the difference by watching today's episode.
There’s a reason Robin Frederick always packs the ballroom at our conference each year, and gets great reviews when she joins me on TAXI TV—she researches what the rest of us don’t have time to, and then gives advice that’s straightforward, easy-to-follow, and many would even say, life-changing. At least, songwriters and artists say that, lol.If you’re new to TAXI, new to our email list, or you’ve never seen Robin on TAXI TV or at the Road Rally, then you’re about to see why she’s achieved “guru” status among songwriters and artists all over the world.
with gathering facts before he forms his opinions, so I listen carefully to what he has to say. In other words, he's done the heavy lifting, so the rest of us don't have to!If you'd like to become far better informed about AI as it relates to the music industry, you really don't want to miss this episode! Actually, if you create music, I don't think you can afford to not watch it. Paulie is a very smart, well-informed person, and you'll be much better informed having heard what he's got to say.
I hope your holidays have been warm and inspiring. With 2026 right around the corner, now is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and talk about New Year’s resolutions for musicians that can actually move your music career forward.We'll break down practical ideas and habits for independent artists and songwriters navigating today’s music industry. It’s a long list, so don’t try to do everything. Instead, choose the resolutions that fit where you are right now, and that can create the biggest momentum in the year ahead.Whether your goals are writing better songs, pitching more strategically, understanding the music business, or building a sustainable career, these industry tips are meant to help you make smarter moves in 2026.If you’re serious about your growth as an artist, there’s a lot here to take with you into the new year.
production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straight-ahead, helpful answers.Btw, I was at a session at the Foo Fighters' private studio a few days ago and had my mind blown! I'm going to tell you all about that and show you some photos of the control room, live room, guitar amps, and especially the vintage Neve recording console Dave Grohl bought from the legendary Sound City studio when it closed its doors.Other stuff I'll be talking about...Want to know how many tracks you really need before music libraries take you seriously? I get that question all the time, and frankly, the answer will surprise you! And, I’m going to tell you today.These are the types of questions I’ll be happy to answer, and anything else you’ve got! Viewers love these episodes, and I always have fun doing them.
episode! He's really smart, highly informed, and has some very interesting thoughts on how musicians might get compensated in the AI era of music. I think those ideas and concepts might be outside of what we can learn about how the MLC works during the show, but they're so intriguing, I'm going to press him to talk about them, anyway!
Hollywood Score Composer and Film Producer Brian Ralston is one of the most well-informed and articulate people I’ve met during my 50 years in the music business. He’s so clear-headed about so many aspects of the music and film industries that I did a solo interview with him at this year’s Road Rally—our annual conference.Brian didn’t disappoint! The people in the ballroom felt like they had learned something important. Things they normally don’t think about because they’re usually focused on the music much more than their career. Because he was so good, I’ve decided to do something I’ve rarely done after the Road Rally—I’ve invited Brian to reprise what we did on stage last month, but this time we’re doing it live on TAXI TV!
During my 33 years as the CEO of TAXI, the Holy Grail I’ve been relentlessly searching for has been that “thing” that makes some composers, producers, songwriters, and artists successful, while others never achieve their goals. What is the “secret sauce?” Why some and not others?I recently ran into long-time TAXI member, Chuck Schlacter, in the hotel lobby during our annual conference—the TAXI Road Rally. We started to discuss the mindset and habits of people who are successful in the music licensing world versus those who aren’t. What he had to say made perfect sense, so I’ve invited him to join me on TAXI TV.
My two favorite things I hear from members at our annual conference are: 1) “I went to school at Berklee, but I’ve learned more in a single weekend at the Road Rally than I learned in four years of college,” and 2) “I was certain that I was going to be let down after all your hype about the Rally, but it’s actually way better than you said it would be.”I hear those same things every single year. It makes me scratch my head and wonder why every single TAXI member doesn’t come. Those of you who were there know exactly what I mean.The vibe, the camaraderie, the access to industry people you just won’t find anywhere else, the networking, and the real-world education are apparently somewhat indescribable. How do I know? Because I can’t seem to find the words to convince all of our members to come.Yet, we have members who came from Finland, Germany, France, New Zealand, Australia, the U.K., Argentina, Israel, Japan, and other faraway destinations that are a full day’s worth of travel away, and at least $1,500 for the plane ticket, and they were thrilled they made the effort.On the other hand, we have members who live in Los Angeles and could drive to the Rally in 30 minutes or less, and they didn’t come. I just don’t get it!Today’s TAXI TV episode is going to be dedicated to the people who came and loved the Rally. We’re going to see photos, we’re going to watch some videos, and we’re going to hear from the members who were there.
I got really excited when I recently listened to a TAXI compilation with emotionally upbeat songs for advertising on it. Why? I heard a great example of a particular style of music that gets used all the time in TV commercials. I liked it so much that I planned on playing that particular song in the grand ballroom at our annual conference, the Road Rally, later this week. After listening to more songs by the artist who created the track that I loved, I decided to do a TAXI TV episode during which I’ll play several songs created by this talented TAXI member. Everything I’m going to play will have you saying, “Oh, now I get it!”I want to surprise you with who the TAXI member is, so you’ll have to watch to find out. You’ll also get to ask her questions about how she learned to write and produce this advertising-friendly style.That was a hint! Yes, the member is a talented young lady, and she’ll be at the Road Rally so you can meet her there. And, when you go to that page, you can grab your Road Rally Program Book for your mobile device, as well as a version you can print on your home printer.This is going to be a very powerful episode, so don’t miss it if you’d like to make great pitches for TV commercials.
Monday’s episode of TAXI TV should be amazing! Robin Frederick is going to join us, and she’s going to tell us what her Top 10 Songwriting Hacks are. Robin’s book, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting, is a best-seller, and we’ve never heard anything but raves, so even I’m excited to hear what her “hacks” are. If you’re new to our email list or TAXI TV, you really don’t miss this episode. You’ll find out why the ballroom at our conference—the Road Rally, starting November 6th—is always standing room only when Robin does one of her deep dives on songwriting each year. I’m going to give away a copy of Robin’s amazing book during the episode on Monday, but you’ve got to watch the live broadcast on YouTube at 4 pm Pacific time to have a shot at getting a complimentary copy of this seminal book on songwriting!Robin Frederick's Book: Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: https://amzn.to/48G91bA
We always love having Ronan on TAXI TV, so we’re excited to have him join us on today’s show (4 pm Pacific time) to teach us some tricks of the trade about production and mixing variables that can make your tracks more “synch-able.” We’ll discuss how to approach reverbs, panning, EQ, arrangement, mastering, etc., to make sure your track fits the style/genre, era, and overall sound the music supervisor or music library is asking for.Ronan is a TAXI member favorite because of his practical, no B.S. approach to all things audio. While he’s a highly experienced engineer/mixer/producer, his approach to teaching is to explain things in a way that people can easily understand, no matter what their level of expertise is! Win a One-Hour consult with Ronan!One of our lucky (live show) viewers will be randomly chosen to meet privately, in a One-on-One session with Ronan at our upcoming Road Rally music conference in Los Angeles, November 6th – 9th. You can play him some music, get feedback, or ask him questions about anything audio and production-related.
If you’ve ever been frustrated that your sync career is taking off as quickly as you’d like, you really don’t want to miss today’s live episode of TAXI TV (4 pm Pacific time) on YouTube!I’ll be joined by one of TAXI’s most successful members, Matt Vander Boegh, and I’ve asked him to distill all the things he’s done to become so successful down to the 5 most important. Matt’s music can be heard every hour of the day all over the world, but that wasn’t always the case! He made so many mistakes in the beginning of his career that I’m certain you’ll be saying, “Holy crapola, I do that, too!” as you watch. What did he do that took him from getting 79 (if memory serves) “rejections” in his first year to having his music in dozens of catalogs and getting placements every day of the year? You’ll find out at 4 pm (Pacific time) today when Matt shares the Top 5 things that skyrocketed his career.Win a Private Dinner with Matt and Michael!One lucky viewer of the live episode will win a private dinner in the Westin LAX Hotel’s Presidential Suite with Matt and yours truly during the TAXI Road Rally conference (November 6-9 in Los Angeles), and for dessert, we’ll listen to some of your music and give you feedback!If you can’t make it to the Rally (are you crazy?!), we’ll do a private Zoom and you can order yourself a pizza to eat as we meet ;-)
Get your questions ready for TAXI’s Head Screener, Craig Pilo, because he’s going to join us on this week’s TAXI TV! He’s always a popular guest and has a great deal of knowledge to share about the sync industry in general, as well as insight relating to TAXI’s screeners, the screening process, common mistakes, and great tips for getting more of your music forwarded to the industry people who are searching for it!
It's time to hear some great music from TAXI's members — songs and instrumentals, alike! Our Top 10 episodes are viewer favorites, so please join us today at 4 pm (PDT) for the LIVE show and you'll have a shot at winning a copy of Dean Krippaehne's latest must-have book, Cue Tips!If you want to get your music on TV, this book is indispensable! And you'll have a shot at winning a FREE copy if you're in the chat room for this episode!Join us and you'll hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.
Are you frustrated that you haven’t “made it” yet? No forwards from TAXI? No music libraries contacting you after TAXI forwards your music? No placements resulting from the music you’ve signed with music libraries or sync companies?We’re going to dive into some reasons why those things may not have happened for you yet on today’s episode, and what you can do about it.This episode was inspired by dozens—maybe hundreds of comments I’ve seen online over many years that go something like this: “I have a friend who used TAXI and said he didn’t get anything out of it.”After realizing I was only seeing this issue through the lens of TAXI’s members, I decided to make today’s episode about all songwriters, composers, producers, and artists who are frustrated they haven’t made it, whether they’re TAXI members or not!My research kept leading me back to books by Stephen Pressfield and Simon Sinek, and I’m going to share some cherry-picked wisdom from both of them on today’s episode.If you’re frustrated you haven’t “made it,” don’t miss today’s episode of TAXI TV! It just might change everything!
Have you ever wondered what the answers to these questions are? "How many submissions does it take until I start getting forwards from TAXI?""How many forwards from TAXI does it take until I start to get deals and offers?" "How long after TAXI forwards my music does it take until I hear from the client?""How long after I sign with the music library will it take for placements to happen?""How long will it take to get paid after my music appears in a TV show?"You're not alone! Virtually all TAXI members (and all other musicians) have probably wanted answers to these very same questions. I've invited successful (and very experienced) TAXI member, Greg Carrozza, to join me for this episode so we can give you some real-world answers to those questions and many more. Here are a few more questions..."Have you ever wondered if songs or instrumentals get more placements?""Have you ever wondered if songs or instrumentals generate more income, on the whole?""Have you ever wondered which genres get the most placements?""Have you ever wondered which genres generate the most income?"If you've ever wondered about any of the above, don't miss this episode!
“Michael, I’ve learned so much from the A&R Hot Seat episodes on TAXI TV! Can you please do them more often? My music has improved quite a bit because it’s much easier to be objective when deciding what works and what doesn’t about somebody else’s music rather than my own." — Timothy ReardonWe’ve been hearing the same thing from other viewers for years!With that in mind, on this week’s TAXI TV, we’ll be making A&R decisions to test your A&R skills and see if TAXI's A&R team is as good as I think they are ;-)I'm going to surprise you with which listings we'll "judge" during this episode, but we'll choose one that was for songs, and the other will be an instrumental listing. Get a good night's sleep and clean your ears to get ready for an A&R Hot Seat episode that you guys love so much!
Long-time TAXI member, Keith LuBrant, has had more than 105,000 sync placements on more than 1,711 TV shows, on more than 283 TV networks, worldwide. He has a family, a full-time job, a mortgage, and all of the typical responsibilities you probably have. So, how has he accomplished what virtually every person reading this would like to do?You’ll have your chance to ask him that and every other question you can think of during today’s episode of TAXI TV. Send Your Questions Early to Get Front-of-the-Line!Email your questions to liz@taxi.com no later than MONDAY at 2pm PDT, and you’ll get bumped to the front of the line before we take questions from the folks in the live chat room!
I’ve got most of the main panels sorted out for this year’s conference, the TAXI Road Rally. But I need your opinion before I start calling to invite and confirm the panelists. Do you like the topics? Do you have other ideas? Is there consensus? As always, I want to get your opinions before I lock things down.Win a FREE Copy of Dean Krippaehne’s latest book, Cue Tips! — 50 songwriting, composing, and music production hacks to speed up your sync journey: https://amzn.to/45cIFKSI’ve read it. I loved it, and I’m going to give away THREE copies as a thank you for your help!
“So, Michael? Exactly what are the complaints you get from music library executives, if they’re not about the music?”I was going to do a TAXI TV episode and enumerate the complaints myself until I spent 47 minutes on the phone this past Sunday with a very wise music library CEO. He was frustrated… actually, you might even say, exasperated. He told me about his “pain points,” and they sounded nearly identical to what we hear from other library owners.That’s why I’ve invited him to tell you about the mistakes that create “pain points” for the companies you’d like to work with. Maybe more people will get the message if they hear it coming directly from a highly seasoned sync executive rather than me. If you think all you have to do is create really awesome music and sync companies will clamor to sign it and get you tons of placements, you don’t want to miss this episode of TAXI TV. Great music is only half of it, and you’re going to hear about the other half on today’s episode of TAXI TV at 4 PM PDT. If you want to have more libraries sign and sync your music, don’t miss today’s episode! There’s some mission-critical stuff you need to learn, and we’re going to hand it to you on a silver platter… and for FREE! All you need to do is block out the time to watch this TAXI TV.
I’m excited to have Rob Chiarelli join us for this week’s episode! He’s a huge fan-favorite on TAXI TV, and at our FREE (for TAXI members) annual conference, TAXI’s Road Rally (November 6th-9th, this year).Rob’s down-to-earth advice covers a wide range of topics, including production, engineering, mixing, music licensing, and general career advice, which is always relatable because he comes from your world. He’s a multi-instrumentalist and spent years playing live before he began working in many of the world’s top recording studios. Here’s his bio… Rob Chiarelli is an American record producer, mix engineer, musician, published author, and 6x Grammy Award winner. Widely recognized as a music producer for Will Smith and Men in Black II, Chiarelli's work appears on numerous Gold and Platinum albums and motion picture soundtracks, including 16 GRAMMY winners. Rob is also the founder of Final Mix Software, and he’s going to give away some free plugins to five lucky viewers during this week’s show! Hopefully, this new release!Please get your questions ready before the show because we’re going to take them in the order in which they appear in the live chat room. You’ll also need to be in the live chat to win the plugin!
I was doing some research yesterday, and I stumbled on something that’s been staring me in the face for decades. It’s a “formula” that TAXI’s most successful members use. Especially, the members who want to earn income with sync placements.Conversely, when I researched TAXI’s least successful members, I discovered that virtually none of them used the same formula. Why wouldn’t they, when it obviously works?! Frustrated?Are you frustrated that you’re not getting forwards, deals, and sync placements? Are you getting some, but you’d like to get more?In both cases, I found hard evidence that there are three things you can do that will stop you from killing your own sync career. I’m going to disclose that evidence on today’s episode of TAXI TV. Bonus Career-Saver!I also uncovered another mistake that even our successful members make, and it’s sort of a time bomb that doesn’t blow up in your face until way after the damage is done. Hopefully, I can save some careers by disclosing that mistake on today’s show.
It's been a while since we've done an "Ask Michael Anything" on TAXI TV, so that's exactly what we're going to do on today's show! Ask me anything about TAXI, engineering & production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straightforward and helpful answers.Want to know what production music libraries are looking for? I can tell you!Want to know why Hollywood studios won't use you to score their blockbuster films?I know the answer!Want to know why your mixes don't sound like hit records?I'll let you in on a little secret ;-)Want to know where the "sweet spot" is to place a mic on an acoustic guitar?You're going to find out!Want to know how to mic an electric guitar amp for the best sound?I'll fill you in!Want to know a sure-fire way to avoid popping "P's" when recording vocals?I'm going to show you.Want to know how to make publishers reach out to you time and time again?It's common sense, but many people don't do it!Want to know how to approach an industry pro at TAXI's convention?If you promise not to let them know who told you, I'll tell you the secret ;-)Want to know how to avoid headphone leakage when recording vocals?The answer is SO simple, yet almost always overlooked!
For many songwriters, birthing a great lyric can be agonizingly slow and painful. Yep, sort of like childbirth! Well, any mom would tell you that it’s not even close, but you get my point; It can be daunting, slow, and yes, even painful to write a great lyric. But it doesn’t have to be!If you’ve ever had writer’s block or find that it takes so long to craft a great lyric, you miss opportunities for TV and film placements because the window of opportunity is often short.Robin Frederick—author of the best-selling books, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting and Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV—packs the ballroom year after year at TAXI’s annual conference, the Road Rally.When you see and hear the interview I did with her for this week’s episode of TAXI TV, you’ll understand exactly why that is!
True Swans are a duo who are becoming quite successful using TAXI to launch their career. Michelle Lindley and Todd Dunnigan live more than 600 miles from each other, yet their collaboration has been nothing short of remarkable!If you’d like to know how and why long-distance collaborations can work and what the 4 keys to success Todd and Michelle have uncovered, then don’t miss this fascinating interview.
I thought you needed tens of thousands (or more) followers to pull off a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise money for your music. I was wrong, you don’t!Frankly, I knew very little about crowdfunding to raise money for music (or any other type of project). When Kevin McNoldy was doing his excellent TAXI TV episode about music mastering a few weeks ago, he mentioned that he knew quite a bit about it.He wasn’t kidding!!! And the most surprising thing I learned while taping this episode is that you don’t need to have a huge fanbase, following, or email list to raise money! Of course, you’ll raise more money if you have a huge fanbase, but Kevin is going to tell you how to raise a significant amount with very few, or practically no, fans.My crowdfunding examples, Kristine Moon and Kira Takei:https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kristinemoon/kristine-moon-new-age-singer-songwriters-debut-albumhttps://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kiratakeikickstarter/help-singer-songwriter-kira-takei-launch-her-debut-albumCheck Out Kevin McNoldy: https://cphonicmastering.com/https://kevinmcnoldy.com/
If you think that making great music is the key to making more money in sync licensing, you’re half wrong! If you don’t have great (and appropriate) titles for your music, nobody will know how great it is because they won’t find it, hear it, or license it. Shocked? Don’t be! There’s not a single music supervisor or TV editor side who wouldn’t back me up on that.I couldn’t find great information about creating titles that get your music found, heard, and generate income, anywhere! I solved that problem by spending an entire Sunday researching, writing, and producing an episode of TAXI TV that might be the most valuable information you’ll ever see or hear on this overlooked subject.
TAXI member, Jim Thacker, is experiencing what many—if not most—other musicians hope to accomplish. His music is being heard all over the world, and he’s landing some really nice sync placements on an ever-increasing basis. Some of them are in brand-name TV commercials!But things weren’t always going the way Jim wanted them to! Is the same true for you?Are you frustrated, disappointed, or just plain fed up with your music career? Are you doubting that it will ever happen?Hearing why Jim’s initial approach didn’t work will probably resonate with you. Hearing what he did to turn things around will not only inspire you, but it will also show you a very clear path to success. All you need to do is commit to following it!Enjoy, and thank you to Jim for letting me ambush you into doing this interview!!!
A year ago, Spotify decided they weren’t going to pay royalties on tracks that streamed less than 1,000 times. Instead, those royalties would go to other artists proportionately to their streaming totals. Our friend Tony van Veen, CEO of Disc Makers, recently calculated that in 2024 alone, this resulted in $47 million in independent artist royalties being diverted to (mostly) the majors! He went public with this data, Spotify actually responded, and Tony put them in their place. I’m excited that Tony will be our guest on Monday’s TAXI TV. We’ve been close friends for at least 25 years, and he’s one of the smartest business people I know. He’s also a true champion of indie musicians!Tony and I will be discussing his findings – and whether there’s anything artists can do about it.
Very few music creators really understand what audio mastering is, what it does, and when you need it… or not! There are plenty of people who think that mastering is some sort of “magical fairy dust” that, when sprinkled on a song or track, makes it much, much better. As if mastering can make a mediocre song become a hit. It can’t, and it won’t. It can only make it a better-sounding mediocre song!Join me for this week’s episode of TAXI TV, and by the end of the show, you’ll understand why mastering was invented, the physics behind how it works, what it does sonically to your music, and when you should use it, or not.
More and more music libraries and music supervisors are asking for stems and alt mixes because it makes your music much more “usable.” If you’re somewhat new to the music licensing world, you might need a little help in understanding how to deliver what the industry pros need, so we’re going to show you on this week’s episode!TAXI Member, Greg Carrozza, is going to join us this week, and if the tech gods are with us, we’ll be showing you what stems and alts are, how to make them, and why they can dramatically improve your chances of landing more placements.With any (tech) luck, we’ll be watching Greg’s computer screen in real-time as he walks us through the process, explaining what he’s doing and why he’s doing it! If you found our recent episode about edit points, button/stinger endings, and developmental arcs useful, we think you’ll learn a lot from Greg in this episode! We plan to do the show and tell, and follow it up with lots of Q&A, so don’t miss this week’s show!
Our viewers love it when we do the “A&R Hot Seat” episodes, and here’s why…“Michael, I’ve learned so much from the A&R Hot Seat episodes on TAXI TV! Can you please do them more often? My music has improved quite a bit because it’s much easier to be objective when deciding what works and what doesn’t about somebody else’s music rather than my own." —Timothy ReardonWe’ve been hearing the same thing from other viewers for years!With that in mind, on this week’s TAXI TV, we’ll be making A&R decisions to test your A&R skills and see if TAXI's A&R team is as good as I think they are ;-) Here's what we'll be judging together.TAXI # S250412AG - AUTHENTIC-SOUNDING REGGAE/CARIBBEAN INSTRUMENTALS TAXI # S250320WY - TOP 40-Style COUNTRY SONGS
Highly successful TAXI member Matt Vander Boegh interviewed me a month or so ago, and the TAXI TV audience was blown away by the quality of the questions asked. Here’s the dirty little secret: Many of those questions came from Matt’s group of musicians he mentors at monthly meetings at his house. Matt’s a Pay-It-Forward kind of guy!I was so impressed with the questions from Matt’s Mentees that I’m flying to Nampa, Idaho, to do a live episode of TAXI TV from Matt’s house during his group’s meeting!All questions are fair game, and as I said, it will be LIVE and in real time! If you want to hear unscripted, unedited, possibly embarrassing things about me, TAXI, and the music licensing part of the industry, this is your chance!
If you’ve ever wondered what an Edit Point, Buttoned Ending, Stinger Ending, or a Developmental Arc are, you’re going to love this week’s episode of TAXI TV!We’re going to play examples from a Production Music Library and show you waveforms that should make things crystal clear. You’ll also get the chance to hear some tracks from a successful Music Library. If you’re new to creating music for TV and Film, this could be an extremely enlightening episode. In other words, miss this at your own peril! We’re going to shave months off your learning curve.
Successful TAXI member, Jim Thacker stopped by the office when he was in Los Angeles, recently. He asked if I thought the TAXI TV audience would be interested in knowing what he didn’t know at the start of his career in music for sync.He sent me his list of 10 Things he wishes he’d known in the beginning of his journey into sync, and I immediately invited him to be my guest on this week’s episode of TAXI TV. Honestly, even many of TAXI’s experienced members don’t know and don’t use all the critically important things on Jim’s list! EVERYBODY should join us for this episode, and if you have friends who aren’t on TAXI’s email list, please forward this email to them so they can start their sync careers with these priceless “hacks” that could otherwise take them years to uncover on their own! Win a FREE Book!I’m going to give away a copy of Robin Frederick’s amazing book, Shortcuts to Writing Songs for Film &TV, but you’ve got to be in the Youtube chat room for the live broadcast on Monday at 4pm Pacific time to win it!
Andrew Jordan knows all about making career-killing mistakes because he’s either made them himself or has seen friends make them. During a recent phone call, he suggested that we do a panel at the 2025 TAXI music conference, the Road Rally.I added the topic to my list of ideas, and also suggested that we do a TAXI TV ASAP because people need to know what these career-killers are sooner than later! And that’s exactly what we’re going to cover in this week’s episode!Andrew’s a smart, hard-working songwriter, composer, and producer who strikes me as being practical, pragmatic, and realistic in his approach to creating music that the industry needs and licenses. I think there will be a lot to learn from him, so don’t miss this one!
Matt Vander Boegh has gone from Zero-to-Hero in the world of Music Licensing. Here’s a snippet of his bio from his website:“In his 14 years of making music for TV, Vander Boegh has amassed a staggering 30,000+ placements on over 1,000 TV programs, including various major sporting events, Hollywood movies, high-profile reality TV shows, soap operas, commercials, and daytime & evening talk shows. He has nearly 5,000 cues and hundreds of full-length songs signed to oodles of high-end music libraries.”To say that Matt has figured out what sync’s “secret sauce” is would be an understatement. On his popular Youtube channel, he often credits TAXI as the launching pad for his success. Even though he’s an unabashed “TAXI fan boy,” he’s agreed to join us for this week’s TAXI TV, where he will ask our CEO Michael Laskow the tough questions that others may have but have never asked him directly to his face.Get tips, techniques, and answers to questions that most CEOs would run away from!
You’ve dreamed about becoming successful with your music for your entire adult life. You joined TAXI. You’ve watched TAXI TV and attended our conference—The Road Rally— to learn how to create what the industry is asking for. You’ve done everything right, and then…BAM! With one fell swoop, you made this common mistake that killed a golden opportunity, and possibly your career. What IS that mistake? You’re going to have to watch this week’s episode of TAXI TV to find out. And I promise you’ll be shaking your head in disbelief when I tell you what that mistake is. You might be guilty of making it yourself. A lot of musicians do!I’ll reveal this “fatal” and avoidable career-killing error and many more seemingly “small” missteps that can truly snuff out the very dream you’ve been working toward for so long.
We’ve all heard about how “manifestation” can make things happen for you, right? But, how many of us consciously put manifestation to work in our daily lives—especially in our pursuit of finding success in our music careers?My guest on this week’s TAXI TV is the best “manifestor” I’ve ever met in my entire life! Kim Tibbs is a TAXI member, and has accomplished more in her career (so far!) than most people would in multiple lifetimes! Kim Tibb's New Music: https://kimtibbsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/intermission-part-a
“What can I do to make my recordings sound more professional?” I’ve been getting that question since I started TAXI 33 years ago.Being a “retired” engineer/producer, I’ve got opinions and suggestions, but they’re not as good as somebody who’s currently in the trenches, doing what you do. But I know a guy who IS in the trenches, and I watch his Youtube videos quite often. And I really like them! You might be watching them as well. Does the name, Jon Meyer ring any bells?Jon will be my guest on this week’s episode, and we’re going to cover (at least) 10 things that can make your music sound more professional. I’m very excited to have Jon join us for this episode, and I suspect it will be chock-full of great suggestions. Have your notepad ready!
Have you ever asked yourself this question? “What do I need to do to get people to recognize how good my music is, and start paying me now to license it for their TV shows, films, or commercials?” Give me an “Amen, brother!” if you’ve ever asked yourself that question.The Answer Will be Revealed (for real!) on This Week’s TAXI TV!I just got an email from a TAXI member who’s only been pursuing his music licensing career with vigor for the last three years, and now his music is getting played in TV shows 365 days a year! Yep, every single day of the year. Quoting a recent email he sent us, “…I am getting placements every single day, multiple times a day. I'm averaging about 75 placements per month.”I’m going to keep this member’s identity a secret until the big reveal on Monday’s show. But, when you meet him, I’m going to ask him SPECIFICALLY what steps he’s taken to get 800 tracks in about 30 different catalogs and generate placements and income on a daily basis.
Craig Pilo is our Head Screener at TAXI. He knows the sync industry inside and out. He also knows some very common mistakes that TAXI members should avoid making, as well as every other musician trying to make it in the music licensing side of the industry.Want to know how to get more music forwarded by TAXI? Watch this!Want to know what causes about 80% of the “returns” from TAXI? Watch this!Want to know how the TAXI screeners think and how they approach their job? Watch this!We’ll discuss those topics and many more during this information-packed episode, so watch it and see if Craig can help you get more of your music forwarded, signed, placed, and earning income!
I’ve watched Rob Chiarelli go from music industry hopeful (when he was in his twenties) to one of the most in-demand mixers/producers in the music business today. With about 100 gold and platinum records and 5 Grammy Awards under his belt, he’s learned a thing or two along the way. And he’s learned from some of the best mentors anybody could ask for!Our viewers always love it when Rob joins me on TAXI TV. He’s my closest friend, and our conversations are always free-wheeling with lots and lots of great tips on mixing, producing, and how to succeed in the music industry in general.Join Rob and me for this episode, and have a notepad ready to go! Rob drops a whole bunch of great advice you probably didn’t get in music school!
I’ve become close friends with TV Producer, Editor, Director, and Composer Biagio Messina over the last 18 months. Whenever we go out to dinner, Biagio always drops gold nuggets about how he chooses and uses music in his shows, his tricks for making his music much more “usable,” and how TV editors choose and use the music that lands in their shows, as well.In this episode, Biagio will share the tips and tricks he uses to compose his music and tell you how the people who make TV shows pick music for their shows.Can you afford to miss this episode? Nope! This episode will help musicians at every stage of their sync music journey to get there even faster!IMPORTANT: Biagio can only use music from music libraries that the networks he works with have approved. If you’re tempted to Google and try to pitch your music to him, I'm sorry to say that you’ll be wasting your time. Even TAXI can’t supply music for his shows, other than when we run listings for the pre-approved libraries he uses in his productions.
If you’d like to jump into doing music for film, TV, and Commercials, you might be wondering, “How do I start, or where do I start?”Both are great questions, and I’ve got the perfect person to help you figure it out!Matt Vander Boegh is an unlikely TAXI All-Star whose music is played all over the world on a daily basis. But, like many of you reading this, Matt’s foray into earning income with his music didn’t come without some fits and starts. Mostly fits ;-)Be patient as you watch this because we spent a chunk of time, in the beginning, talking about Matt’s childhood and his progression into sync music licensing. After that, we get into the “red meat” section, and trust me when I tell you, there are tons of gems in this episode! TONS!!!
I’ve been asked a gazillion times, “What’s the fastest way to succeed in sync licensing?” Some folks have asked, “What’s the easiest way to launch my music licensing career?”Well, it’s the beginning of a New Year, and I’m sure many of you watching this have decided that 2025 is the year in which you’ll finally hunker down and go for the gold with film and TV music licensing. If you really want to know the fastest and/or easiest way to succeed, don’t miss this episode of TAXI TV! Personally, I think what I’m going to recommend can truly be at least a bit of a shortcut. Ready to blast off in 2025? Then watch this episode, and see if you agree!
I hope your holidays have been warm and wonderful so far, and with 2025 just around the corner we thought it would be a good idea to list off a whole bunch of resolutions that could help you become successful with your music in 2025.It’s a long list, so pick the ones that are most applicable and most likely to move you ahead in leaps and bounds. There are some really good ones in there!
As I sat in the dimly lit grand ballroom listening to Robin Frederick’s presentation at this year’s TAXI Road Rally, I noticed how nearly every person in the audience was leaning forward. Just a tad. Not quite bent over, but definitely leaning in the direction of the stage where a single spotlight illuminated the gravitas of what Robin was saying.Why were 1,000 musicians leaning toward her?Because Robin sucks people into what she’s saying. She was giving one of her famous brain dumps in which you can’t take notes quickly enough. Every word matters! And every concept she freely gives away could be that ONE thing that helps you take your songs from really good to really, REALLY good. So good that one person asks another, “Have you heard that song?”There’s not a songwriter alive who doesn’t pray for that reaction. I’m right, huh? You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?Well, this past November, Robin covered a topic that she’s never covered before; How to Turn Your Authentic Story into Hit Songs. And you could hear a pin drop in that ballroom.
TAXI member, Jim Thacker has experienced a bit of a meteoric rise in the world of music licensing. As I’ve gotten to know the straight-ahead, No-B.S. person that he is, Jim has really impressed me with his ability to get so much right that he’s now in what I call, “Sync’s Inner Circle.”Yes, he’s one of the people who music libraries and music supervisors call on when they need to deal with a reliable musician who will get them the right music in a professional manner in a short amount of time. I invited Jim to sit on the, “How to Get into Sync’s Inner Circle” panel at this year’s TAXI conference, the Road Rally, and he hit it out of the park! As a matter of fact, ALL of the panelists were incredibly informative, generous with their tips, and downright inspiring!Jim will be my guest on this week’s TAXI TV, and he will be sharing his tips about what you can do to make music libraries and music supervisors love you, too!
There are so many ways to get paid for your work in the age of digital music, that I admit that I’m confused as to who exactly pays what. One thing I do know is that the people who attended the presentation by the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) at this year’s TAXI Road Rally were SO glad they went!They were so grateful that I’ve invited one the MLC’s top executives (Serona Elton, Head of Educational Partnerships) to join us on this week’s TAXI TV. I’ve met with her on Zoom, and she’s really good at explaining why you really could have money just sitting there waiting for you, and what you can do to collect it!Serona is also the Director of the Music Business Program at the University of Miami, my alma mater, so I like her even more!!!
If you were at this year’s TAXI Road Rally (our annual FREE conference), you were part of what many of the attendees are saying was the best we’ve ever produced in 28 years. We humbly agree! There was something special in the air. Maybe it was the quality of the Ballroom Panels, the One-to-One Mentor sessions, the Eat & Greet Luncheons, the Drivers Ed breakout classes, the Sponsors, or the music industry Networking… or maybe it was all of those things. One thing for sure is that the TAXI members who come made it special. I’ve never seen a happier, more motivated, or more excited group of attendees in all the years we’ve been gathering for the Road Rally. If you couldn’t join us, this might sound like marketing hyperbole. If you were there, you know exactly what I’m talking about! And you know that it’s not an exaggeration! Not even a little bit.Let’s capture that lightning in a bottle…I’m going to share a bunch of Rally photos and member comments during this week’s TAXI TV episode. A lot of them! Maybe you’ll see some shots of yourself or hear your comments read out loud. I also have an ulterior motive for doing this episode: I want to hear from you about what YOU think made this year’s Rally so special, so we can make it even better next year! “Do more of this, or less of that,” sort of feedback is what I want to hear.I also want people who didn’t come to hear how powerful and career-changing the Rally is because frankly, there are still a lot of members who don’t know what they’re missing. I think they’d rather hear it from the horse’s mouth, rather than the “boss’s mouth.”
As I was grabbing my notes from a table on the stage during last weekend’s TAXI Road Rally, I overheard a musician talking with a music supervisor who had just finished speaking on a panel.The TAXI member said, “Scan my QR code and it will take you to my linktr.ee that has links to my bio, Soundcloud, Instagram, Facebook, my videos, and a bunch of other stuff.” Without missing a beat, the music supervisor asked, “Why don’t you have a website?”Why wouldn’t you put all of your music, photos, bio, videos, and social media all in one place? Why make it harder than it needs to be for the people who want to know about you to learn everything they can about you?So, I invited Joseph Longo from Bandzoogle to join us for this week’s episode! He was my guest about a year ago, and he was so good at explaining all of this that I called his boss the next day to tell him how what a great job Joseph did!Win a FREE Thirty-Minute Website Consultation with Joseph!I’ve also asked Joseph if he would give away a consulting session with one of our viewers who either needs feedback on their existing website or wants advice on what their website should feature if they choose to build one.
TAXI’s free conference, the Road Rally starts on November 7th, so I’d like to dedicate an episode of TAXI TV to let you know what you’ll miss if you stay home and miss what people say is the best conference of its kind. I’ll also go through what we have in store for you in the way of panels, classes, mentoring, and chances to play live at the Rally!Not to brag, but I can tell you that this year’s Rally has the best panels, classes, and mentors we’ve ever had!Got Rally Questions?I’ll also answer your questions about the Rally… anything and everything you might be wondering about! We want you to come prepared to make the best of this powerful weekend.If you haven’t already registered, you can do it by clicking this link!https://www.taxi.com/taxi-road-rally/If You’ve Already Registered, but Haven’t Reserved Your Seat at the Eat & Greet Luncheon, click this link! https://www.taxi.com/hosting_user_sessions/newWin a FREE Book of Your Choice!One lucky viewer will get to pick one of these awesome books!Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: by Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/3DmmJQoDemystifying the Cue: by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/486AuzdWriting Production Music for TV by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/41qUQ3i
Our viewers love it when we do the “A&R Hot Seat” episodes, and here’s why…“Michael, I’ve learned so much from the A&R Hot Seat episodes on TAXI TV! Can you please do them more often? My music has improved quite a bit because it’s much easier to be objective when deciding what works and what doesn’t about somebody else’s music rather than my own." —Timothy ReardonWe’ve been hearing the same thing from other viewers for years!With that in mind, on this week’s TAXI TV, we’ll be making A&R decisions to test your A&R skills and see if TAXI's A&R team is as good as I think they are ;-) Here's what we'll be judging together.TAXI # S240922AC - INDIE POP and INDIE FOLK SONGS for (up to) $20,000 placements.
So, how does a song written twenty-one years ago end up in the #1 position on the iTunes Dance chart in multiple countries, and #18 in the U.S.? Well, it was written by a songwriter with cuts on albums that have sold 50 million copies. He’s also had singles on Billboard’s Pop, Country, and R&B charts, and his songs have been recorded by artists including Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, the Oak Ridge Boys, K-Pop & J-Pop artists, and many more. He’s also composed the background score and songs for an Emmy-winning TV show and another that was Emmy-nominated. From reading the above, you might think he was born talented (maybe he was), and as soon as his gift for writing hit songs was heard by a music industry executive, the floodgates opened. Wrong! That was not the case at all, and of course, I’m speaking about hit songwriter, Jason Blume!Jason found his success by being incredibly persistent! When he first moved to Los Angeles decades ago, he lived in a very dumpy, unsafe apartment, and literally ate cat food because that’s all he could afford!That’s why I’ve invited him to inspire you with his story of overcoming obstacles that would send most humans running home with their tails tucked firmly between their legs. There will be a LIVE Q&A with Jason during the last 30 minutes!
We all know that it's WHO you know, not just what you know, right? But can you honestly say that you've done everything you can to fill your little "Black Book" with music industry contacts that are key to a sustained, successful career in the music business?How many music supervisors do you personally know? How many production music library owners do you personally know? How many A&R people or music publishers can you honestly say would take your call or answer your email?And how many successful TAXI members are in your network? More importantly, how many of them include you in their network? That's where the rubber really meets the road — when you get introduced to industry executives through your fellow members who already have those all-important relationships! Collaborations can be your "magic carpet" into catalogs that TV shows and films use every day.Why work harder, when you can simply work smarter? Meet the Very Best Networkers I've Ever Met!Tracey and Vance Marino are well-known in virtually every music-related community I can think of. And they have a list of contacts that would make you incredibly envious! That's probably one of the reasons they've had thousands of TV and film placements all over the world.How Did They Make All Those Contacts?That's exactly what I'm going to ask them on this week's TAXI TV, and if you join us for this live broadcast, you'll learn how to build up your little black book of music industry contacts too!"But Michael, I'm not the type of person who feels comfortable talking to total strangers to introduce myself and pitch my music."I hear ya, but there are some highly effective ways to build a powerful network without ever leaving the safety of the cozy little cocoon you call your "home studio."
Do you have questions about anything in the recording, mixing, or production realm? Great! We’ve got the perfect guy to answer them for you, live on this week’s TAXI TV!Ronan Chris Murphy is an acclaimed music producer, engineer, and mixer, known for his versatile work across various genres. With a career spanning decades, he has collaborated with notable artists like King Crimson, Tony Levin, Steve Morse, and Terry Bozzio. Murphy is also recognized for his work in progressive rock, experimental, and world music, along with his expertise in recording techniques. Beyond his production work, he is a founder of the Recording Boot Camp, where he teaches advanced music production and recording techniques to aspiring producers.But, to many TAXI members, Ronan is best known for his excellent mentorship and classes at our annual (free for members) conference, The TAXI Road Rally (November 7th – 10th, 2024).
If you’re reading this, you’d undoubtedly like to be thought of as a “Go-To” musician in the eyes of the “kingpins” of sync world, right? Well, I was speaking with a TAXI member named Robina-Ritchie Barker the other day, and I was blown away by the way she looks at the sync industry. More specifically, her views on what it takes to become successful in the sync industry.The funny thing is; the day before my conversation with Robina, we (the TAXI staff) were dealing with a situation in which one of our members had a golden opportunity but lost it in the end because he is sort of the opposite of Robina.Now, I’m not making fun of him. I’m not calling him stupid. I’m not going to pillory him on TAXI TV. He’s very new to the sync side of the industry and just didn’t know better. I plan to tell you the heartbreaking story (without identifying him) during this week’s episode and contrast his story with Robina’s story. Take from it what you will. I really, really hope every single TAXI member gets to watch this episode and learn the lesson that could save you from heartbreak in the context of watching a golden opportunity fly out the window, never to return.
It's been a while since we've done an "Ask Michael Anything" on TAXI TV, so that's exactly what we're going to do on today's show! Ask me anything about TAXI, engineering & production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straightforward and helpful answers.Want to know what production music libraries are looking for? I can tell you!Want to know why Hollywood studios won't use you to score their blockbuster films?I know the answer!Want to know why your mixes don't sound like hit records?I'll let you in on a little secret ;-)Want to know where the "sweet spot" is to place a mic on an acoustic guitar?You're going to find out!Want to know how to mic an electric guitar amp for the best sound?I'll fill you in!Want to know a sure-fire way to avoid popping "P's" when recording vocals?I'm going to show you.Want to know how to make publishers reach out to you time and time again?It's common sense, but many people don't do it!Want to know how to approach an industry pro at TAXI's convention?If you promise not to let them know who told you, I'll tell you the secret ;-)Want to know how to avoid headphone leakage when recording vocals?The answer is SO simple, yet almost always overlooked!Get Your Questions Answered!
If your goal is to earn your living creating music instead of having a day job that you don’t love, then you really don’t want to miss this week’s episode of TAXI TV.Would you like to have written this statement? “Today, I have lost track, but hundreds of TV shows and almost 100 networks have used my music all over the world. I went from wondering how to get a piece of music in a library almost 10 years ago, to today, where I can’t keep up with all the requests I get for my music from music libraries. And I am now working with filmmakers and writing music for ads.”I’m going to introduce you to somebody who will inspire you to the point of making it all seem possible, if not probable! How many times in your life has anybody offered to show you how to live your dream—for FREE? That’s exactly what we’re going to do on this week’s TAXI TV. And all you have to do is show up and listen to what my surprise guest will share with you!⏱️⏱️VIDEO CHAPTERS⏱️⏱️0:11 - TAXI CEO Michael Laskow welcomes the audience and introduces his guest Hugo McLaughlin.1:44 - Michael reads Hugo's letter that inspired the show.13:06- Do you need a catalog to go to the Road Rally?14:44 - What about people who are afraid to come to the Road Rally, what would you say to them?19:33 - Hugo shares some thoughts about the Road Rally and what to expect. 25:29 - If you don't go to the Road Rally nothing will happen with your musical growth. Why not take a chance?26:22 - Many people don't believe the Road Rally will help and do not come. 27:44 - Hugo says seeing the TAXI cab parked in front of the hotel at the Road Rally makes him smile.28:40 - Michael explains why he named the company TAXI29:29 - Hugo talks about collaboration, does he collaborate with many people? 30:41 - When he first started with his first collaborator, what was his workflow process and how long did that take?36:44 - Fantasy is NOT a business plan! Hugo explains why. 39:29 - Hugo explains why deadlines can be helpful.42:54 - Hugo and his main collaborator create 100s of pieces a year. How did he go from being inexperienced to being experienced and more time-efficient? 48:34 - Hugo explains that to write an instrumental cue or piece fast, you need to know the structure of the piece.49:33 - Michael explains what an instrumental cue intro is.51:02 - Does Hugo use templates?54:35 - Has Hugo had rejection and how does he deal with that?57:01 - Hugo explains how he pitches to TAXI listings and what happens after he gets a forward.1:00:47 - The feedback you get from a TAXI screener is so important, that you must learn from that feedback.1:01:14 - Does he feel the feedback is from a professional in the industry? Every "No" is a learning opportunity. 1:03:51 - Focus on what the client is asking for.1:04:03 - Will Hugo be at the 2024 Road Rally?1:07:03 - Less is more in TV music!1:08:42 - When Hugo said "Invest in yourself", what did he mean? 1:11:47 - Get sounds that are appropriate for the music you want to create.1:15:13 - Not everyone can be good at everything.1:16:00 - Don't expect placements just because you buy expensive libraries or plugins. You have to learn how to use them correctly.1:17:04 - Is it easy to get film-scoring gigs?1:26:15 - Is the piano plugin he recommended the Viena Symphonic library Synchron Bosendorfer Imperial full library?1:27:46 - With all Hugo's forwards, how many times did he NOT hear back from a company?1:31:30 - Does he use articulations in his strings?1:32:19 - Doesn't talent matter more than how many libraries you own?1:33:52 - Set realistic goals.1:37:23 - Could someone teach a class at. the Road Rally on how to do the programming to make strings sound real?1:38:33 - Do most artists outsource mixing before submitting, or is that something I need to learn?1:40:10 - Michael gives some advice on mixing.🔥 See Requests for Your Music ➡️ https://www.taxi.com/industry
Casey Hurowitz has been to more TAXI Road Rallies than any other member, with the probable exception of the legendary Bill Gordon. Casey has long been the go-to guy for Rally first-timers and even some conference veterans. Go-to for what, you might ask… Everything from where to grab the free hotel shuttle, to bringing a hoodie because it can get chilly in the ballroom, to the best way to present your music, to the best places and times to meet industry pros, to figuring out the best way to approach those industry pros—because you really can meet them!Casey has great advice on just about everything as it relates to the TAXI Road Rally, and I’m certain he can help you decide if you should come; and if you do, how to get the most bang for your buck! If you haven’t checked out the Rally yet, see last year’s schedule (we’re working on this year) here: https://taxi.com/rallyHave your questions ready!We’re saving the second half of this episode for Casey to answer your questions, so jot them down in advance, and get ready to paste them in the live chat room to get your questions answered. This should be fun and informative.
Not only will Robin be sharing her 5 best tips for writing better songs more quickly than you do now, she will also be giving feedback on THREE randomly chosen songs from our loyal viewers.If you’re reading this email, follow the steps below to have your song in the running for one of Robin’s famous feedback sessions.Win a FREE Copy of Robin’s Best-Selling Book!Actually, this week’s winner can choose between a hard copy of the original book or the updated digital version—including Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3! How to Get Your Song Reviewed by Robin...To have a shot at getting your Song reviewed, all you need to do is email the TITLE of your song so our team can download it from your TAXI profile and paste your LYRICS into the body copy of the email, to taxitv@taxi.com no later than MONDAY, August 19th at NOON Pacific Time.
TAXI member, Greg Carrozza will be my guest on this week’s show and he’s going to share everything he knows about collaborating with your fellow TAXI members. If you’d like to accelerate your journey to a successful career in sync licensing, this will be some of the best advice you can get! Greg is a very practical, pragmatic guy, and he explains things in plain English. He’s the exact opposite of college professors who often take a very academic approach when teaching.My point? You’ll come away from this episode with actionable advice you can use starting the very next day!Want to know how a collaborative relationship works? We’ve got you covered!Want to know how and where to find collaborators? Greg will tell you!Want to know who gets what percentage of the booty? You’ll find out!Want to know the technical aspects (easier than you think)? Done!Want to know how to end a collab that’s not working out? Easier than you might think!Win One of THREE FREE Books on Sync! I’ll be giving away THREE books this week, and they are…Insert book covers with linksShortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV (Robin Frederick) https://amzn.to/3YEgRNY, Cue Tips (Dean Krippheane) https://amzn.to/3YJIxke, and Writing Production Music for TV (Steve Barden) https://amzn.to/3YClkQXThe Winner of the $200 Road Rally Plane Fare Prize Will Be Announced!
Get your questions ready for TAXI’s Head Screener, Craig Pilo, because he’s going to join us on this week’s TAXI TV! He’s always a popular guest, and has a great deal of knowledge to share about the sync industry in general, as well as insight relating to TAXI’s screeners, the screening process, common mistakes, and great tips for getting more of your music forwarded to the industry people who are searching for it!Questions submitted in advance of the show will get answered first! Please email them to Liz@taxi.com no later than Monday, August 5th at 1pm Pacific time.Cast Your VotesCraig will join me for the first half of Monday’s episode, and we’ll spend the second half watching the Road Rally testimonial videos submitted by our members. You’ll be able to vote on a dedicated form after the episode ends. The winner will get a $200 prize to help them buy their plane ticket to the Rally which is coming up in little more than 3 months (November 7th – 10th)! TAXI’s Free Music Conference…We’re always amazed by how many TAXI members seem completely unaware of the TAXI Road Rally, so here are a couple of links to help you learn more about this career-changing event!https://www.taxi.com/transmitter/2407/registration-for-taxis-free-conference-is-open/https://www.taxi.com/taxi-road-rally
Our viewers love when we do the “A&R Hot Seat” episodes, and here’s why…“Michael, I’ve learned so much from the A&R Hot Seat episodes on TAXI TV! Can you please do them more often? My music has improved quite a bit because it’s much easier to be objective when deciding what works and what doesn’t about somebody else’s music rather than my own." —Timothy ReardonWe’ve been hearing the same thing from other viewers for years!With that in mind, on this week’s TAXI TV we’ll be making A&R decisions on two different types of music. Let's test your A&R skills and see if TAXI's A&R team is as good as I think they are ;-) Here's what we'll be judging together.TAXI # S240612UP - EMOTIONALLY UPLIFTING PIANO and STRING INSTRUMENTALS and/or CUESTAXI # S240716SS - ACOUSTIC-Driven INDIE SINGER/SONGWRITER SONGS about LOVE
If you’re exhausted by all the worry and hand-wringing caused by the threat of Artificial Intelligence obsoleting musicians, I think you’re going to like this episode of TAXI TV. I think you’ll be somewhat less stressed after watching it!TAXI member/composer/producer, Paul Croteau has done the work the rest of us don’t have the bandwidth to do—he’s been obsessively following the AI discussions, lawsuits, and technological advances the rest of us don’t. At least not to the same extent. Oh, we know some of the stuff, but most of the opinions we all hear (in my opinion) are based on far less information than what I think Paul has consumed. I’ve watched most of his videos and had several discussions with him on this hot-button topic, and feel like he can inject some common sense that might make us feel like the sky isn’t falling as fast or hard as some might have us think.You just might find yourself saying, “Oh wow, I hadn’t thought of that aspect of it!”
I’m not going to mention my guest’s name in this description. If I do, people will bombard him with emails asking to have their music heard. You’ll have to watch the show to see who it is ;-)This music library CEO is a successful TV and film composer who used TAXI to build his career over many years. He became successful enough that he was getting more requests for music than he could personally produce, so he started a music library. Harder than it sounds, and I’ll ask him to tell us why on this week’s TAXI TV.But the REAL reason I asked him to be on TAXI TV is because of our relentless efforts to help you learn how to not blow a deal when you’re offered one. I’m also going to ask him to give you tips on avoiding mistakes that could make a library grow cold on you and your music. Who better than somebody who’s been on both sides of the sync licensing fence — Composer/Library CEO?Win a FREE Book During This Week’s Live Broadcast!I’m not sure exactly which book (or books) we’ll be giving away yet. I’ve got to check the stash ;-) But, you can rest assured it/they will be about creating and succeeding in sync licensing.
Two of the most articulate executives from the music library industry asked me if they could join me for an episode of TAXI TV. They’ve got insider info they want to share, and they think our TAXI TV audience is the best place to start spreading the love.I’m not giving out their names in this email because they would get bombarded with, “Listen to my music” emails if I did —sorry! Trust me when I tell you that both of these folks are highly experienced, highly regarded, and well-informed execs from a very successful company. Whatever they share, you can take to the bank! Miss this episode at your own peril, as they say. Who ARE “they,” anyway?Get Your Questions Ready! We’re going to do some live Q&A during this episode, so please get your questions ready in advance. And PLEASE keep them short and pithy!I’ll be choosing questions from the Live Chat Room, so you’ll need to watch the live episode on Monday to have a shot at getting your questions answered.
I saw a great interview with a music supervisor talking about why vinyl is so desirable and making a strong comeback. I thought he was so articulate and informative, that I’m meeting him for lunch in exactly 2 hours (rushing to get this written, lol). I’m going to ask him to speak at this year’s Road Rally, November 7th – 11th in Los Angeles. I’m also going to ask him to play a bunch of TV commercials and explain why the music was used and how the ad agency picked it. You see, this music supe mostly does big TV commercials!After watching the interview, I called Tony VanVeen at Disc Makers (their CEO) to ask him if vinyl was indeed making a strong comeback, and to my surprise, he said it was booming! And that’s why I’ve asked Tony to be my guest on this week’s TAXI TV! I want to know why vinyl has become a “thing” again, and if it’s something all musicians should consider.Win a Vinyl Package from Disc Makers?Tony has kindly offered to give a FREE vinyl pressing to one of our viewers during this week’s show. The lucky winner (drawn at random from our chat room audience) will get 100 vinyl records, full-color labels, black vinyl, color jackets, white inner sleeves, and poly wrap. The artist only pays shipping. Extras like fancy colored vinyl or special effects like splatter vinyl, or heavy 180-gram pressings are all possible upgrades, but the winner will have to cover the cost of any upgrades.
I was lucky enough to start my career wrapping cables at a world-class recording studio, surrounded by the best engineers, mixers, and producers in the business. I learned so much just by being “under the roof” and working with those incredibly talented people.Sadly, most of you reading this will never get to ask questions and learn engineering and production from the best in the business because your studio is in your home. Convenient? Yes! You can work whenever you want, and for as long as you want!Isolating? Also, yes! Working by yourself pretty much limits you to learning from YouTube videos. But, that’s not nearly as good as having TWO real-deal, hit-making, multi-Grammy-winning, multi-platinum engineers/mixers answer your specific questions in real-time. That’s EXACTLY what you’re going to do when you join Rob Chiarelli, Michael Havens, and me on this very special episode of TAXI TV, live! Michael engineers Gospel superstar Kirk Franklin’s records, and Rob mixes them. They’ve also (collectively) worked with Justin Bieber, Tori Kelly, Chance the Rapper, Demi Lovato, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Erica Campbell, Big Smo, Andra Day, The Corrs, Public Enemy, Jesse McCartney, LeeAnn Rimes, Will Smith, Danny Elfman, Christina Aguilera, Teddy Pendergrass, The Temptations, The Four Tops, and many, many more!
Our annual conference, the TAXI Road Rally, is fast approaching (November 7th – 10th), and the planning has already begun! To make sure the Rally has the panels and classes you really want, I need to hear from you!Will you please join me on this week’s TAXI TV to give your input and opinions?Which Sponsors Would You Like Discounts From?I also need your help in suggesting sponsors that you’d like to see at the Rally. Why? Because they often give Rally-specific discounts, on-site during the weekend!We’ll be opening registration for the Rally in the next few days, so if you’ve never attended, ask yourself this simple question, “How much value is there in doing something that could dramatically speed up my path to music industry success?” Here’s an example of what I’m talking about, and you can click the link below to see several Rally success stories that will give you a really good idea of what you’ll be missing if you don’t take advantage of this FREE perk that you’re entitled to!
You’d be hard-pressed to find a successful TAXI member who hasn’t read at least one of Dean Krippaehne’s books on creating music for media. "Demystifying the Cue" and "Demystifying the Genre" have become industry standards, and I suspect the same will be true for Dean’s newest book, "Cue Tips – 50 songwriting, composing, and Music Production Hacks to speed up your sync journey." Dean’s a great teacher because he speaks and writes in very conversational terms. It feels like your best friend is giving you the advice he learned after making his own mistakes along the way.
It’s been quite a while since we’ve had one of your very favorite guests on TAXI TV, so I’m happy to let you know that 5-time Grammy-winner Rob Chiarelli will be my guest on this week’s TAXI TV!If you’re not already familiar with Rob’s career, you can learn more about him here: https://www.finalmix.com/Rob and I have been close friends for several decades, and we love to talk about mixing, mics, production, and even finding success in the sync market. We spent three hours trading studio stories and techniques at dinner last night. Our waiter kept asking, “Is there anything else I can get you guys?” He was anxious to get us out of there, but we weren’t having it ;-) I wish you could have been there. I’m sure we’ll re-create the magic on this week’s show!Remind me to ask Rob about the time he was trapped in a burning apartment building with a big pop star! Seriously close call!!!Ask Your Questions During the Live Show…Rob and I will also be taking questions in real-time from the viewers in the Chat Room during the show. Want to know our recommended drum mics, ask us! Is your bottom end poofy and flabby? We can tell you how to fix that! Reverb settings, panning, compressor settings, EQ, and anything else you can think of will all be on the table, so join us to get answers from a seasoned pro!Live Viewers Get a FREE New FinalMix Plugin!Join us for the live broadcast, and you’ll get a code for a FREE plugin from Rob’s software company, FinalMix. He was raving about a new plugin that’s not even up on his website yet, and he’s going to give it away to every live audience member. Honestly, I’ve never seen him this excited about one of his plugins, so you don’t want to miss out on this giveaway. You need to be in the Chatroom during the live broadcast to get it. If you miss the show, you’ll miss your chance!
Frankly, I just can’t seem to wrap my head around what the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) does. I think I’m reasonably intelligent, but that’s just my opinion and I’m biased ;-) But, every time I hear what the MLC does and who might have money coming to them, I understand it at the moment, then can’t remember the complexities an hour later.Michael Eames is VERY involved with the MLC and explains it better than anybody I know. He’s also one of the smartest people I’ve ever met in our industry. Really! When he tells me how important the work the MLC is doing, I believe him.If you want to understand what it does, and if there’s any money owed to you sitting in their bank account, do NOT miss this episode of TAXI TV! I think there’s a window in which you have to claim it, but as I said, I could be wrong ;-)
AI and its effect on music creation is likely the most talked about topic of the year amongst musicians. And, while I haven’t wanted to jump on the click-bait bandwagon like so many other music-related YouTube channels have, I also don’t want to stick our collective heads in the sand.It’s early in the game but also a party to which you don’t want to be late. My personal feeling is, that histrionics are bad and balance is good. I was catching up with my old friend, Todd Herreman this week, and he had some interesting and balanced views on the topic of AI, and I’ve asked him to join us on this week’s TAXI TV to share his thoughts and insights. By the way, Todd was a valued member of TAXI’s A&R team for several years. He knows and understands indie musicians!🚨 WARNING: Viewer Discretion is Advised: This video contains some "spicy" language. Please advise near: 56:42, 1:06:51, 1:14:18, 1:22:09, 1:23:39, 1:31:23, 1:32:30.
It's been a while since we've done an "Ask Michael Anything" on TAXI TV, so that's exactly what we're going to do on today's show! Ask me anything about TAXI, engineering & production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straight ahead helpful answers.Want to know what production music libraries are looking for? I can tell you!Want to know why Hollywood studios won't use you to score their blockbuster films?I know the answer!Want to know why your mixes don't sound like hit records?I'll let you in on a little secret ;-)
Our viewers love it when we do the “A&R Hot Seat” episodes, and here’s why…“Michael, I’ve learned so much from the A&R Hot Seat episodes on TAXI TV! Can you please do them more often? My music has improved quite a bit because it’s much easier to be objective when deciding what works and what doesn’t about somebody else’s music rather than my own.” —Timothy ReardonWe’ve been hearing the same thing from other viewers for years!With that in mind, on this week’s TAXI TV, we’ll be making A&R decisions on two types of music: Light-hearted, organic Instrumental Cues and Christmas Songs.I’m back in Los Angeles, and this will be a LIVE episode with some FREE prizes to celebrate our first live episode in several weeks. If you’d like to have a shot at winning a copy of one of these two incredible books, you’ll need to watch the live episode and be present in the Chat Room.
Bobby Borg joined me on TAXI TV a couple weeks ago and after the show ended, I realized how much more we could have covered. Specifically, I felt that we could have gone more in-depth on the subject of marketing for musicians.He’s the perfect person to talk about it because he’s the author of, Music Marketing for The DIY Musician. But, he’s much more than the author of that book!
Do you believe that you’re either born with talent or you’re not? Do you believe that hit songwriters just pop out of their mother’s bellies imbued with the gift of writing great songs? I don’t!All the hit songwriters I’ve met during my career have gone to great lengths to learn the craft of songwriting. And they keep working at their craft to stay current and relevant as styles and the public’s preferences change with the times. There’s something else that hit songwriters have in common, but few will ever admit it. They ALL made a ton of mistakes in the beginning!Many of those mistakes are common to virtually all beginning songwriters. But, if you don’t know what those common mistakes are, you keep making them over-and-over until they become career-killing habits!“Career-killing” as in; your career as a hit songwriter never materializes. You stay stuck in “amateur-land” no matter how many years you keep writing songs.Please don’t think of me as being rude or harsh for asking this, but, how many years have you been writing songs? And if you’re completely honest with yourself, how many hit songs have you written in all those years?You’ll stop making those common mistakes once you know what they are…And best-selling author of Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting, Robin Frederick is the perfect person to tell you exactly what those mistakes are, and how to avoid making them as you finally move your career forward!That’s why I’ve asked Robin to join us on this week’s episode of TAXI TV!
You can be an extremely talented musician with songs that sound like they’re destined to fly to the top of the charts or TV instrumentals that could earn a bunch of mailbox money, but there’s another “factor” that could stop key music industry executives from wanting to work with you —lacking business skills.More specifically, MUSIC business skills!Which musician would you sign?Given the choice of working with an artist, composer, songwriter, or producer who has a decent, working knowledge of how the “sausage is made” VS the musician who thinks great music is all they need, the industry executives I’ve worked with for nearly 50 years always seem to sign deals with musicians who have their business s#!t together. Why is that?Because the musicians who understand the business side of the music business are easier to work with, and almost always make more money for all parties involved. Who would you work with?
Who among us hasn't had self-doubt at one time or another? It might be so bad that it keeps you stuck in the same place—career-wise—for your entire life! Maybe in other ways, as well!If you're anything like me, meeting people who prove that you can be anything you want to be can change the outcome of your life in an instant. Kim Tibbs is one of those incredibly rare, super-inspiring musicians. She's an unstoppable force of nature with a list of impressive accomplishments that didn't come easily. Kim accomplished her goals with a burning desire, a clear vision, and a willingness to work hard. If you're feeling stuck, uninspired, or need to find your true path, spending some time with Kim Tibbs could be the "thing" that becomes your life-changing moment. Trust me, you'll feel inspired to reach higher and accomplish more by the time you finish this very special episode of TAXI TV!
Stephanie Reid is a super-smart music licensing executive who has a really interesting take on the Artificial Intelligence kerfuffle, as it relates to the music industry.Are you trepidatious? Have you lost sleep because you’ve spent years building your sync career, and now it looks like Robbie the Robot is going to force you into busking on street corners in the not-too-distant future?Now that you’ve listened to all the other prognosticators shouting, “The sky is falling!” you should hear what my incredibly well-informed, and well-reasoned friend Steph has to say. Try and poke holes in her logic and see how that goes.And while you’re at it, listen to how she thinks the blockchain could dramatically improve the music publishing industry!Put your thinking caps on gang! This episode is chock-full of great information, and I’m curious to see how you feel after watching it!
If you’re new-ish to the world of sync music licensing, you’re going to love hearing what Jim Thacker has to say. What he’s going to share with you could literally save you from making years of career-killing mistakes!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been disappointed when I hear about a musician who I want to check out, and they only have social media. Most don’t know how to use their socials very well, and even when they do, I don’t find everything I need to know about them.How much success have you had with your music that can be directly attributable to your social media? Yep, that’s what I thought — practically none.However, when I Google a musician, and the first thing I see at the top of the page is something like XYZMusician.com, I click and usually learn everything I need to know: What their story is, what their music sounds like, when and where their gigs are, what their videos look like if they have an EPK if they sell merch, do they have a Patreon, what their career path looks like, and how to contact him or her. Oh yeah, and links to all of their social media.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a music creator who doesn’t want to get their music in TV shows, films, or commercials. Yet, the majority of songwriters, artists, producers, and composers who want to jump into the sync side of the music industry really don’t know the “rules of the game,” where to start, or the strategies that can get you to a six-figure income.Most aren’t aware of some very common mistakes they’re making that could easily kill a sync career before it ever has a chance to take off!I’m going to boil it down to a clearly defined list of critical things every musician should know if they want to start a career in music licensing or see faster growth if they’re already on the path.
It's time to hear some great music from TAXI's members — songs and instrumentals, alike! Our Top 10 episodes are viewer favorites, so please join us tomorrow at 4 pm (PST) for the LIVE show and you'll have a shot at winning a copy of Dean Krippaehne's must-have book, Demystifying the Genre!If you want to get your music on TV, this book is indispensable! And you'll have a shot at winning a FREE copy if you're in the chat room for this episode!Join us and you'll hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.
How many songs or instrumentals do you have that remain unfinished? C'mon... be honest with yourself.How much more successful could you be if you actually DID finish all the songs or instrumentals you started?Join me and my special guest, Robin Frederick, as we uncover some great ways to make sure you DO finish your songs and instrumentals when you start them. I think this is going to be a really powerful episode! Frankly, I'm champing at the bit to share this information with you!! It could be life-changing. Certainly career-changing!And Robin... well, we all love and appreciate Robin's endless supply of wisdom, so I can't wait to hear her suggestions for finishing the songs and instrumentals you start!
TAXI's Head Screener (Craig Pilo) will join Michael to answer any and all questions during this week's LIVE episode of TAXI TV. Got questions on topics like how TAXI's A&R team approaches their job, common submission mistakes, little improvements that can make a big difference, production tips for sounding more contemporary, and more? Craig and Michael will give you straight-up answers!Bonus topic: Craig is a first-call session and live drummer, and he'll be happy to answer your questions about getting drum sounds in the studio, tuning your drums, making programmed drums sound and feel more realistic, and anything else you can think of! Please have some questions ready to go in the live chat, or even better, email your questions to TAXITV@TAXI.com no later than 2 pm Pacific Time on Monday, January 22nd.
TAXI TV has been “on the air” for at least 13 years, and we’ve never done an episode featuring a pair of earphones. The reason is; I’ve never heard any that were impressive enough to tell you about. But now I have, and this week I’m going to share them with you!While other manufacturers have seemingly tried to improve the listening/hearing experience by building a better “mousetrap,” Flare Audio studied the “mouse” first. Well, actually, the human ear, and how it degrades sound.Flare’s E-Prototype earphones dramatically reduce the natural distortion the ear canal introduces, and the result is noticeable. The imaging is impressive, the EQ curve sounds balanced and true, ear fatigue is greatly diminished (if not non-existent), and I’m hearing things/parts/instruments I’ve never heard before—even in my beloved Steely Dan songs I’ve used as my control room references for decades.Want to Win a Pair of Flare’s E-Prototypes?Flare’s Co-Founder, Davies Roberts is staying up very late (in the U.K.) to join us for this live episode (4pm Pacific time), and he’s going to give away a pair or two of E-Prototypes! We’ll also play the video Flare used for their GofundMe campaign and do a lot of Q&A with Davies, and hopefully, his wife and Co-Founder, Naomi.Can You Tell I’m Excited to Turn You on to Flare?I was introduced to the E-Prototypes by a close friend who’s done high-level audio restoration for Warner Bros. and several other companies for decades. He’s got very discerning ears and insisted that I check his E-Prototypes out. I did, and the rest, as they say, is history!
TAXI member, Matt Vander Boegh’s music plays somewhere in the world every hour of every day. His accomplishments have inspired his fellow TAXI members to quit making excuses, to get busy, and to become more productive.In 13 years, he’s amassed a staggering 25,000+ placements on over 900 TV programs, including various major sporting events, Hollywood movies, high-profile reality TV shows, soap operas, commercials, and daytime & evening talk shows. He has nearly 5,000 cues and hundreds of full-length songs signed to many high-end production music libraries.
Members have suggested doing an online Holiday Party for this week’s TAXI TV, so why not?!We imagine this will be sort of like the Quarantini Happy Hours we enjoyed so much during the pandemic, except we won’t be locked down this time ;-)Will we hang out and have some fun? Yep!Will I answer questions, if asked? Sure, why not?Will we pick some of the songs at random to listen to? Yes, we will!Will we do some random drawings for prizes? Absolutely!
I’ve been compiling a list of mistakes that can hurt, or even KILL your chances of having a successful career in the music licensing business. Some of these mistakes are made by people just starting out. Shockingly, others are made by people who I think are seasoned pros at this point in their careers!You might have heard of some of these mistakes before, but I’ll bet there will be plenty that you’ve never even thought about, and could be making yourself! This is a Do-Not-Miss episode!Win a TAXI Coffee Mug! I’ve got an official TAXI coffee mug left over from the Road Rally, and I’d love to give it away. But, you’ve got to be in the chat room during the LIVE show to win.TAXI Merch Store: https://taxi-swag-central.myshopify.com/
Our viewers have always loved our "A&R Hot Seat" episodes! Here's why: by judging music to see if their opinions line up with TAXI's A&R staff, our members get to fine-tune their "industry ears." They LOVE how it helps them listen to their own music more critically!Members have also told me that these episodes build confidence in TAXI's A&R team when they see that the screeners' decisions are very much on-target!
If you’ve ever thought, “I just need a manager,” listen up! The manager you’re probably dreaming of—you know… you make the music, and they do all the business-y and promotional work to help you become famous… that kind of manager—probably won’t want to work with you yet, and here’s why…The big, high-powered managers work on commission, and they won’t MAKE a commission unless you’re already making money. A well-meaning super fan might offer to manage you in the beginning, and that’s great… at least for a while. But can their lack of industry knowledge, connections, and clout be replaced by their raw enthusiasm? Maybe, but typically, not! And if they’re successful enough to help make you famous and/or get offers from major labels, in most cases, the label you sign with is going to “suggest” that you sign with a seasoned pro instead of your super fan. And that’s when things get ugly.
It's time to hear some great music from TAXI's members — songs and instrumentals, alike! Our Top 10 episodes are viewer favorites, so please join us tomorrow at 4 pm (PST) for the LIVE show and you'll have a shot at winning a copy of Steve Barden's must-have book!Join us and you'll hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.Win a FREE Book During the Live Broadcast!I'm also going to give away a copy of this awesome book, loved by TAXI members all over the world!Writing Production Music for TV by Steve Barden:https://amzn.to/47AYQkKBe in the chatroom during the live broadcast to have a shot at winning this highly-rated book!*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the link above in this description.
In it for the long haul? The experts at Disc Makers share practical, actionable ways to triumph as an independent artist in this free "29 Tips For a Long and Successful Music Career" guide: https://bit.ly/49qvMOF-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Why am I not surprised that Spotify plans to pay even less to "lesser" artists soon? Talks between the streaming giant and the three major labels have been ongoing for some time, and rumors have been making the rounds for months. Now, it appears that Spotify will be lowering the rate paid to indie artists. Most likely, that means you!Disc Makers CEO, Tony van Veen was going to do a sponsor presentation on this very topic during the Road Rally Sequels last Monday, but getting him in front of a webcam in the time slot we had, proved to be tighter than our tech. set-up allowed for. So, we've moved his presentation to this week's episode of TAXI TV, live at 4pm Pacific, 7pm Eastern time.I know Tony well enough to know he won't just tell us the bad news. He'll likely have suggestions of alternate ways for indie musicians to earn income from their music. He's a very bright guy, and a "recovering" indie musician himself, so I look forward to hearing his take on this touchy subject.Please join me for what looks to be an informative episode on this somewhat shocking news!
These are just some of the topics we’ll be talking about on this week’s show with Chuck Henry, a very successful Music Library CEO. Chuck was a TAXI member before he started his company, so he knows exactly what it’s like to be in your shoes! You’ll get perspectives from both sides of the coin on topics like these…- The reasons why you haven’t been called back from the companies your music has been forwarded to.- Is it better to submit multiple tracks, or just one?- Music Library Etiquette: What it is and why it matters so much!- You’ve been contacted by a company, now what?- Why checking your music files before sending them is CRITICAL.- What NOT to include in your Metadata!- Should you register your tracks with your PRO or not?- Samples: Can you use them, and if so, what kind?- The absolute worst times to contact Music Library CEOs and Music Supervisors!- Why a Music Library executive hasn’t returned your phone call or email.- Choosing the right styles of music to create for sync placements.I’m sure we’ll cover several more topics, and if time allows, we’ll take some viewer questions as well!This is going to be a powerful episode that will certainly save you some heartache, and probably help you get more music signed and placed. Do NOT miss this interview unless you’re already a highly-experienced composer, artist, or producer who already knows the answers to all of these career-changing topics. You could spend a couple of semesters at a high-priced university, and probably not get as much poignant advice as you’ll get in this 90-minute episode of TAXI TV! Get your note pads ready!!
I’ll never forget the raging enthusiasm I felt bursting forth from Marcus Cohen (aka (CaiNo) when I met him at his first TAXI Road Rally about 6 years ago. In that moment, it was obvious to me that he’d become successful.He was at the Rally with his mom and creative partner — Sherry Marcus Milano — who’s also a force of nature!It’s not an exaggeration to say that music libraries and other music licensing professionals are now figuratively banging their doors down, asking for music from Marcus, Sherry, and his brother Ethan as well. They’ve got more requests than they can handle.Isn’t that the dream for most musicians?How Marcus and His Family Have Done ItThat’s the thrust of exactly what I want to find out! If they’ve been able to do it, couldn’t you?This is an episode you really don’t want to miss! Ask any self-help success guru (like Tony Robbins) and they’ll tell you to follow the steps of the people who already have the kind of success you want to have.Get your “road map” to success on this week’s episode of TAXI TV!
Casey Hurowitz probably wouldn’t have these placements if he didn’t collaborate: 60 placements on The Young and the Restless (CBS), Chicago Fire (NBC), Salvation (CBS), The Night Shift (NBC), The Originals (CW), and Legacies (CW).Is Casey so bad that he can’t create great music on his own? No! He just knows what he’s good at, and what he’s not so good at. Toplining is his strong suit, engineering and production, not so much ;-)I really can’t think of any TAXI member who so wonderfully exemplifies why collaboration is such a powerful tool. And there are so many of you reading this email who know you should be collaborating, but you don’t!“Why not?” is the question!You don’t know who to collaborate with, or how to find somebody who’s a good fit? You’re afraid a collaborator might steal your ideas? You don’t want to split the income? You don’t know how the process works?Well, we’re going to help you figure all that out, and much more in this week’s episode of TAXI TV. Casey is a font of incredibly valuable information when it comes to collaborating, and I’m going to pry every ounce of that info out of him, and hand it to you on a silver platter!If you’ve ever had the urge to collaborate, but don’t know how to get started or how the process works, you really shouldn’t miss this week’s episode of TAXI TV!
TAXI member Paul Croteau, has no problem saying things like they are! Is he smart, direct, and to the point? Oh yeah! Paulie doesn’t mince words. That's the reason I asked him to do a live, unfiltered, unedited interview with me and ask the tough questions that are likely on the minds of other TAXI members, and maybe even the people who’ve thought about joining TAXI, but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.Paul’s going to be in Los Angeles this week, so he’s joining me LIVE in the TAXI TV studio for what promises to be an incredibly revealing episode that could ultimately help you become more successful and make TAXI a better company.I specifically asked Paul to hit me with some really hard questions, and I’ve given him carte blanche. No question is off the table! The goals are:- To arm you with every bit of knowledge you can use to become more successful using TAXI.- To uncover things TAXI can do better in servicing your needs.Win an Excellent Book! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Steve Barden’s book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, during this episode. It’s a must-have for anybody who’s serious about succeeding in the music for media part of the industry.Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success by Steve Barden:https://amzn.to/48wVjFr
Very few CEOs get down in the trenches with the people they serve, but Disc Maker's CEO, Tony Van Veen, isn't one of them. He's BEEN in the trenches, and he learned a lot! He'd be the first to tell you that he's made a lot of mistakes along the way, and he's more than generous in sharing the tips and tricks he's learned from falling down, getting back up, and trial and error. In other words, YOU get to benefit from what Tony has learned over his years of BEING a musician and doing nothing but helping musicians during his entire adult life. I promise that you'll learn how to kickstart your career and find ways to make it last longer when you watch this episode of TAXI TV. Tony has always been a viewer favorite, and you'll see why when you join us for this information-packed livestream.
We all know that it's WHO you know, not just what you know, right?
But can you honestly say that you've done everything you can to fill your little "Black Book" with music industry contacts that are the key to a successful career?
- How many music supervisors do you personally know?
- How many production music library owners do you personally know?
- How many A&R people or music publishers can you honestly say would take your call or answer your email?
And how many successful TAXI members are in your network? More importantly, how many of them include you in their network? That's where the rubber really meets the road — when you get introduced to industry executives through your fellow members who already have those all-important relationships!
Why work harder, when you can simply work smarter?
Meet the Very Best Networkers I've Ever Met! Tracey and Vance Marino are well-known in virtually every music-related community I can think of. And they have a list of contacts that would make you incredibly envious! That's probably one of the reasons they've had thousands of TV and film placements all over the world.
How Did They Make All Those Contacts? That's exactly what I'm going to ask them on this week's TAXI TV, and if you join us for this live broadcast, you'll learn how to build up your little black book of music industry contacts too!
"But Michael, I'm not the type of person who feels confident or comfortable enough to walk up to total strangers to introduce myself, let alone sell myself." I hear ya, but there are some highly-effective ways to build a powerful network without ever leaving the safety of the cozy little cocoon you call your "home studio."
Do I have your attention now? Thought so!
Win a FREE Book During Monday's Live Broadcast! This book is so comprehensive, and covers so many critical aspects of succeeding in the music industry, that I can't imagine how Tracey and Vance had the stamina to do all this research for you! But they did, and you can win a FREE copy just by being in the chat room during this week's LIVE episode of TAXI TV.
Hey! That's My Song! A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media By Tracey and Vance Marino: https://amzn.to/3P53xvw
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the link above in this description.
It's been quite a while since we've done a Top 10 episode on TAXI TV, so please join me and the enthusiastic viewers who always gather to hear some really good music coming from TAXI's members!
Join us on Monday at 4 pm (PDT) and you'll hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.
Win a FREE Book During the Live Broadcast! I'm also going to give away a copy of this awesome book, loved by TAXI members all over the world!
Fett's Mixing Roadmap by Fett: https://amzn.to/3qK6MjX
Be in the chatroom during the live broadcast to have a shot at winning this highly-rated book!
Rob Chiarelli has repeatedly been one of the most popular guests on TAXI TV, and we're thrilled to have him join us for the first time in several years. Thanks COVID ;-)
Rob is a record producer, mix engineer, musician, published author, and 5x Grammy Award winner. Widely recognized as a music producer for Will Smith and Men in Black II, Chiarelli's work appears on numerous Gold and Platinum albums and motion picture soundtracks, including 16 GRAMMY winners. As a mix engineer and record producer, Rob has also worked with other well-known artists and shows such as: Kirk Franklin, Christina Aguilera, Angelique Kidjo, Sting, LeAnn Rimes, Mary Mary, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Stevie Wonder, Keiko Matsui, Coolio, Ray Charles, American Idol, P!nk, Johnny Mathis, Paula Abdul, Diana Ross, En Vogue, Ice Cube, The Four Tops, Yolanda Adams, The Temptations, K-Ci & JoJo, Aaliyah, Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney, Ricky Martin, The Corrs, Luther Vandross, Erin Boheme, and Charlie Wilson.
Rob started out playing in wedding bands in Boston and as you can see, he's built a career that would impress even the most jaded among us. But, what really makes him special is his down-to-earth, real-world advice on what it takes to become successful.
Today, he's heavily involved in everything from making records with superstars to placing music in big TV commercials, and everything in between!
Got Questions for Rob? We plan on doing quite a bit of Q&A with our viewers, so don't miss your chance at getting some great advice during the live show!
Do you know what the difference is between a jingle and a Sonic Logo? I'm not entirely sure I do, so let's find out together when I have Jeanna Isham as my guest on this week's TAXI TV!
We're also going to find out what Sound Marketing is, and how that's a different animal from Sonic Branding. Truth be told, I'm not sure I can tell you exactly what Sonic Branding actually is! I know, but I know very little compared to Jeanna. She's an expert!
And how can you earn income from Sonic Branding? Who are your potential clients, and how do you market your skills to them? How much can you charge? Do you get creative fees or make performance royalties through your PRO?
And by the way, what the heck is sound design? I think we might learn something about that as well. But, you've got to join us for this week's TAXI TV, on Monday at 4 pm PDT / 7pm EDT.
I think this is going to be a fascinating episode, and who knows, it just might open up a new income stream for you and your talent. It might even create a brand new career path for you!
Don't miss this episode on a topic we've never covered in more than 12 years of TAXI TV!
Contact Jeanna at the links below! The Sound In Marketing mailing list sign up http://eepurl.com/gDxl6b Sound In Marketing Learning website https://soundinmarketing.com/ Dreamr Productions official site and blog http://dreamrproductions.com/ Medium https://medium.com/@jeanna-isham
TAXI members, John Pearson and Jim Thacker, are full-time Producers/Songwriters/Composers based in Nashville, TN. How did they transition from the "record" side of the industry to the "sync" side?
How did they re-orient what they do, and how they do it? How did they learn the difference between writing songs, and trying to create hits, to creating music that would work well in TV shows, films, and TV commercials? I'm going to ask them ALL of those things, and you get to fast-track your sync career because Jim and John are going to turn you on to what they took the time to learn.
What IS a "Composer" in Today's Sync Industry? For those of you who have always thought of yourselves as somebody who writes songs you'd like other artists to cut, or who'd like to get signed as an artist, you might not think of yourself AS a composer. Maybe the word conjures up an image of writing charts, and knowing a bunch of music theory.
That USED to be true, but the word "composer" has taken on a new meaning in today's sync world, and we're going to show you WHY that is, and how you can re-invent yourself like Jim and John both did! You've already got the skills and the gear. And developing this new career path isn't a one-or-the-other situation. You can do both!
Don't miss this episode. It's going to be really, really good!!!
Our music conference, the TAXI Road Rally (November 2nd – 5th in Los Angeles, CA), has become legendary over the last quarter of a century. People come from all over the world for the actionable information that invariably takes their music careers to the next level when they use it.
And the people who have a huge hand in choosing which panels, classes, interviewees, and mentors we have each year at the Rally.
I would really appreciate it if you could join me for the LIVE episode of this week’s TAXI TV, so I can get your opinions and suggestions on a wide range of topics regarding the upcoming Road Rally.
I want to know what you want to know! And if you have a moment, write down some of your ideas so you've got them ready for the show.
If you need some inspiration, take a look at last year's Rally schedule.
See Last Year's Schedule: assets.taxi.com/PDF/2022/2022_schedule_of_events.pdf?_ga=2.201885393.1501265207.1689895818-1567352027.1680549793
Make sure you’re in the chatroom for the live episode to cast your vote and give your opinion. We look forward to hearing what’s important to you!
Our viewers have always loved our "A&R Hot Seat" episodes! Here's why: by judging music to see if their opinions line up with TAXI's A&R staff, our members get to fine-tune their "industry ears." They LOVE how it helps them listen to their own music more critically!
Members have also told me that these episodes build confidence in TAXI's A&R team when they see that the screeners' decisions are very much on-target!
The New & Improved Version of the A&R Hot Seat.. Rather than listening and judging music from just one recent TAXI Listing, we're going to do it for THREE different listings to give your ears a tune-up on a broader range of genres. We're going to listen to Contemporary, Alt-Indie Pop songs, '60s style Motown/Soul songs, and Pulsing Investigative Tension Instrumentals.
We'll listen to some that got forwarded, and some that didn't, and I'm curious to see if we vote like the screeners did! Aren't you?
Don't forget, you need to be in the YouTube chat during the live show if you'd like to cast your vote!
TAXI member, Greg Carrozza was on a panel about this topic at last year's Road Rally, and he's discussed aspects of it on various episodes of TAXI TV. But, I've yet to give him the floor to do a much deeper dive about it on TAXI TV. That all changes on this week's episode!
In Greg's own words, "I’d talk about what to do after you get a forward, how to manage your expectations and attitude, how to deal with people when they contact you, how to be prepared for that, how to communicate, how to create deliverables, and more."
The Upside... Doing things right can create a trusted relationship with a music library. The kind of relationship that lasts for years, and gets you to what some might call, "the front of the line," when it comes to having an open door with the library, getting briefs sent directly to you, having your music requested for special projects, etc.
The Downside? The opposite of living in that rarified world can be caused by doing some dopey stuff during your first contact with the company, or by sending them deliverables that cause them to do this 🤦🏻♂️
If you'd like to be in the "Trusted Composer Club," then you really don't want to miss the advice that Greg will be dishing out during this week's TAXI TV. Miss it at your own peril, as they say! Greg has a knack for making things crystal clear, and very digestible, so don't miss this golden opportunity to learn from a guy who has definitely figured it all out!
Have Your Questions Ready... Greg will be taking questions during the last 20 minutes of the show, so have yours ready-to-go so you can post them in the live chatroom and get real-time answers! If you snooze, you might lose!
For the entire 31 years we’ve been in business, people have conjectured about how much competition there is when they submit their music to TAXI. I’m going to pull back the curtain and give you actual submission numbers on this week’s show!
But wait! The submission numbers actually mean NOTHING because there IS no competition! And I’m going to tell you exactly why that is on this week’s episode.
Let’s Bust Some Other Myths! There are other myths about the music licensing industry that I’ve seen dispensed as gospel on some sync-oriented YouTube channels. Just because the person giving out that information has a super sincere, silver-tongued delivery doesn’t mean the information is actually accurate!
I’ve been biting my tongue for a few years, watching a couple of these “experts” give out information that, in my opinion, is either false or 180 degrees out of whack with reality.
Funny thing is… I’ve recently seen one of these guys flip-flop and completely change his tune. I was happy to see that. But then I realized that the entire premise that he’s been using to sell his course and other products for years has been the opposite of what he’s saying now.
Did he have a “Come to Jesus” epiphany? Maybe! I hope so!!
But what about the people who based their decision to buy his course or other services and products BASED on the false information he previously dispensed with such certainty? I’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt. I want to hear how you feel.
Ask Me Anything… I also want to do a healthy dose of Q&A during the last part of this episode. We haven’t done that for a while, and it feels like it’s time! Please email your questions to taxitv@taxi.com by 2pm (Pacific time) on Monday, and I’ll do my level best to answer every one of them!
Nailing the creative side of the music industry is a given, right? And the business side of the industry has become more important than ever. But, how often do you think about things like these:
- Saving and investing money
- Understanding investment apps
- Increasing your credit score
- Limiting your tax liability
- Protecting yourself from identity theft
- Getting out of debt
- And protecting your assets
The older you get, the more you think about these things. But, sometimes that's too late!
I'm excited to cover this topic with TAXI TV and Road Rally favorite - Bobby Borg - and Britt Hastey, the co-authors of the new book, Personal Finance for Musicians. We're going to hit as many of these topics as possible during this week's (LIVE) episode of TAXI TV.
Developing good financial habits becomes more important as you grow older, wiser, and start thinking about having a secure retirement. Secure retirement?! Well, yeah, but it seems like this critical topic takes a backseat to the more immediate-feeling aspects of succeeding in the music industry. Let's move it to front and center this week with Bobby and Britt!
Win a FREE Book! Personal Finance for Musicians by Bobby Borg and Britt Hastey https://amzn.to/46nteiW
I've got a copy of this wonderful new book, and one of our lucky viewers will win it during the live show, so join us LIVE on Monday at 4 pm Pacific Time to get your shot at getting your hands on this FREE book!
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the link above in this description.
I’m very excited to have Ronan Chris Murphy join me on our first live episode in several weeks! Ronan is a huge fan favorite, both on TAXI TV and at our annual music convention, the TAXI Road Rally!
Here’s his bio, if you’re not already familiar! https://ronanchrismurphy.com/bio/
Side note: Ronan is an incredibly smart, well-informed, studio rat who loves teaching what he knows about all things audio/studio/production to anybody who will listen. Those who do listen are well-rewarded!
Ronan and I are going to talk about: - Creating a great studio space in your home - Studio monitor placement and brand recommendations - Mixing on headphones or not – best practices or fool’s errand? - Backing up your files in case of disaster – miss this at your own risk! - What type of insurance you should have for your gear – Yes, you need it! - And how a giant tree made Ronan a world-class expert on the last two bullet points!
Ronan will also answer some questions, so don’t miss this live episode!
Want to Win a FREE Book? To celebrate our return to doing live shows, we’re going to give away 2 great books during the live show.
Join us for the live broadcast on Monday at 4 pm PDT / 7pm EDT, and you could be the lucky winner of either of these two wonderful books every musician should have - Tracey and Vance Marino's book, Hey! That's My Song!: A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media, or Steve Barden’s book, Writing Production Music for TV – The Road to Success.
Hey! That's My Song!: A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media by Tracey and Vance Marino amzn.to/441Ct6e
Writing Production Music for TV – The Road to Success by Steve Barden amzn.to/43LNNUe
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the links above in this description.
Michael is out of the office this week, but he recently recorded this interview with veteran music attorney, Ben McLane, looking at potential legal issues with music created by Artificial Intelligence. Is your music going to train a computer to create new music? Who will get paid? How will they get paid? It's the Wild West out there, and once again, tech could outpace legislation. Don't miss this discussion!Music Business In 10 Easy Lessons: The Deal by Ben McLane:https://amzn.to/3MmQuVXAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the link above.
During the 31 years I've been running TAXI, I've noticed something that's critical to becoming and staying successful in the music industry! Is it great music? Yes, that's certainly a big part of the equation, but building, maintaining, and nurturing relationships could very well be equally as important in regard to becoming successful. And I'm sorry to say that I've seen many talented musicians ruin some (or many) of their relationships, new and old!My goal in this week's episode of TAXI TV is to highlight many of the relationship-building and/or killing things I've witnessed over the last three decades. Sadly, most of the time, the people who've committed relationship suicide don't even realize what they've done, and the impact it's had.Special Guests...I consider Tracey and Vance Marino world-class experts at building and maintaining music industry relationships. I've watched them work their magic at conferences and online. As a matter of fact, they dedicated an entire chapter to that subject in their excellent book, Hey, That's My Song!That chapter alone is worth the price of buying their book!Please join me when I interview Tracey and Vance during this week's episode. I'll bet you'll find yourself saying "oops" more than once as we go through all the ways you can destroy the music business relationships you should be building, maintaining, and nurturing.Hey, That's My Song by Tracey and Vance Marino:https://amzn.to/3peEOvxAs an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the link above.
For years, I've been preaching about "not putting all your eggs in one basket." My personal opinion is that you should hedge your bets by having your music in several, if not many music library catalogs. But not just ANY catalogs!Join me for this week's episode to learn more about the strategic way you might want to approach how many (and which) companies you want to have representing your music!I Want to Hear From You!I want this episode to be pretty interactive, with a lot of feedback from TAXI members (and viewers who have music in music libraries) as to what YOU think is an optimal number of catalogs to be in, and any strategic thinking you might have when deciding which companies you work with! If you can contribute to this discussion, I would REALLY appreciate it if you could join us for the live show. I plan to spend more time than usual taking comments and questions from the chat during the live show!
How’d you like a consummate Instrumental Cue Composer to show you what the most common Cue structures are for TV placements? Great, I’ve got the perfect guest to lay those structures out in great detail on this week’s TAXI TV!Steve Barden is a successful, longtime TAXI member, and a truly excellent composer. He’s the author of two great books on the subject. Click the covers below to see just how good those books are!Deconstructing Production Music for TV by Steve Barden:https://amzn.to/3o9UFLnWriting Production Music for TV by Steve Barden:https://amzn.to/41qUQ3iSteve’s most recent book, Deconstructing Production Music for TV, is a deep dive into some serious analysis of nine cues, which you can listen to online. For each cue, Steve breaks it down as follows:- The Structure- Chord Progression- Melody- Instrument Choices- Style and Genre- The Emotion and Intended Use- The Sound Libraries He Used- Analysis of the Bars and Sections of the Score- ...and Why the Cue Works!I’m beyond excited to have Steve share his considerable knowledge with you. With any luck, we’ll be playing you some of the cues during the show, as Steve tells us what he did, and most importantly, WHY he did it!
When a music supervisor or TV show editor looks at a huge playlist of possibilities, they will inevitably listen to the tracks with titles that "telegraph" what the music will sound like, first! Wouldn't you like to have your music considered first? Or, maybe I should ask, wouldn't you want to give your music an "edge" when end-users are combing through hundreds of titles, looking for the perfect instrumental or song?We're going to go over how the RIGHT titles can make you more money in sync licensing!Not only will we review dozens of great titles pulled from top music library catalogs, we're also going to delve into the minds and work processes of music supervisors and video editors. That should help us understand why some titles work better than others in certain situations!
You’ve got a decision to make that will directly affect how successful you become in the world of Production Music: Are you going to be easy to work with, or require some hand-holding by the Production Music Libraries your music is forwarded to by TAXI?Assuming you’d prefer to be thought of as a buttoned-up professional, you REALLY don’t want to miss this week’s TAXI TV, and here’s why…I’ve asked several of TAXI’s successful members to share their personal Music Licensing Checklists! What are they, exactly? They’re the lists of things they do before they submit their music to the companies we connect them with. It’s the list of things that make it easy for those companies to love working with them, again, and again! The things that make them “go-to” composers and artists! The things that might even give them insider access and/or special treatment by the people at those Music Licensing Companies. Do You Want to Be a “Go-To” Composer or Artist?Don’t miss this episode of TAXI TV. I’ve already seen the checklists from these successful TAXI members, and WOW, they are really, really good! I honestly think these lists are better than what you might get if you were to take an expensive course in Music Licensing/Production Music.You’ll Get the Checklists for FREE!And you won’t have to pay to watch weeks of boring videos, or sit through classes with a professor who only gives you one person’s perspective. Our Production Music Checklists are coming to you directly from several highly-experienced (and successful) TAXI members who are battling it out in the trenches, right now!
If you’re reading this, you probably own a home studio and record your own music. You also want it to sound “pro,” like your favorite artists and records, but it doesn’t! You’ve tried the latest plug-ins, outboard gear, and mixing tips from YouTube videos. You bought new monitors. You’ve added acoustic treatments to your room. And your recordings still don’t have that professional sound. Frustrating, isn’t it?While we don’t have enough time in this week’s episode to solve every problem you might be having, we do have enough time to solve some problems you have recording vocals and organic instruments. And most of those problems start with common microphone mistakes. If you think your biggest mistake was not buying a $3,500 Neumann U87, consider this: Bon Iver’s hit album, Emma, Forever Ago, was recorded using a single, $99 Shure SM57 and a beat-up, old Sears catalog acoustic guitar that sounded like it looked.I love microphones and classic outboard gear more than the average person. I learned the craft of audio from some of the best engineers and producers in the business at the time. Some of them are considered legends, and I’m going to teach you some of the mic. techniques I learned from them. I’m going to show you how to get great sounds and how to stop making mistakes with your microphones! Join me for this episode of TAXI TV, and you’ll be a few steps closer to making better-sounding recordings.
I wish there was just ONE trick to making money with production music, but it's not that easy! However, there are several things you can do to increase the number of songs and instrumentals you get picked up by music libraries and ultimately used in TV shows, films, commercials, and other media. What are they?Don't miss this TAXI TV if you'd like to find out!
Our viewers have always loved our "A&R Hot Seat" episodes! Here's why: by judging music to see if their opinions line up with TAXI's A&R staff, our members get to fine-tune their "industry ears." They LOVE how it helps them listen to their own music more critically!Members have also told me that these episodes build confidence in TAXI's A&R team when they see that the screeners' decisions are very much on-target! Here's the Listing we're going to be listening for... CONTEMPORARY FOLK-POP SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by a prestigious International Music Publishing and Licensing Company that's doing a major expansion of their catalogue!NOTE: This Library is FAIRLY NEW to requesting music from TAXI, so this is a great opportunity to create a new relationship for your music with a very highly-regarded company! Trust us, this is a catalog you want to be in!This Company is looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs that could be found on a playlist with the following references:"Stick Season" by Noah Kahan"The Worst Of You" by PJ Harding & Noah Cyrus"Sweet Ever After" by Ellie Holcomb feat. Bear RinehartPlease send them well-crafted Folk-Pop Songs with captivating melodies, honest lyrics, and memorable hooks that could work well for a variety of sync placements. Your submissions should have engaging rhythms, contemporary Folk-Pop instrumentation in the general wheelhouse of the examples, and acoustic-based arrangements that seamlessly blend Folk and Pop elements. Your productions and any virtual instruments or sounds you may choose to use need to be high-quality and not dated-sounding. Expressive, well-performed vocals are a must, as well!Lyrics should avoid references to specific names, places, dates, brands, and profanity. Do NOT copy the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.NOTE: The bar will be high for this request. Please send your very best!This Company offers a NON-EXCLUSIVE deal. The specific deal points will be handled on a case-by-case basis. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to pitch for this opportunity. 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 (PST) on Monday, March 6th, 2023. TAXI # S230306FP
I'm very excited to have one of our clients — an awesome Music Library CEO — join us for what promises to be a great episode this week! You can ask him anything, and I'm sure he'll give you some insightful answers.I planned on doing an A&R Hot Seat/Forward-Return episode this week, but when I found out this gentleman was going to be in LA on Monday, I decided to postpone that episode until next week so we could get this industry pro to join me live, and in the studio this week!
11 CAREER-KILLING Habits Musicians SHOULD AVOID!Before you work on developing good habits that can drive your success, there are some nasty old bad habits you need to part company with because they're holding you back.Actually, they can kill the career in the music business you've always wanted. When you hear what they are, I think you'll be nodding your head in agreement with the majority of them.Not as Hard as You Might Think...The good news is I think it will be much easier for you to break the bad habits than learning and habituating new ones! But you won't know unless you tune in to this week's TAXI TV to hear what those career-killing, bad habits are!
It's been quite a while since we've done a Top 10 episode on TAXI TV, so please join me and the enthusiastic viewers who always gather to hear some really good music coming from TAXI's members!Join us in this episode to hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.
Late one evening in 2019, I spent a couple of hours trading studio war stories in the control room (pictured below) with Trevor Fletcher, the Vice President of the legendary Criteria Studios in Miami. Trevor's mom (Margie Curry) was my awesome boss when I worked at Criteria nearly 50 years ago. She remains a cherished friend of mine to this day. When Trevor was a kid, he'd come to the studio after school, allegedly, to do his homework. Instead of reading, writing, and arithmetic, he learned what made Criteria one of the top recording studios in the world. Today, he's the Vice President and General Manager of Criteria, and it could not be in better hands.They have had clients like The Bee Gees, The Eagles, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys, James Brown, Rod Stewart, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jaco Pastorius, Billy Joel, Drake, The Allman Brothers, Shakira, Gloria Estefan, Jay-Z, Justin Bieber, Aerosmith, and dozens (likely hundreds) of others, one can imagine what might have happened behind closed doors when records like "Hotel California," "Stayin' Alive," "I Shot the Sheriff," "Layla," "I Feel Good," and countless other Gold, Platinum, and Diamond albums and singles were recorded.Trevor Fletcher is a living encyclopedia that knows the good, the bad, and the ugly. He also knows where the skeletons are buried. You'll be riveted by the stories he's going to share with us. He's also a classy, professional guy who won't name names (when he can't), but trust me when I tell you that you're going to hear some pretty amazing behind-the-scenes stories.I'm also going to ask him...- What makes a great song?- What traits (if any) do superstars share?- What traits do great producers share?- Contrast the producer's role back in the day VS today.- How do great engineers and producers become great at their craft?- Why do artists still go to world-class, large format studios when they can make records at home?- How much does outboard gear get used VS plugins?- When somebody under the roof is recording a song that sounds like an obvious hit, does the staff still get buzzed about it?I can't wait to hang out and chat with Trevor! I have a feeling you're going to love this unique episode of TAXI TV, so don't miss it!Win a FREE Criteria Studios T-Shirt!Criteria's shirts are beloved by superstars around the world! They've become collector's items, and I'd like to buy one for one of our viewers. All you've got to do to have a shot is show up and be in the chat room during the live broadcast!
Robin Frederick has become an icon to indie songwriters. I see it every year at our convention. The Grand Ballroom is Standing-Room-Only every time she hits the stage.WHY is she so iconic? Because she doesn't sound like a dry, boring college professor when she shares what she knows about songwriting. Because her techniques and tips are easy to understand and implement. Because the people who've bought and used her best-selling books LOVE them, and love HER! She's a rock star in the songwriting world!It's a new year, and as always, the techniques for writing great songs continue to evolve. Styles change, techniques change, and approaches to melody and lyrics change as well.If you have a little voice inside telling you that it's time to update your songwriting style to become more contemporary, don't miss this episode of TAXI TV. If you need to get inspired to write more songs in 2023, don't miss this episode. And if you'd like to have a shot at winning a FREE book during this episode... well, you can't win it by watching the archive later ;-)
If you get contacted by one of TAXI’s clients offering you a deal and you’d like to know the technical aspects of delivering your music to that company, this week’s TAXI TV is for you!TAXI’s Head Screener (Craig Pilo) has put together a video showing you how to properly export your masters and stems! Craig will be joining me in the studio, and he’ll be answering your questions after we play the video.All TAXI members should watch this, especially if you’re a new member who is not yet experienced in making sure you deliver your music in the most professional manner possible! Please join Craig and me for what promises to be a very educational episode!
If you think having great music gets you a “pass” from getting the business aspects of sync 100% right, you’re 100% wrong! Here’s proof in the form of an email TAXI recently got from a new client when we reached out to ask if they needed us to run any new searches for them…Date: Thu, Jan 5, 2023 at 12:40 PMSubject: Re: Happy New Year!To: Tom @TAXI Happy New Year to you too, Tom. I'll let you know [about running new listings with TAXI]! I took a lot of [TAXI] people on for the [XXXXX] tracks. The problem with taking new people on is the ones who aren't regular library composers deliver frequently incorrectly. For example, the wrong levels, versions not correct, or technical errors. If it's one person, it's not the end of the world, but I spent a huge amount of time holding the hands of most of the composers to get things to the point of delivery. The creative quality was unquestionable, but it's frustrating having to send things back so many times when things are set out clearly in my delivery guidelines. I guess this is the difference between those who do this as a living full-time and those who do it in their spare time. Not your fault, but it was kinda my fault that I took so many people on - I took tracks from 17 people you put forward! That was a huge amount of micromanaging! I think I probably need to be more careful about taking too many people on at the same time - especially those who are new to the business, or less experienced. Even if the final product is brilliant! The album is still waiting on people to deliver their corrections! Absolutely not your fault here, but I just wanted to let you know what the issues of taking new blood are from my perspective. It is hugely time consuming, basically! I'll be in touch when there is a project I can involve you on. Cheers,XXXXXXXI personally wrote to apologize for the time suck our members caused him. I also asked if I could re-print his email. He was gracious in his response, but included this in his email:“I just had a composer finally address all the technical issues, only to deliver as 44.1 and not 48, so they need to be resent all over again. The problem is, no matter what anyone says, any new deliverable needs to be quality controlled [by us] - even if someone claims nothing has changed. It all adds up in terms of time spent. It is a major reason why I won't work with people now. Check, check, and check again! Make a checklist - I don't care how you do it, but make sure it is all correct!”I want to discuss this serious issue on this week’s TAXI TV, and get your input as to how we can most effectively get our members to understand that creating great music isn’t enough to become successful in the world of sync. You’ve got to make sure your hands don’t need to be “held” by the companies that want to work with you.Make it easy and pleasurable for them to do business with you!Please don’t miss this episode of TAXI TV. I really want your input!
We’re super excited to be broadcasting our first LIVE episode since The Road Rally, and we promise to help you make 2023 your most productive year yet!Most of us make New Year’s resolutions, but statistically, 90% of resolutions are just words without actions. It’s easy to resolve that you’re going to lose weight in the coming year, but hard to avoid ordering a delicious pizza when you don’t feel like cooking and doing dishes. It’s easy to say you’re going to create more and better music this coming year, but it’s hard to put down your phone and ignore TikTok. This week’s show is going to give you some solid, actionable steps to help you kick your music career into high gear in 2023!Win a Microphone!The good folks at Warm Audio sent us an awesome 512 Audio, Skylight, large diaphragm condenser microphone, and we’re going to give it away during this week’s TAXI TV! You’ll need to be in the chatroom during the live broadcast to have a shot at winning!
If you're not yet registered to come to our annual music conference, the TAXI Road Rally, you should be! It starts on Thursday, November 3rd, and it wraps up on Sunday, November 6th!
Want to see all that's going on? Click on the link below: https://www.taxi.com/taxi-road-rally/
Get Your Road Rally Questions Answered! Even though we're in every-minute-counts mode here at the office, I'd like to invite you to join me for Monday's live TAXI TV show, and ask me anything you want about the Rally.
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"How often does the free shuttle run from LAX to the Westin hotel?"
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"Should I bring my music on CDs or USB drives?"
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"I'm pretty shy! Do you SWEAR that I'll be comfortable and not feel out of place at the Rally?"
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"How do I know which panels or classes will be best for me?"
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"Is it really possible to meet music industry people and give them my music?"
I'll answer those questions and anything else you can throw at me! I'm sure some of your fellow TAXI members, who will be in the chatroom, will also have their own take on how things go, and what you can expect at the Rally. This episode should be fun and really helpful in prepping you for the big event!
Please have some questions ready-to-go in the live chat, or even better, email your questions to TAXITV@TAXI.com no later than 2 pm Pacific Time on Monday, October 31st.
I've invited everyone's favorite songwriting coach, Robin Frederick, to join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV to review your song's lyrics and give you the keys to songwriting for Film/TV placements!
As a producer, engineer, and mixer, Ronan Chris Murphy has worked with the likes of King Crimson (several albums), Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple), Terry Bozzio (Zappa, Missing Persons), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, John Lennon, Pink Floyd), Martin Sexton, Jamie Walters, Ulver, The California Guitar Trio, Chucho Valdes y Groupo Irakere, Joan LaBarbara (Philip Glass Ensemble, Steve Reich), Nels Cline (Wilco), as well as various projects featuring members of Tool, Ministry, Weezer, Dishwalla, and Yes.
And we've got Ronan in-studio to take your questions about mixing and recording during this week's episode of TAXI TV! He's one of our most beloved guests, and a fount of knowledge on Mixing, Recording techniques, and Mastering.
We'll Take Questions LIVE from the Chat Room, Only! Get your questions ready to copy and paste in the chat before the show so you don't have to do any sloppy typing in the heat of battle ;-) Short, pithy, and succinct questions will be appreciated!
And if you could please avoid broad, general questions like, "How do I make my mixes sound better?," and ask specific questions like, "How do you know how much mix bus compression to use?", we'll love you for that!!!
it's been a while since we've done an "Ask Michael Anything" on TAXI TV, so that's exactly what we're going to do on Monday's show! Ask me anything about TAXI, engineering & production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straight ahead, helpful answers.
Want to know what production music libraries are looking for? I can tell you!
Want to know why Hollywood studios won't use you to score their blockbuster films? I know the answer!
Want to know why your mixes don't sound like hit records? I'll let you in on a little secret ;-)
Want to know where the "sweet spot" is to place a mic on an acoustic guitar? You're going to find out!
Want to know how to mic an electric guitar amp for the best sound? I'll fill you in!
Want to know a sure-fire way to avoid popping "P's" when recording vocals? I'm going to show you.
Want to know how to make publishers reach out to you time and time again? It's common sense, but many people don't do it!
Want to know how to approach an industry pro at TAXI's convention? If you promise not to let them know who told you, I'll tell you the secret ;-)
Want to know how to avoid headphone leakage when recording vocals? The answer is SO simple, yet almost always overlooked!
It's been a while since we've done a Top 10 episode of TAXI TV, so join us on Monday to hear some great music our A&R department has recently found! As an extra little treat, we're going to give away a truly awesome book!
Join me for this episode and you just might win a copy of Robin Frederick's best-seller, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting - 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell.
The winner will be chosen at random from people who are in the chat room during the episode, so don't be late! This book is a career-changer. I hope you win it!!
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting - 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell: https://amzn.to/3DcIZgi
On this week's episode of TAXI TV, we're going to show you a VERY real-world example of why your music doesn't get used, whether you're a TAXI member or not!
TAXI's Head A&R Screener (Craig Pilo) and I will show you something SO shocking that you almost won't believe it! But it's absolutely real, and don't be surprised if you're guilty of this grievous, career-killing mistake as well.
The next time you see somebody posting, "I used TAXI, and my music got forwarded, but I never heard back," remember what you saw on this NOT-to-be-missed episode of TAXI TV.
ALL TAXI members need to watch this! Actually, all songwriters, artists, and composers need to watch this episode! What we're going to tell you about happens every day, and the end result can quite literally mean the difference between success and failure.
People ask me this question nearly every week of my life:
"How many tracks do I need to make full-time sync income?" They ask me in the live chatroom on TAXI TV. They ask me in the hotel elevator during our free music convention, the Road Rally. They ask it on the TAXI Forums.
Why are musicians so obsessed with the magic number of tracks it takes before you can earn a full-time income with your music? I think it's because they'd rather have their day gig be a job they love, VS their day gig now, that they probably hate!
I was working on TAXI's website a few days ago, and I saw a quote from member Keith LuBrant that inspired this episode.
"I've had 105,455 placements on 1,711 TV shows on 283 networks."
Well Keith, how many tracks do you have in production music libraries to accomplish numbers like that? Inquiring minds want to know, and that's why I've asked him to join me on this week's TAXI TV!
We're going to dig deep and uncover everything you need to know about how many tracks you need to make full-time sync income during this episode of TAXI TV. If you want to earn your full-time income from creating music for media, don't miss this power-edition episode.
Composer Catalog Giveaways! Keith is going to give away two copies of Composer Catalog. One during the live show, and another to the person who asks the best question in the YouTube comments, under the archived version of the show.
Composer Catalog was created for writers, by a writer. No more trying to stuff metadata in .mp3 fields. Since Keith compose music for television and film, he created a tool that would allow him to get a handle on his music library. The music was growing, and keeping track of it on a spreadsheet just was not cutting it!
Find out more about Composer Catalog here: http://www.composercatalog.com/
This is not marketing hype or clickbait! This is an URGENT warning to all musicians. Please read on...
It's not just TAXI members that are making this mistake! It's likely that 60% of ALL songwriters, artists, and composers are making this seemingly innocent mistake. It can be career-killing, yet very few musicians realize they've brought this serious problem upon themselves.
So, what IS "the big mistake"? Hint: It can be devastating to your ability to license your music for film and TV placements. And that's why I'll be joined on the show by a successful Publisher who specializes in TV and Film Music! You're going to want to hear how publishers will treat your music if you've made this mistake.
I'm not going to tell you what the big mistake is in this email because there are nuances to this problem that I prefer to tell you about in person.
Here's how to find out... If you want to find out if you're making this career-killing mistake (60% chance that you are!), you need to watch this week's episode of TAXI TV!
On this week's episode of TAXI TV Live, please join Henry Winckel and me as we get to the bottom of the advice I gave him when he first joined TAXI and needed some guidance to become successful with his membership. Find out if the music career advice I gave him was career-launching or career-killing!
We value the opinions our members have about many aspects of TAXI. Most of all, we love getting input from TAXI’s members regarding our music convention, the TAXI Road Rally (November 3rd – 6th in Los Angeles, CA).
I would really appreciate it if you could join me for the LIVE episode of this week’s TAXI TV, so I can get your opinions on a wide range of topics regarding the upcoming Road Rally. Off the top-of-my head, I want to know things like:
- Are you coming?
- If you’re not coming, how much did COVID affect your decision?
- Would you like to hear what we’re doing to minimize the COVID risk this year?
- Are you interested in topics related to film/TV music?
- Are you interested in our pitch/feedback panels?
- Are you interested in hearing how successful TAXI members have done it?
- Are you interested in topics related to songwriting and record label deals?
- Are you interested in topics related to signing with a record label?
- Are you interested in learning how Music Supervisors choose and use music?
- Are you interested in topics related to audio engineering and production?
- Are you interested in topics related to conducting business in a professional manner?
- Are you interested in music/production software?
- Are you interested in NFTs in the music industry?
- Are you interested in how Artificial Intelligence could get more of your music used?
- Are you interested in performing live in the Open Mic. or Jam Room?
- Are you interested in music publishing?
- Are you interested in learning about management?
- Do you want to get a free One-to-One Mentor session?
And much more!!
Make sure you’re in the chat room for the live episode to cast your vote and give your opinion. We look forward to hearing what’s important to you!
Our A&R team and staff have done it again! They've put together a playlist of some of their favorite songs and instrumentals they've heard over the last month, and you get to hear them on Monday's TAXI TV.
Join us for this episode and you just might win a copy of Steve Barden's awesome book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, or Robin Frederick's best-seller, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting - 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell.
The winners will be chosen at random from people who are in the chat room during the episode, so don't be late! Both of these books are career-changers. I hope you win one!!
Not sure if your song's lyrics are universal? Why not consult an expert?
I've invited everyone's favorite songwriting coach, Robin Frederick, to join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV to review your song's lyrics and give you the answer!
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3iwNrfw
Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3xbU6jq
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above links.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by waiting (and waiting) to hear from a music company that your music was forwarded to by TAXI, you really don’t want to miss this week’s TAXI TV!
If you’ve ever signed a deal with a production music library, and then heard nothing but crickets, you definitely don’t want to miss this week’s episode of TAXI TV!
If you’ve ever been pissed off when you see a TAXI listing that says, “Please don’t submit your music unless you’re an experienced composer who ‘knows the drill,’” you really, really don’t want to miss this episode!
Please join me for a frank discussion about these hot-button issues facing TAXI’s members and musicians as a whole. I think you’ll find the answers enlightening, and we should have plenty of time at the end of the show for a Q&A about these important topics.
Prize Giveaways During This Episode! We’ve got some extra copies of these awesome books, and I’d love to give them away during this episode. For more info on each of these reads, click on the links below!
Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV by Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/3AyEL1j Hey! That's My Song! by Tracey Marino and Vance Marino: https://amzn.to/3nRZw0l Demystifying the Cue by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/3RnmVnE Writing Production Music for TV by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/3yUgIZv
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above links.
Some companies only let you see the good news. TAXI has always been more transparent than that, so we're going to feature a past member's story about why he didn't renew his membership. Ouch!!!
Honestly, I take it very personally when somebody doesn't renew their membership. How did we fail them? What could we have done better? Why did this person quit TAXI????
- Was it frustration due to no forwards?
- Was it because he was forwarded, but he never heard back from the company we sent the music to?
- Was it because he didn't earn back what his membership cost?
- Did he think that TAXI's A&R team just didn't get how great his music is?
- Did he think the feedback he got was off-base?
- Do you have some of the same issues?
Join me as I dig deep to find out WHY this member decided to leave TAXI, and a bunch of other great tips on making a career out of doing TV music. I think this just might be one of our most powerful episodes of TAXI TV we've ever done. Set an alarm so you don't miss the live show. The truth will be told!
Erin Jacobson is hands-down the most popular Music Attorney who has ever graced the stage at our convention – the TAXI Road Rally! Why?
Because it’s obvious to the songwriters, artists, and composers in our audience, that she actually gives a damn about them!
We’ll be covering some of today’s most frequently asked music business questions, and then open the floor to questions from the viewing audience during the live show.
Questions Submitted Before the Show Will Be Answered First! Here’s how to get them to us, so we can ask Erin your questions during the live broadcast: Email your questions to taxitv@taxi.com no later than Friday, June 17th at NOON, Pacific Time!
MORE ABOUT ERIN JACOBSON
Erin M. Jacobson, Esq. is an internationally recognized attorney who protects independent, established, and legacy songwriters and artists, independent music publishers, distinguished legacy catalogues, heirs and estates, Grammy and Emmy Award winners, and other music professionals at her law practice based in Beverly Hills, CA. Ms. Jacobson has been named as one of the “Top Music Lawyers” by Billboard, and has been featured in publications including Billboard and Forbes, and on networks including ABC and the BBC. In addition, Ms. Jacobson is the author of Don’t Get Screwed! How to Protect Yourself as an Independent Musician, and the founder and owner of Indie Artist Resource, a company that empowers independent musicians to take charge of their careers with contract templates and educational materials.
LEARN More about Erin: http://themusicindustrylawyer.com DIVE into Indie Artist Resource: http://indieartistresource.com
*Opinions expressed during this episode or in any edited segments of this episode of TAXI TV do not constitute legal advice.***
Andrea Stolpe is a Los Angeles-based songwriter, author, performing artist, and educator. She has worked as a staff writer for EMI, Almo-Irving, and Universal Music Publishing, with songs recorded by artists such as: Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, Daniel Lee Martin, Jimmy Wayne, and others.
Andrea teaches Songwriting at the University of California’s Thornton School of Music, and is the author and instructor of Berklee College of Music’s online course Commercial Songwriting Techniques. For the past 10 years Andrea has taught melody, harmony, and lyric writing courses for Berklee Online.
TAXI's Head Screener, Craig Pilo, gives expert feedback and suggestions for fixes on your Instrumentals and Cues. He's a world-class expert, and super supportive of indie musicians, especially TAXI's members!
Craig was one of the very best and most experienced Film/TV music experts on our A&R team prior to becoming our Head Screener. His feedback is honest, straightforward, and always helpful!
Tracey and Vance Marino have had their Instrumentals and Songs placed THOUSANDS of times in TV, Film, Commercials, and Video Games. How did this husband and wife team from San Diego do it?
What did they do that you might not have done yet?
How did they do it, how long did it take, and what mistakes did they make along the way?
I asked them those questions and many, many more on this episode of TAXI TV.
I also asked them how the heck they found the time to write their new book, Hey! That’s My Song!: A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media. I just got my copy, and to say that it's extremely comprehensive would be an understatement. Seriously, they have over 3,000 pieces of music in about 60 catalogs, so how did they find the time to write a book that seemingly covers every topic you want to know more about?
Want to get your copy of the book in this episode? Click the link below!
Hey! That’s My Song!: A Guide to Getting Music Placements in Film, TV, and Media - by Tracey Marino: https://amzn.to/3Nhxl5q
(As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above link.)
Our A&R team and staff have done it again! They've put together a playlist of some of their favorite songs and instrumentals they've heard over the last month, and you get to hear them on Monday's TAXI TV.
I'll be back in Los Angeles, so this episode will go live at our normal time of 4 pm, Pacific time. Join me for this episode and you just might win a copy of Steve Barden's awesome book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, or Robin Frederick's best-seller, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting - 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell.
The winners will be chosen at random from people who are in the chat room during the episode, so don't be late! Both of these books are career-changers. I hope you win one!!
0:00 - Intro 5:12 - "Nobody Cares" by Megan Winsor - https://bit.ly/3Pr0220 10:42 - "'S' Spy Thing" by Chris Moser - https://bit.ly/37SksQv 22:13 - "Heartbreaker" by Joliet4 - https://bit.ly/3PtQgMg 27:22 - "Bones" by Big Sur Bound - https://bit.ly/3wxTG8d 34:32 - "Black Widow" by Aimee Chapman - https://bit.ly/3wwZU8q 41:14 - "So High" by Lozen - https://bit.ly/3whKRjX 47:13 - "Sundress" by John Jones - https://bit.ly/3Lg3hpC 51:40 - "Neon Lights" by Jeffrey LaPlante - https://bit.ly/3ll516g 59:23 - "We Built a Home" by J Fram - https://bit.ly/3G7NBE5 1:04:11 - "Sweeter Than Mine" by Gregory Putnam - https://bit.ly/3wqcPsI 1:07:35 - Book Giveaways!
Want to get copies of the books we gave away during this episode for yourself? Click the links below! (As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the below links.)
"Writing Production Music for TV" by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/3cOeKyr "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" by Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/3iwNrfw
Trailers, TV Cues & Sound Design: The Similarities and Differences Explained
Randon Purcell doesn't need TAXI anymore! Here's why...
"Hey Michael!
I hope you and the family are all well!
Everything here is madness, but going well enough. My job at [name withheld] is keeping me plenty busy, and I’m even doing some side scoring gigs on some movies with my boss, so that’s fun too. I just got signed on to do the score for a new animated show as well, later this year, so 2022 should be busy as ever.
Anyway, I just wanted to touch base and see how things are going. I don’t get a chance to hop on the TAXI forums much these days, but I love it when I can give back a little to the TAXI community. After all, I wouldn’t be a full-time musician without you guys!
Hope all is well and that The TAXI Road Rally will be in-person again this year!
Take care, Randon"
Yep, that's why Randon doesn't need TAXI any more...he's too busy making music for his full-time income! Why is he so busy? "I wouldn’t be a full time musician without you guys!"
It was the sentence prior to that, that prompted me to ask Randon to join us for this week's TAXI TV episode. "I love it when I can give back a little to the TAXI community."
Without hesitation, I asked Randon to join me to explain the similarities and differences between creating music for Film Trailers and TV Promos, TV Shows, and Sound Design...for that matter, can you really explain exactly what sound design is, and how it's done? I'm not so sure I could, but I'd bet a pretty penny that Randon can!
And ask him, I will!
Randon is a very smart, pragmatic, hard-working person. His climb up the ladder of success took a few years and a lot of work. I think he might be able to shave some time from your climb by sharing what he's learned along the way. - If you're already creating Instrumental Cues, what do you need to know to create Film Trailer and TV Promo music? - Is sound design more like music or sound effects, or a combination of both? - How do you get paid for creating a whoosh, a braaam, or a distorted, growly tension drone? - Which synth patches work for what? - How are the arrangements similar or different? - How is scoring a TV show different than creating Cues that could be used in an episode of the very same show? - How much income can you earn from each one of these disciplines?
Aaron Slater is the founder of SongwritingMagazine.com. Duncan Haskell is the "interview hustler." We're pretty sure these gents have learned a lot about songwriting and songwriters, so I'm going to get them to spill their guts and share their best tips on Monday's episode.
What I really want to know is why many songwriters never get to enjoy the career they dream of, but some do! What do they know that the others don't? Let's find out together on this episode of TAXI TV!
Our Top 10 episodes of TAXI TV have become wildly popular among our viewers! Honestly, at first, I thought our members were simply being supportive of their fellow members and their music.
I might have been right during the first few Top 10 shows, but a pattern started to become evident; the shows and the music kept getting better...and better, and better! No matter which genres of music we featured, our viewers were blown away by the creativity, songwriting, and production they heard.
Adonis Aletras lives on the island of Cyprus, near Greece.
We think much of his success can be attributed to his talent, tenacity, and hunger to learn as much as possible about the composers who became successful before him. That insatiable hunger led him to conduct "mini interviews" with dozens of top composers and other industry luminaries. The result? Adonis's book, So, You Want to Become a Media Composer?
Check out his book on Amazon here! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HHB6G8B/ref=nosim?tag=t0248a-20
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above link.
During this week's episode of TAXI TV, I'm going to ask Adonis to tell us what common traits and salient advice he learned from the composers he interviewed. This is going to be good... REALLY good!
Adonis's energy and personality are incredibly infectious. His dedication to the craft of composing is admirable. I'm excited to have you meet him during this special episode of TAXI TV!
Tour the Legendary West Coast PRS Guitar Showroom! Join TAXI CEO Michael Laskow for an insider's tour of what he likes to call, "The Guitar Player's Candy Store"! Winn Krozack heads up the West Coast PRS Guitar Showroom where some super famous artists drop in to play the works of art hanging on the walls. Yep, this guitar player's lair is tucked away in a rehearsal complex where some really big acts prep for upcoming tours. You never know who could walk in, unannounced!
Winn has been with PRS from the start, and he knows everything about these beautiful guitars! He's also got some other really interesting gear stashed in this hideaway, and I think you'll find the whole thing as captivating as Michael has on previous visits.
Check out PRS's amazing range of guitars here: https://prsguitars.com/
TAXI member John Pearson is a full-time Producer/Songwriter based in Nashville, TN.
He's also become a much-admired member of the TAXI community and has inspired other members with his realistic, pragmatic, and nose-to-the-grindstone work ethic and approach to the sync licensing side of the music industry.
John is an A-List bass player who has toured with major Country acts and has certainly paid his dues in Nashville's community of pro songwriters. But, what sets him apart is rather than just talking about writing songs for sync, John plunged in head-first and worked his tail off!
His investment has paid off. John's recent national ad placements include FedEx and Cricket Wireless, with TV placements on The CW's Legacies, Disney's Diary of a Future President, ABC's The Rookie, Netflix's Outer Banks, and many ad and TV placements in Europe and Japan.
John is also a Grammy-winning bass player, and he collaborates with top-tier vocalists from around the world to create powerful songs for artists, and Film and TV.
All that makes John Pearson the perfect guy to ask, "How is it different writing songs for artists than it is writing songs for TV placements and advertising?"
You'll get the answer to that question and many more during this powerful episode of TAXI TV. Don't miss it!
Every month, our A&R Team makes a list of 10 of their favorite TAXI Member songs and/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!
0:00 - Intro 2:55 - "Focus" by Halle Abadi 7:55 - "Help Myself" by Ani 16:25 - "Stomp Rock Anthem" by Anthony Kneeshaw 24:22 - "Back Down" by As The Structure Fails 29:39 - "New You" by Basic Elements 38:33 - "Rise and Fall" by Derek Handy 48:09 - "Heartbreak Machine" by Erinn Alissa 53:29 - "The Devil's in the Whiskey" by John Weber 1:01:41 - "All in Favor" by Rasmus Boegelund 1:07:56 - "Girls!" by Luiza Lale
On today's episode, TAXI's Head Music Screener - Craig Pilo - joins us in answering all of your Music Business questions! He is an industry pro, an accomplished performer, and has all the insight you could ask for.
On today's episode, TAXI CEO Michael Laskow answered your Music Biz questions! He provided great info to help you learn the business side of the Music Business!
Do you get ticked-off when you see something like this in some of TAXI’s Industry Listings?
IMPORTANT NOTE: This Company offers an Exclusive deal, and has a strong preference for signing material from songwriters 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, they politely ask that you don't submit to this request.
Or this...
IMPORTANT NOTE: This Library offers an Exclusive deal, and has a strong preference for signing material from songwriters who have worked for libraries and licensing companies in the past and understand how standard deals work.
Or this...
IMPORTANT NOTE: This company has specifically asked that you only send unreleased Songs that aren't already commercially available. If you've already released them on Spotify, Apple Music, etc., or if they’re already published or administered by CD Baby Pro, TuneCore, etc., please do not submit them.
TAXI CEO Michael Laskow discussed the issue at length on this week’s episode of TAXI TV to help you better understand why some of our clients ask us to include this language in the searches we run for them. This is a really important topic, so you're not going to want to skip it!
On this episode of TAXI TV, TAXI CEO Michael Laskow goes over the Top 10 Myths of Creating Music for Film/TV Music Licensing!
On this episode of TAXI TV, TAXI CEO Michael Laskow plays member-submitted love songs and our A&R team's Top 10 song picks for the month of February!
Take a listen to see if your Love Song was played!
Want to write better songs? On this episode of TAXI TV, Robin Frederick reviews viewers' songs and gives useful tips and suggestions on how to improve them!
There's a reason Robin Frederick – leading songwriting expert and author of the best-selling books Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting and Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV – speaks to standing-room-only audiences at the TAXI Road Rally every year, her insights and advice on how to make your song even better are nothing short of amazing!
Check out Robin's website here: https://robinfrederick.com/
Get Robin's Books here:
“Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting” by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3iwNrfw
“Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV” by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3xbU6jq
"Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" EBOOK Level 1: https://amzn.to/3at8s6n
"Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" EBOOK Level 2: https://amzn.to/37jVhT9
"Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" EBOOK Level 3: https://amzn.to/2NcIc7m
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above links.
TAXI turned 30 years old on January 15th, so we celebrated by doing a retrospective with some great stories and some trivia questions with great prizes like a free consult with Robin Frederick, TAXI swag, and a one-hour consult with TAXI's head screener, Craig Pilo!
Get your very on TAXI T-shirt, Hoodie, and Mug here: https://taxi-swag-central.myshopify.com/
Member Eric Copeland posted a YouTube review of TAXI, then posted a follow-up video about whether he was going to renew his membership or not. Our fearless CEO thought some critical information was missing and reached out to Eric and suggested a public duel, like Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Or maybe a jousting match! 😂
Eric politely declined, but he and Michael thought it might be fun, enlightening, and more gentleman-like to interview each other on this week's episode of TAXI TV.
Fun, indeed! The rules are simple: Michael will interview Eric for the first half of the LIVE episode, and Eric will interview Michael during the second half. Sticking with TAXI's penchant for transparency, no holds are barred, and all questions are on the table!
You really don't want to miss what is certain to be an episode for the ages!
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!
Check out the member's pages to hear their music below!
"Lil' Bruh" by Lew Sid: https://bit.ly/3HSxb1R "Lighthouse" by Andrew Anka: https://bit.ly/3qivSU8 "Weekend Warrior" by Kit Benz: https://bit.ly/3HRciUI "Setting Sail" by Emma Johnson: https://bit.ly/3nh2XOa "Banger" by G. Scott Russell: https://bit.ly/3qgcirx "Ooh Baby Baby" by Priscilla G: https://bit.ly/3f9KG0S "Activate Dance Sequence 101" by Vikas Pawa: https://bit.ly/336kEsV "Nip It With A Bud" by Matthew Soileau: https://bit.ly/3qe4vKM "Watch Me Now" by River J: https://bit.ly/33bZnhn
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bkKneFkZxUA
Have you already made your New Year's resolutions as to how you're going to be successful with your music career in 2022? Stop lying to yourself and join me today for some actionable steps you can take that will actually work!
Bite off what you can actually chew, and just maybe you won't need to make any resolutions for your music next year!! Find your realistic steps along the path of musical success on today's show. Don't miss this one!!
Here are the links to the books Michael talked about during the show:
Robin Frederick: Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: https://amzn.to/3dnydGX Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV: https://amzn.to/3jYaiPZ
Dean Krippaehne: Demystifying the Genre: https://amzn.to/3bdCAC3 Demystifying the Cue: https://amzn.to/3u6zisF
Steve Barden: Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success: https://amzn.to/3sfgWnV
Steven Pressfield: The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles: amzn.to/3nd2p99
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases from the above links.
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
TAXMusic #NewYearResolutions #MusicGoals
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
We got so many Christmas/Holiday song submissions for last week's show (over 300 of them!!) that we've decided to listen to more of them this week!
And, not to be all "Scrooge"-like, but a TON of them submitted for last week's show were not the Piano/Vocal or Guitar/Vocal versions we asked for! We couldn't consider those, as they would not have been on a level playing field with submissions from people who DID follow instructions ;-)
Speaking of not following instructions: A gazillion of the submissions for last week were also not downloadable, as we had requested. Those were also not considered. We just don't have the time to email or call a couple hundred people to ask them to re-submit.
And finally, there were actually people who got upset with us for not playing their songs. We got more than 300 hundred submissions, and we can only play about 20 during the show. If we played all 300, that would be about 20 hours of music we've have to play. As much as we all love TAXI TV, a 20-hour show would be a very, very long show ;-)
PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY!
So... All that considered, we will be playing songs that are either Guitar/Vocal or Piano/Vocal (only!) and are downloadable, that we have left over from last week's show. We are NOT accepting any new submissions.
Please don't send emails asking us to make exceptions or imploring us to play your song. We try to be democratic about these things, and insisting that we play your song because you worked really hard on it or your friends love it or the Beatles almost recorded it won't result in it getting played. We've still got about 100 songs left over from last week from people who met the submission criteria. We will pick about 20 from those!
We hope we hear some great ones again this week. Please join us!
We're getting in the holiday spirit on this week's episode of TAXI TV with a listening party of viewer-submitted Christmas songs! But, there's a catch! You can only submit piano/vocal or guitar/vocal songs.
Here's how to submit your songs...
Want a chance to get your Christmas/Holiday song played on the show? Email a link to where we can download it to taxitv@taxi.com by 12 pm Pacific time on Monday, December 20th!
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!
Here's the request we sent out!
UPLIFTING SINGER/SONGWRITER SONGS with Male or Female Vocals are needed by an A-List Film/TV Music Publishing Company that typically gets really nice, HIGH-END placements! These guys are thought of as being "a cut above."
This Company is looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Songs in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references:
"Missing Piece" by Vance Joy
"Bridges" by Johnnyswim
"Home" by Phillip Phillips
"This Is Our Time" by WILD
Quoting the Company: "We're looking for Songs with uplifting, non-romantic lyrics. Anything about friendship, being there for each other, overcoming challenges, being confident, having gratitude, being joyful, etc."
Please send top-notch Singer/Songwriter Songs with great melodies, super memorable choruses, engaging rhythms, and well-crafted, emotionally upbeat lyrics. Instrumentation that's generally similar to the references will suit your submissions well. If you plan on using any virtual instruments or samples, they should be high-quality and fresh. Polished production and expressive, well-performed vocals are musts for this pitch, as well!
NOTE: This Company doesn't want to hear Songs that sound like typical library music. They're interested in finding stuff that sounds like commercial, releasable Songs ready for the radio. If you're an artist or band with an online presence, even better!
Avoiding specific names, places, dates, times, brands, and profanity are recommended. Do NOT copy the referenced artists or songs in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a guide for tempo, texture, and tone. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.
This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal. You’ll split all upfront sync fees 50/50. The Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share, and you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share. You must own or control your Master and Copyright. Since this is an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed with other Libraries or Catalogs. Please submit as many Songs 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 (PST) on Monday, November 15th, 2021. TAXI # S211115TF
Many of TAXI's most successful members attribute at least a portion of their success to how carefully they read our Industry Listings.
Very few people know how much craft goes into writing the Listings. The goals are:
1)To give each and every one of our members the highest probability of making a great submission.
2) Giving the A&R team members accurate and bountiful information to use when they do their job.
3) To ensure that the people and companies who trust TAXI to find them great music sign it or license it.
For the first time ever, we're going to reveal the entire process — some might call it TAXI's "Secret Sauce" — that goes into writing each Industry Listing you read.
TAXI's Briagha Abrahamson will be my guest on the show, and she'll join me in walking you through the entire process of how the initial request for music becomes a road map for making your best submissions.
Want an edge? Here it comes!
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!
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!
Not sure if your song's lyrics are universal? Why not consult an expert?
I've invited everyone's favorite songwriting coach, Robin Frederick, to join me on this week's episode of TAXI TV to review your song's lyrics and give you the answer!
“Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting” by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3iwNrfw
“Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV” by Robin Frederick https://amzn.to/3xbU6jq
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
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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
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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.
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
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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!
When was the last time you were able to ask a Multi-Platinum, Multi-Grammy-winning Producer/Mixer/Engineer any question your heart desired? Well, now you can!
TAXI TV all-star, Rob Chiarelli, is coming back to answer every question you can throw at him on Monday, and he’s going to give some of his famous FinalMix plugins away to our live audience!
Get FREE Stuff, Just for Watching!
Rumor has it, everybody in the live show’s chat room (on Monday) will get something awesome, so this is a show you don’t want to miss!
Want to see what the possibilities are? See Rob’s full line of great-sounding plugins loved by hundreds of TAXI members here: www.finalmix.biz/
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
On this episode of TAXI TV, we go over how songwriters can stay creative and productive during these tough COVID era times with best-selling author Robin Frederick..
Robin Frederick's best-selling Songwriting eBooks referenced in this episode. Get your copy TODAY!: Level One - https://amzn.to/2wObilr Level Two - https://amzn.to/3bDGuT6 Level Three - https://amzn.to/3dJkY12
If you've found that the vim and vigor you had going into the COVID-quarantine era has lost some of its luster, you might need a shot in the arm to get your songwriting productivity back on track!
Who better to administer your creativity injection than everybody's favorite songwriting coach, Robin Frederick? She's not only a best-selling author and incredible songwriting teacher, but she's also a master of keeping your creative juices flowing when you need them most!
Join Robin and me for this inspiring episode so you can stay focused and productive as you continue to spend more time in your songwriting nest, aka home!
Check out Robin's incredible trifecta of Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting eBooks! Link: https://amzn.to/2wObilr
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
I love bringing you interviews with really smart experts in the Music Licensing field, and this week's expert will not disappoint! On this week's episode of TAXI TV, we are joined by a mystery music supervisor and licensing executive to find out all the juicy tips and tricks in the music industry!
He's in the unique position of being on both sides of the fence: He's a Music Supervisor who works on some cool indie films, and he's also a world-class Music Licensing expert with a specialty in Vintage Music.
Some of the things I plan to discuss with him...: - How does Music Supervision differ between Indie Films VS big Feature Films?
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Is it easier to get a placement in an Indie Film?
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What's the sync fee range for Indie Films?
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What are the other ways musicians earn income from Indie Film placements?
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How will I make money if my music is placed in an Indie Film?
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Are there genres that get used more often in Indie Films?
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Why is Vintage Music in demand?
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Can a well-recorded "demo" be used for a Vintage Sync?
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How good does the audio quality have to be?
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Are there certain genres or styles of Vintage Music that are more likely to be used?
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And much, much more!
Join us for this highly insightful interview on this TAXI TV, and plan on getting some really juicy insider tips that could help you earn more income with your music!
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
On this episode of TAXI TV, we are joined by successful TAXI member, Steve Barden who will walk you through the process step-by-step on how to create a light, breezy acoustic guitar instrumental cue during this live broadcast!
If you've ever wanted somebody to walk you through how a light, breezy acoustic guitar Instrumental Cue is created, you really don't want to miss this week's TAXI TV.
Join us as we learn about the instrumentation choices, how many layers to use, how to build emotion into your tracks, and how to create the kind of forward momentum that will make this type of Cue an easy choice for music supervisors and editors alike!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Steve Barden's book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
Get your own copy of Steve Barden's book TODAY: https://amzn.to/2Us3YVz
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
On this episode of TAXI TV, we ask if you want to see TAXI Music's CEO cry!! Join us as we bid a fond farewell to a beloved staff member!
We first met Briagha McTavish when she was a teenager, who along with her dad (Neil McTavish), would come to the TAXI Road Rally to hone her skills as a singer/songwriter.
We looked forward to seeing her each year, and got to know her as one of our very favorite members and TAXI Road Rally volunteers.
When she graduated from high school, Briagha called TAXI to let us know she was moving to Los Angeles, and asked if we had any job openings. As it turned out, we had a temp job making outbound reminder calls to members about the upcoming Rally Music Convention.
Briagha hit it out of the park, and we offered her a full-time job. She’s been an integral and highly-valued part of the staff for about four years, and we’ve watched her grow up right under our noses.
It’s bittersweet that Monday will be Briagha’s last “official” day at TAXI, because she’s decided she loves her fiancé Jacob more than us. We’re really happy for the two of them, but sad to see Briagha move back to the Midwest!
Please join us as we roast her and toast her on this week’s TAXI TV. Instead of kicking me under the desk (she has been the producer of many, many TAXI TV episodes), she’ll be joining me on camera :-)
If you’ve got any Briagha stories about how she helped you when she was our member services superstar, or working hard at the Road Rally, please join us as we bid this lovely young lady a fond farewell!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
Get your copy of Robin Frederick's top-selling Songwriting book here! https://amzn.to/3dIqHo7
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!
In this episode of TAXI TV, join me to hear the story of a musician whose life was changed by a chance meeting at TAXI's annual convention, the TAXI Road Rally.
He made music for media his new path, and eventually became a successful music library CEO.
Hear about his early mistakes, his success as a composer, and his transition to becoming a successful music library owner.
Find out what he'd tell his "starting out" composer-self, now that he's seen the world of music for media from both sides of the fence.
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV: 114 Tips for Writing, Recording, & Pitching in Today's Hottest Market, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
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!
Our recent episode featuring the “Mystery Music Supervisor” was such a people-pleasing hit, that we’ve invited a top-notch Music Library owner/CEO to join us this week, and we’re going to put a “mask” on him, too! This episode was so jam-packed that we had to break it up into two parts! This is Part 2!
Yep, we’re cloaking this volcano of mind-blowing insight, so when the killer info comes spewing out of his mouth, people don’t take that as an invitation to Google him and email a million more questions.
I’m just grateful for the time we’ve got him in our midst. He’s about as buttoned up as they come. I’m pretty sure that hearing what we’re going to talk about could cut years off your learning-what-you-need-to-know timeline.
Want to become successful getting syncs with your songs and instrumentals? Don’t miss this episode!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV: 114 Tips for Writing, Recording, & Pitching in Today's Hottest Market, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eSMD51-RjtI
One of the very best Music Supervisors I know will be my guest on this episode! Why all the mystery? Why am I going to keep him under wraps?
Because this guy is a close friend of mine, and I don't want people to google him and bombard him with emails asking, "Can I send you my music?" Yep, not all the people who will see this power-packed episode are polite TAXI members who know what proper industry etiquette is.
But, don't worry! Your head will probably explode from all the great advice you're going to get from this gentleman - see, there's a clue ;-) My Mystery Man is much more than just a "music picker," he's a real-deal, full-package Music Supe who knows music, the psychology of working with directors and producers on feature films, TV shows, documentaries, and indie films, alike!
He's an expert on publishing, meta-tagging, producing, mixing, editing, and virtually everything a full-stack Music Supervisor should know. Bring a note pad for this episode, seriously! You're going to get a few semesters' worth of critically important information you might never get anywhere else.
And if you figure out who my guest is, please respect his privacy and don't blurt out his name in the chat room! I want him to remain my friend and not feel hesitant about coming back on the show for future episodes! Thank you!!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV: 114 Tips for Writing, Recording, & Pitching in Today's Hottest Market, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
Get your copy of Robin Frederick's top-selling songwriting for film & TV book here! https://amzn.to/3dzU3Vs
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xaakUN6J1hw
Don't miss this episode of TAXI TV if you want to learn how to create an Instrumental Cue from start to finish and see it done live! On this episode accomplished composer Steve Barden, will show how us how to make a tension-based, CSI lab-style instrumental cue in his own studio.
Successful TAXI member Steve Barden, is an accomplished composer who will walk us through the step-by-step process of writing and producing what I like to call, a "CSI Lab-Style Instrumental Cue." Bring your microscopes kids, this is going to be a super educational, in-depth look at building an instrumental cue.
If you're new to creating Cues, this episode will peel back the layers on so many of the things you'd like to know:
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Should it have an intro?
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How long should the intro be, if there is one?
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How long should each of the sections of the cue, be?
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What ARE those sections?
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How and why do you choose certain instruments and sounds?
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What is a "developmental arc," and why you need one?
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What is a buttoned or stinger ending, and why do you need one?
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How should this cue be titled to increase placements?
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What kind of metadata should be included?
We'll dig deep to unearth the answers to these questions and many more as Steve creates his Cue live, in real-time! No pressure Steve -- you've got 90 minutes!!
We're also going to give away a copy of his must-have book, Writing Production Music for TV. To have a shot at winning, all you need to do is drop a comment under the archived version of this episode, once it's up on YouTube (about 15 minutes after the live show finishes). The best comment or question wins the book!!
Set an alarm on your phone so you don't miss a minute of this episode! We're hoping it goes "viral." Sorry, we couldn't resist ;-)
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Steve Barden's book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, to the viewer who posts the best comment!
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!
Find out more about Steve Barden here: www.stevebarden.com/credits.asp
Get your copy of his book here: www.amazon.com/gp/product/1574243543/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=t0248a-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=1574243543&linkId=a60265c7d8bf9954e3e89848d95decca
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mxGlBWE1rn4
On this episode of TAXI TV, we have the band, The Highfields, join us to talk about how they've been so successful at landing music placements in big, high-end commercials and advertisements! Commercials and ads can pay big bucks too, so you definitely want to know how to create music for these kinds of opportunities!
Nate and Kaelie Highfield have become phenomenally successful creating music for TV Commercials. They are partners with Producer Rob Chiarelli in The Usual Suspects, and together, they have landed a bunch of their music in some very high profile TV spots over the last several years.
Nate and Kaelie's music: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBHqk2mJOtzwZcSu05RareYHui14D-6Ry
Want to know the secrets to their success? Join me for an in-depth interview with The Highfields on today's TAXI TV! If his schedule permits, we may also be joined by Rob Chiarelli as well!
Here's a little homework assignment for you that will make this episode of TAXI TV even more valuable! Listen to some of their music before we go live on TAXI TV. I think you'll learn a lot just by listening, so don't pass up this golden opportunity!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV: 114 Tips for Writing, Recording, & Pitching in Today's Hottest Market, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
Get your copy of Robin's top-selling Film & TV Songwriting book here: https://amzn.to/3dzU3Vs
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4H_v7B-YomY
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll let you do A&R instrumental cue reviews for a top Music Licensing Company that gets tons of placements in TV Shows and is now expanding!
If you submitted for this Emotional Trap Instrumental Cues request, TAXI #S200415ET, 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 Shows?" then you're going to love this episode!
Here's the request we got from the Music Licensing Company!
TAXI #S200415ET
Lots of EMOTIONAL TRAP (EMO-TRAP) INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a new division of a Music Licensing Company that gets tons of placements in TV Shows and is now expanding!
NOTE: They’re currently building a few new catalogs, so this is a killer opportunity to start a relationship with an awesome company!
They're looking for Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumental Cues in the general stylistic wheelhouse of the following references:
“Lucid Dreams (Instrumental)” by Juice WRLD
“SAD! (Instrumental)” by XXXTENTACION
“Betrayed (Instrumental)” by Lil Xan
Give them well-crafted Trap Instrumental Cues that effectively deliver a sad and/or melancholy mood and feel. Your submissions should be rhythmically engaging from start to finish and have contemporary Trap elements.
Stick to a central motif throughout, and give your Cues a developmental arc that gives the editors some options!
Hint: That will increase your chances of getting your Cues used more often!
TAXI Tip: Please be sure your virtual instruments and samples sound current (not dated), and are of high quality!
All submissions should be around 90 seconds to 2 minutes in length (give or take). Non-faded, Buttoned/Stinger endings will work best. Please do NOT copy the referenced material in any way, shape or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of other artists’ music, sounds or any form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.
This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal. You’ll split any upfront sync fees 50/50. They’ll get 100% of the Publisher’s share, and you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. Since this is an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed with other Libraries or Catalogs.
Please submit as many Instrumental Cues as you'd like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by a TAXI Screener who also works for the Licensing Company! Sweet - you'll get heard by one of the "deciders." Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, April 15th, 2020. TAXI # S200415ET
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over pretty surprising ways that you can benefit as a musician from this strange pandemic!
The havoc the COVID-19 virus has wreaked on the entire planet is beyond measure. We’ll be feeling the effects for years to come—maybe generations.
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The unthinkable sadness families and friends feel when they lose somebody they love.
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The physical and emotional toll it has taken on the heroic and tireless healthcare workers and first responders.
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The stress the scientists are going through as they try to fast track a vaccine.
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The emotional rollercoaster and fear brought daily into our homes via the media.
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The lives ruined (and likely some suicides) caused by the unthinkable economic destruction. Businesses lost, jobs lost, and retirement funds lost.
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The emotional stress and loneliness of being isolated in our homes for weeks on end.
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The horrible toll it’s taken on our most precious and sometimes least valued generation, as they remain isolated from family and friends in their senior care facilities.
Those are more than just bullet points. This time, it’s not somebody else over there. It’s us… all of us!
Those are the real stories of real people. And much like what happened in the aftermath of 9/11, these stories will be told for decades in books, by word of mouth, on the Internet, and mostly by Hollywood.
Scripts were being written all over Hollywood as soon as this pandemic became our new reality. Hundreds of them. Some may have already gotten the green light, and casting is quietly being done over Zoom and Skype as I type this.
As soon as it’s allowed, socially-distanced directors will be shouting, “Action!” on movie and TV sets all over the world. And every single one of those productions is going to need music.
Yes, in a perverse twist of fate, musicians who are often at the bottom of the food chain, get to go to the front of the line this time around. “How?” you ask?
Because, you can start making music for the stories of the COVID-19 Pandemic right now! You don’t need to wait for anybody to green light your productions.
Together, you and I are going to look at every possible aspect of where, when, and how music will be used in the various types of TV shows, documentaries, and feature films.
We’re going to look at this through the lenses of screenwriters, directors, producers, music supervisors, and editors.
By the end of this episode of TAXI TV, you will know not only what to create for the coming onslaught of music requests, but you’ll also have developed an incredibly valuable new skillset that 99% of musicians never even think about: anticipating what kind of music will be needed before the cameras start to roll.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ojlnAWMJQQI
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll let you do A&R song reviews for a HUGE, Multi-Platinum Country Act!
If you submitted for this Country song request, TAXI #S200218CS, you really don't want to miss this episode of TAXI TV! Here's why...
There are three things we haven’t done in a while on TAXI TV: 1. Listen to TAXI Member forwards and returns, and... 2. Listen to forwards and returns from a Country listing that got 307 submissions! 3. Put you in the A&R Hot Seat to see if you agree with TAXI's screeners or not!
If you've ever wondered, "How good does a song need to be to get forwarded by TAXI for a HUGE, Multi-Platinum, Multi-Award-winning act?" then you're going to love this episode!
Here's the request we got from the Major Label A&R Executive!
TAXI # S200218CS
CONTEMPORARY COUNTRY SONGS with Male Vocals are needed by a Major Label A&R Executive for a HUGE, Multi-Platinum, Multi-Award-winning act!
He’s looking for Songs in All Tempos that could be found on a playlist with:
“My Miracle” by Brad Paisley
“We Were” by Keith Urban
“Living” by Dierks Bentley
TAXI Tip: The bar will be really high for this request, and only the best of the best will be forwarded; but if you should happen to get a cut with this artist, it could be completely career-changing!
Please submit radio-friendly Songs that are rooted in traditional Country, yet just modern enough to be competitive with the current Country charts. Make sure your lyrics tell your Songs’ stories with plenty of visual details and a conversational tone. If you want to get the A&R Executive and the Artist excited about cutting your Songs, be sure your vocals are well-performed and have honest Country-style deliveries.
NOTE: Stripped-Down demos and full productions are both okay to submit. Demo quality should be competitive with Songs being pitched on the Row.
Your recordings need to be well-balanced and good enough to represent your Songs well. Please submit as many Songs as you’d like, online or per CD. Please include lyrics. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by a TAXI Screener. All Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Tuesday, February 18th, 2020. TAXI # S200218CS
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Robin Frederick's book, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: 126 Proven Techniques for Writing Songs That Sell, to the viewer who posts the best comment.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ttXoASaxoaA
In this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over how to create film trailer music the right way! We have special guest and super knowledgeable TAXI member - Randon Purcell - join us for this info-packed episode! If you compose and make film trailer music (or even if you've ever wanted to try) this is the episode that will take your pieces to the next level, so that you can land more film placements!
If you’ve ever dreamed of hearing your music in some Hollywood Film Trailers or TV Promos, there are some incredibly important things you need to know before you start laying down your big, bombastic electro/orchestral hybrids!
Yes, landing your music in a big, blockbuster Film Trailer can be one of the most lucrative deals you could nail down, but you’ve got to compete at a high level to do that. We want to help you do that, and here’s how…
Want to Eliminate the Guesswork? On this week’s TAXI TV, Trailer Composer - Randon Purcell - is going to share his extensive knowledge to help you get off to a great start crafting music for Film Trailers and TV Promos.
Randon is a partner in a music software company that makes some of the coolest tools I’ve seen for Trailer Composers, and he’s going to let us give some away for, wait for it…. Yes, FREE!
You’ve got to be in the chat room during the live show to win it!
Check out what the prize is here: https://falloutmusicgroup.com/
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Td6xiGKWC1A
On this episode of TAXI TV, we will cover the best of the best, need-to-know tips for new members of TAXI Music. Newbies, if you've ever wondered how to use TAXI, how we work, how to be successful with the music opportunities and listings that we have, then this is the TAXI TV just for you.
If there’s a good aspect of the Coronavirus pandemic, it’s that most of you are hunkered down at home and have plenty of time to work on your music. That may be the only good thing to come from this horrible time in human history.
We hope that you and your loved ones are staying safe and healthy!
Heads Up New Members! We’ve had a lot of new TAXI members coming on board in the last week. With them in mind, I’d like to dedicate this week’s episode to helping our newest members learn how to use your memberships most effectively!
I’m going to work really hard to give you tips that will help you shave months — maybe even years off your timeline to success. I’m going to share the “secrets” that our most experienced and successful members have uncovered over the last 28 years, and give you the condensed, “Reader’s Digest” version in this power-packed episode!
If you’re new to TAXI, an older member who isn’t progressing quickly enough, or somebody who is “TAXI Curious,” you really don’t want to miss this episode of TAXI TV!
Just some of the things I plan to cover during this week’s episode: - The fastest, easiest way to find success in the music licensing business.
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The most frequently requested genres and styles of music.
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What TAXI’s A&R people look for when they listen to your music.
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A simple “trick” that will make it easier for music supervisors and video editors to find your music.
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What a Buttoned/Stinger ending is.
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How long it takes to hear back from TAXI when you submit your music.
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What “Broadcast Quality” means.
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What Universal Lyrics means.
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Three things Country Artists and A&R people need to hear in your songs.
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Why a sax part or a screaming lead guitar might hurt your chances for licensing your music in TV or film.
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What often works best when pitching music for TV Commercials.
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The simple type of instrumental cue that can get used over and over.
I’m sure I’ll have plenty more “tricks of the trade” to share with you, so don’t miss this episode!
Win a FREE Book! Don't forget to leave a comment under the video on YouTube! We’re going to give away a FREE copy of Steve Barden's book, Writing Production Music for TV: The Road to Success, to the viewer who posts the best comment after the live show.
Here's the link to buy the book on your own! https://amzn.to/2Us3YVz
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mJSb1fd8nV8
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over the 12 best things musicians can do from home. This is especially relevant information right now with the current state of the world with the COVID-19 pandemic. This episode will show you that there's no excuse to not be focusing on music right now! :)
We’re now running TAXI remotely from our respective homes, and it’s going pretty seamlessly, I’m happy to say!
Lemons into lemonade!
I came up with some ideas that I think you’ll love! Why not take this time to power through the list of things that could truly move your music career forward?
Please join me for what is shaping up to be a really, really good episode of TAXI TV!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TXWDAsNCJK4
On this episode of TAXI TV, we have Grammy-winning Producer, Ken Caillat, join us. He worked on both Fleetwood Mac albums: Rumours and Tusk. Join Ken and I to hear all about the engineering, production, and personalities in the studio, along with some good ol’ Rock & Roll mischief.
Ken was an unabashed hit when he joined me on stage at our last Road Rally Convention to breakdown Fleetwood Mac’s seminal, Grammy-winning Rumours album. People who were there are still talking about it!
Well, Ken has invited the TAXI TV remote crew and me to join him in his studio on Monday to discuss the making of Tusk, Fleetwood Mac’s follow-up to Rumours! It was definitely not a sequel, that’s for sure!
Unless you know the band members personally, you’ll probably never get a behind-the-scenes look into this one of a kind, genre-bending record!
Win a Signed Copy of Ken's Book - Get Tusked! Ken doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to ask him to autograph a copy of his latest book, Get Tusked: The Inside Story of Fleetwood Mac's Most Anticipated Album, and we’re going to give it to the viewer who posts the best question in the comments under the video on YouTube!
Do NOT Miss This Very Special Episode of TAXI TV, live!!!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
On this episode of TAXI TV, we will have special guest - multiplatinum songwriter, educator, and artist Andrea Stolpe - join us to go over the 5 best ways you can use feedback in a way that's helpful and productive for you as a songwriter, rather than destructive!
Feedback is such a big part of TAXI's value to our members. That's why we're really happy to have Andrea Stolpe on TAXI TV this week to enlighten us on that very topic!
If that little voice in your head (or an industry professional) has ever told you any of the following, then you're going to love this episode:
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My lyrics aren’t original or they're sometimes cheesy.
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My friends love my song, so why was it passed over?
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My melody wasn’t strong/memorable enough.
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My song sounds dated.
Who is Andrea Stolpe?
Andrea Stolpe is a renowned creative consultant whose methodology for songwriters and artists is taught worldwide.
A multi-platinum songwriter with 20+ years experience in the music industry, Andrea has penned songs for such artists as Faith Hill, Julianne Hough, and Jimmy Wayne and has worked at companies including Universal Music Publishing, EMI, and Almo-Irving.
Andrea is the author of, Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling, a staple text for songwriting programs at Belmont University in Nashville, Berklee College of Music, and the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music.
Her online courses and video series have garnered Music Educator’s Grammy Nominations, and the prestigious Gold Telly Award for non-broadcast education videos.
Andrea is also the co-founder of Writer to Writer, a series of exclusive songwriting retreats across the US and beyond.
Click here to learn more: https://www.andreastolpe.com/
Want to Win a Copy of Andrea's Book? Just make sure to comment your favorite moment or piece of advice from the episode, under the archived version of the TAXI TV video on Youtube! Then we'll pick the person with the best comment and send him or her a FREE copy of Andrea's book, Popular Lyric Writing: 10 Steps to Effective Storytelling!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JOVwtH082Vk
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over the 5 best tips for licensing your solo piano tracks in film & TV with successful TAXI Member, Bill Gordon. Solo piano pieces can often earn more income than tracks with more instruments, and we’re going to uncover the reason for that, as well! So if you want to find out how to make the majority of your income from just piano music, be sure to watch this episode.
It might seem crazy to think that you can earn significant income licensing your solo piano instrumentals, but after watching this episode of TAXI TV, you’ll become a believer!
Long-time TAXI member, Bill Gordon, earns most of his music licensing income with 88 keys, 8 fingers, 2 thumbs, and just 1 instrument – his piano! He’s been doing it for a couple of decades, and you can bet he’ll have at least 5 great tips for you!!
Sometimes, the simplest pieces of music are the most easily licensed, and we’re going to find out why!
We're also going to reveal: - The most requested genres.
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The most frequently requested moods.
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The best length for your piano cues.
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Bill’s highest-earning placements.
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How long it took Bill to start earning income.
Bonus Tips... - Bill’s feelings about music theory.
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Bill’s studio set-up.
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Bill’s favorite piano microphones.
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Bill’s favorite piano sample libraries – does he even have one?
Bill’s approach to building and maintaining relationships with the music publishers he works with, and many more great tips that you’re going to find super helpful if you want to earn more income with your solo piano pieces!
Who is Bill Gordon? Pianist, composer, and teacher - Bill Gordon, started playing professionally at age fourteen as the drummer and leader of his rhythm & blues showband in Baltimore. He later studied piano and composition at the Wiesbaden Conservatory in Germany, and then graduated from Berklee College of Music. Bill has composed, performed, and produced in many genres including: mainstream jazz, evocative solo piano ballads, quirky pop songs, a quasi-avant-garde funk fable, film and TV music, and he has enjoyed decades of teaching as well.
Bill has recorded extensively, appeared as a soloist, accompanist, music director, sideman, and band leader throughout the United States and Europe. He taught music privately and at colleges in Boston, New York City, Raleigh, Los Angeles, Miami, Vienna and now back in Baltimore. Currently, he writes and performs with jazz, soul, and indie-pop singer/songwriters, does annual European tours, and continues composing film and TV music (The Glass Castle, Nashville, CSI, Entourage, etc.).
Bill taught at the SAE Institute media school in Miami for 9 years, and wrote their music/music business courses. He presents song, performance, and music business workshops at a wide variety of schools in the U.S. and Europe, and has published the DIY music textbook, It’s Music, Not Theory, Damn It!, along with its online companion ear training course and the online music course, Music, No Theory.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Crl_2MvNGXk
In this episode of TAXI TV, we will go over the 5 best ways you can get the most from TAXI Music and a membership with us.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/amMBvo6F32Q
Want your music in 750 TV Shows? On this episode of TAXI TV, we will cover what it takes to get your music in 750 TV Shows, with TAXI Member, Keith LuBrant.
The two most common “reasons,” I’ve heard for lack of success over the last 28 years are: - I’ve got a full-time job. - I’ve got a family.
So does Keith LuBrant (rhymes with Lou Grant), and his music has been in 750 different TV shows! Yes, you read that correctly, Keith’s music has been in 750 TV shows!!!
Folks, that’s many thousands of actual placements, and the guy creates his music in his “spare” time! I’m not kidding – he’s a great husband and father, and has a very full-time day job!
If you’d like to learn how Keith has done what seems impossible to most of us, don’t miss this week’s episode of TAXI TV!
Keith is one of the nicest people on the planet, and he’s incredibly humble, as well. He’s also not the kind of guy who will hold back the good stuff.
If you want to know the answers to questions like these, don’t miss this episode:
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What genres do you typically create your cues and songs in?
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Which genres have been most productive?
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How many libraries and catalogs is your music in?
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How long did it take to start seeing the money roll in?
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What’s been your single biggest income-earning piece of music?
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How long does it typically take you to create an instrumental track?
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How many hours a week do you typically devote to your music?
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How do you balance your time between family, work, and music?
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How many of your pieces are collaborations VS just you?
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How have you used the TAXI Road Rally to help grow your career?
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Is it true that you also created Composer Catalog to help keep your music organized?
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What is your single best piece of advice for others who feel like they can’t accomplish what you have?
And many, many other questions you’ve always wanted answers to! Do not miss this episode if you’d like to someday have 750 TV shows playing your music!
Composer Catalog Giveaways! Keith is going to give two copies of Composer Catalog away. One during the live show, and another to the person who asks the best question in the YouTube comments, under the archived version of the show.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/X17_Y8DamVY
In this episode of TAXI TV, we check your music-tagging chops for TV & Film placements! Yep, the tagging challenge is on, and this is your chance to play, "How Would You Tag This Music For TV?" in order to land more placements.
Two weeks ago, we had tagging/metadata expert, Joe Brandt, teach us the metadata "rules of the road," and now we'd like to practice what he taught us!
You guys submitted music with the tags you'd use, over the weekend, and we're going to keep them a "secret" until we've played the music and have our live show viewers weigh in with their suggestions, in real time! We'll also get Joe's opinion, and then do the big reveal - How did YOU tag your music? Let's see how close you and your fellow viewers get to nailing it!
Let's see where we all agree or disagree, so we can learn together and get really, really good at this mysterious, and often under-used "craft" that can help you get more of your music placed in TV shows, commercials, and films!
Why should we trust Joe's opinion? Read his bio, and you'll see!
Here’s Joe’s Bio: Music Supervisor / Producer with over ten years experience in the entertainment industry. Skilled in Music Clearance, Licensing & Editing. Expert at curating and key-wording music based on Genre, Sub-genre, Tempo, Featured Instruments, and Mood. Composer and Publisher with BMI and a Member of The Guild of Music Supervisors. Holds degrees in Audio Engineering, Web Development and Communications.
Also, thank you to everyone who submitted a Song or Instrumental to us on our Facebook Post. I’m looking forward to learning a ton from Joe and from you, so I hope you’ll join me!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JAZnYvJqCHY
On this episode of TAXI TV, we'll go over all the silly, success-killing mistakes that musicians make every day. In 2020, you need to be your own promoter, songwriter, performer, cheerleader, and booking agent. You also need to stay up-to-date with our ever-changing music industry. We want to help make sure that you're fulfilling all of these creative roles for yourself in the most effective way!
Music Licensing Executive, Elyse Schiller, will be the special guest and we’re going to go through a list of all those seemingly little mistakes that you should be aware of and avoid!
Elyse has 20+ years experience in music branding as the Co-Founder/Composer of a custom music house and an electronic lifestyle label. She has produced unique sonic identities for dozens of broadcast marketing campaigns, award winning rebrands and launches, main title themes, and promo campaigns for clients that include, AMC, ABC Daytime, Disney, Columbia Tristar, E! Entertainment Television, Fox News, GSN, HBO Family, Lionsgate, MGM Grand, Revlon, Quincy Jones (UPN), Showtime, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox Television and more.
Elyse also helped build out the synch licensing department at Angry Mob Music, and jump-started the custom division. Integral in developing the ‘mob’ core client base, music supervising and placing Angry Mob artist songs in numerous high profile TV shows and films for clients including CBS, NBC, Fox, Showtime, Cinemax, ABC Family, AMC, USA, Sy Fy, and Paramount Pictures. She was signed early on to Columbia Records, where she churned out dance floor hits with co-writer Chuck Fuller and producer Randy “King” Jackson of American Idol fame.
Elyse is also an esteemed member of TAXI’s A&R team and she knows the common mistakes our members make that could be holding them back from great success.
So yeah, this lady has done and seen a lot, and she’s a great resource for helping you uncover any of those silly, little mistakes you might be making!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1eysUV-ps0Y
On this episode of TAXI TV, expert Joe Brandt, joins us to go over the most common mp3 tag mistakes and how to avoid them! You will learn how good metadata and tagging can help you get more music placements and get more income. It's a very overlooked part in the music business, but it couldn't be MORE important for your success.
Joe is on the show by popular demand, because so many of you couldn't stop raving about his music business class on mp3 tag mistakes and metadata at this year's TAXI Road Rally Convention! So we thought we would dedicate a whole TAXI TV episode to the topic to further your knowledge. We want to set you guys up for success. We try to do as much as we can to help you avoid these common and, often times, silly mistakes along the way.
Don't release your music OR EVEN upload your music until you do these 3 critical things:
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Choose the right title
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Check your levels
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Add the metadata - we cover why it's important and how to do it RIGHT!
Put in the extra few minutes of work after you finish a beautiful piece of music that you believe in. And pay attention to your mp3 tags people!! :) (You'll thank us later when all of your deals start coming in and when music executives can't stop complimenting your attention to detail to make their jobs easier!!!)
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
In this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over the top beprsst 2020 New Year's resolutions that will help you make money as a musician!
If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution that this is going to be the year that you finally get serious and make some money with your music, then do NOT miss this episode of TAXI TV!
We're going to give you definitive resolutions, that when followed, almost guarantee at least some level of success in the music industry. Well, at least getting your music licensed in TV shows, specifically!
That “TV placement success” generates Six-Figure incomes for some of our members, and there are plenty more who make thousands of “extra” income each year – many of which do it in their “spare” time.
Why make broad, overreaching resolutions that you’ll never follow through with, when you can do exactly what I recommend and see real results?
How quickly will you see those results? You’ll need to watch this inspiring, first episode of 2020 to find out!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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
Follow our channel and comment below!
Want to win a FREE Year of Membership with TAXI? Then join us to play TAXI TV Trivia in this episode!! We want to finish 2019 (and the decade) with a bang, so we'd like to give you a chance to win access to 1,200+ music industry opportunities and A&R feedback for an entire year!
The FREE year of TAXI will go to whoever answers the most questions correctly! We'll be giving away some other prizes as well, even if you don't win the Grand Prize! So be sure to do some research and participate in the live chat.
*If the winner isn't a current member, he/she will win One Full Year of TAXI. If the winner is a current TAXI member, he/she will win One Free Renewal Year, added to their current membership.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GbiM7j07AnY
See if you know how to write holiday music for Film & TV placements! In this episode of TAXI TV, we'll be going over the best ways to get your pieces (both Instrumentals and Songs) selected by top Music Supervisors for holiday music placements. Around this time of year, landing one of those deals can pay-out a lot of money! It's a gift that keeps on giving. So be sure to stay tuned and Happy Holidays!
We'll take a listen to some of our favorite TAXI Member music that was forwarded by our A&R Team for two hot Christmas opportunities we had this year!
THE ORIGINAL XMAS INSTRUMENTAL LISTING WAS:
INSTRUMENTAL RENDITIONS of PUBLIC DOMAIN CHRISTMAS SONGS are needed by a super well-connected Publisher for a wide variety of Film, TV, and Commercial placements. TAXI #Y191027PD
THE ORIGINAL XMAS SONG LISTING WAS:
PUBLIC DOMAIN CHRISTMAS SONGS in ANY STYLE with Male or Female Vocals are needed QUICKLY by a hard-working Music Licensing Company with tons of credits in HIT TV Shows! TAXI #Y191024CH
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/bKWvh161F0g
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!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bKWvh161F0g
In this episode of TAXI TV, Record Producer - Ronan Chris Murphy - shares what he's noticed hit producers doing when they make records, that you're probably not doing. There are a few crucial points that hit producers keep in mind (very intentionally) when they're making music to be as successful as they are.
Ronan Chris Murphy is a multi-genre record producer and engineer that works around the world. His diverse album credits include Gwar, King Crimson (several albums), Terry Bozzio, Steve Morse, Ulver, Pete Teo, Jamie Walters and hundreds more. His video game credits include Assasin’s Creed Brotherhood and Mafia III and he recently mastered the score album for Jordan Peele’s hit film “Get Out”. He works in studios around the world as well as his own studio, Veneto West, just outside of Los Angeles.
Ronan also pioneered many concepts in alternative recording education with his recording business, Recording Boot Camp, which offers workshops and consulting around the globe, and he created the world's first audio blog/podcast with Ronan’s Recording Show.
Ronan Chris Murphy is a beloved presenter at TAXI's music convention every year. He's also one of our most popular guests on TAXI TV! Join us as Ronan gives a whole bunch of production tips, based on what he hears today's most current sounding hit makers doing. Be ready to take notes in this fast-paced music production immersive with our plain-spoken, common sense production pundit, Ronan Chris Murphy!
Check Out Everything Ronan Does: Recording Bootcamp: http://www.recordingbootcamp.com/ Mountain Songwriting Retreat: https://mountainsongwritingretreat.com/ Mountain Recording Retreat: http://recordingretreat.com/ PMC Songwriting Festival: http://pmcsongfest.com/
Songs Referenced in This Episode: "Circles" by Post Malone: https://youtu.be/wXhTHyIgQ_U "Senorita" by Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes: https://youtu.be/Pkh8UtuejGw "Someone You Loved" by Lewis Capaldi: https://youtu.be/zABLecsR5UE "Truth Hurts" by Lizzo: https://youtu.be/P00HMxdsVZI "Memories" by Maroon 5: https://youtu.be/SlPhMPnQ58k "Roxanne" by Arizona Zervas: https://youtu.be/uQcQsIL5UNU "Lose You to Love Me" by Selena Gomez: https://youtu.be/zlJDTxahav0 "10,000 Hours" by Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber: https://youtu.be/Y2E71oe0aSM "Good As Hell" by Lizzo: https://youtu.be/vuq-VAiW9kw
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/YOyPaPf0Kt8
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
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In this episode of TAXI TV we have special guest TAXI Member, Greg Carrozza, share the top 10 best ways to get more forwards from our A&R team and get your music heard by industry professionals more often! Don't miss this episode if you want to sign more music deals through TAXI!!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/VfJmaKRrykM
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
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Watch This Episode on YouTube:
Multi-platinum producers - Michael Lloyd and Rob Chiarelli have worked on so many hit records, it’s mind-boggling! On this episode of TAXI TV, they will be sharing their top tips for production, recording, and mixing so that you can make better records either in your home studio or at an outside professional one!
For more info on Michael Lloyd and Rob Chiarelli, please read below:
Rob Chiarelli is an American record producer, mix engineer, musician, published author and multiple Grammy Award winner. Widely recognized as a music producer for Will Smith and Men in Black II (2002), Chiarelli's work appears on numerous Gold and Platinum albums and motion picture soundtracks, including nine GRAMMY winners. As a mix engineer and record producer, Chiarelli has worked with such well known artists as Will Smith, Christina Aguilera, LeAnn Rimes, Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Janet Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Keiko Matsui, Coolio, Ray Charles, American Idol, Pink, Johnny Mathis, Paula Abdul, Diana Ross, En Vogue, Ice Cube, The Four Tops, Yolanda Adams, The Temptations, 3LW, K-Ci & JoJo, Madonna, Aaliyah, Hilary Duff, Jesse McCartney, Ricky Martin, The Corrs, Luther Vandross, Erin Boheme, Demetrius Ross and Charlie Wilson.
Michael Lloyd was Vice President of A&R for MGM Records by the age of 20, and for more than 45 years has been producing hit records and soundtracks, earning more than 105 gold and platinum awards, a Diamond Award and selling over 170 million records. Some of the artists he’s worked with include, Barry Manilow, Mike Love and the Beach Boys, Sugar Ray, Lou Rawls, Sylvie Vartan, Shaun Cassidy, Belinda Carlisle, The Monkees, The Bellamy Brothers, The Osmonds, Donnie and Marie, Stryper, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bill Medley, The Righteous Brothers, Debby Boone, Kimberley Locke, Air Supply, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few. He was the Music Supervisor for the film Dirty Dancing, wrote the Latin dance music for Patrick and Jennifer to dance to - and produced the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album.
He’s also done the scoring, music supervision, songwriting, song placement, and/or music producing for over 200 motion pictures, TV movies, TV specials and television series. His chart records span six decades, from the ’60s to the present.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/EJk9dVK57cE
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
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Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EJk9dVK57cE
These are the 5 best shortcuts to today's Hit songwriting. In this episode of TAXI TV, Robin Frederick shares the top techniques used in current Chart-Toppers and how to apply them to your own songs! If you want to know how to make your songs get heard and get on the charts, this is for sure the episode for you. We will also be doing a FREE Giveaway of Robin's THREE brand new songwriting books that already have super positive feedback! (and who doesn't like free stuff!?)
Get your copies of Robin's best-selling Songwriting books below!
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting - https://amzn.to/35bU6lo
Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV - https://amzn.to/3439qk0
Robin also has her THREE brand new books available in e-book format for Kindle, so you can take them with you to writing sessions on all your devices. It’s like having Robin in your pocket wherever you go :-)
Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting Level One: 58 Essential Skills for Writing Hit Lyrics, Melodies, & Chords (Revised & Updated): https://amzn.to/2pAaf56 Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting Level Two: 59 Hit-Tested Skills for Crafting Contemporary Songs (Revised & Updated): https://amzn.to/331RpBk Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting Level Three: 61 Advanced Skills for Writing Songs That Sell (Revised & Updated): https://amzn.to/2KACVSN
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/7ni7TsRT-vw
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
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Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IGm32M_kJ5U
Watch this episode to hear what TAXI Members REALLY think about the Road Rally! See some of our featured TAXI Members this week and their feedback on this year's 23rd annual Road Rally Music Convention! We had an amazing turnout with so many great connections made.
From star guests like Jonathan Cain (Journey), Ken Caillat (Fleetwood Mac), Michael Lloyd (100x Platinum Producer), Rob Chiarelli (9x Grammy Award-Winner), Ron Harris (Christina Aguilera), etc. we had an awesome group of music industry contacts!
Be sure to check out our 2019 Road Rally recaps from this past weekend on social media below!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/7ni7TsRT-vw
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
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Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7ni7TsRT-vw
Find out how good a Song needs to be for an $8K Film placement. Which kind of lyrics work best? What kind of production do Music Supervisors look for? We'll touch on all the insider info. in this week's TAXI TV and you'll get a chance to listen to the Songs that actually got forwarded to this Music Supervisor.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/rKy9N0LO2LU
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
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Learn from top-selling songwriting author, Robin Frederick, on what are the best songwriting tools you should be using when you write your own music. In this episode, she gives live feedback reviews on songs that were sent in by TAXI members.
Get Robin's Top-Selling Books: "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" - http://amzn.to/2gKyeI5 "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV" - http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/kXy3pYkYquU
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!
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kXy3pYkYquU
Michael has 3X Grammy Winner, Rob Chiarelli, on this episode of TAXI TV to give his best tips, and answer all of your music recording & production questions!
Watch until the end of the episode to see how you can win Robin Frederick's amazing book, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/UCUkxkxPF7Q
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!
Michael gives a run-down of what to expect at 2019's TAXI Road Rally, our FREE convention, and shares some tips from people have attended the event in the past. Don't skip out on this episode if you're going to the Road Rally for the first time this year!
Grab your 2 FREE tickets to our convention, the TAXI Road Rally here: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/wKRcvn55Yxc
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wKRcvn55Yxc
Michael answers questions from the audience ranging from "How do I get a record deal?" to "What's the best way to improve my song after getting a return from TAXI?" Even if you didn't ask these questions, their answers will help make you a better musician, songwriter, and player in the music industry!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/fqNTungCKYg
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fqNTungCKYg
There are two things we haven’t done in a while:
Have a member of the A&R Team join us to give feedback on your music. Do “Speed Critiques.”
We’re going to combine both those things into a powerhouse episode with one of our favorite Instrumental Cue Specialists on this week’s show! Here’s how to submit your music for possible inclusion in this episode!
NOTE: Do NOT submit music that is already signed to a publisher/music library!
NOTE 2: You can submit ANY genre that would be typically found in music libraries. Instrumentals ONLY, please!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/2IE1p0qAyLE
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/aUKa_YCU6pU
After we played a zillion of TAXI member Steve Barden’s Dramedy Cues a couple of weeks ago, people emailed asking if I would listen to their Dramedy cues and give some feedback.
What’s better than me giving feedback? Getting feedback from our loyal TAXI TV viewers!
Why is that better? Because you learn so much by critiquing other people’s music! And frankly, our viewers have become so good at identifying what works and what doesn’t that it gives me a great deal of pleasure to see how far so many of you have come from watching TAXI TV.
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/2IE1p0qAyLE
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: Part 1: https://youtu.be/VuwndONGIi0 Part 2: https://youtu.be/8b2YFyaTdF4
It’s not every day that I jump on a plane and fly from Los Angeles to Boise, Idaho for the sole purpose of doing a live broadcast of TAXI TV. But that’s exactly what I’m doing for this week’s episode!
This week’s show is coming to you live from Matthew Vander Boegh’s humble studio in his back yard tool shed. I’m fascinated by his story, and you will be as well!
Matt is a single dad who was a college professor at Boise State and promised himself he’d leave his job when his income from music exceeded his teaching salary. Matt worked his butt off and accomplished that goal in a few short years!
He now works on his music full time, and I have no doubt that he will retire very comfortably some day – all from making music in a very basic studio in his back yard tool shed!
If you’ve ever dreamed of leaving you day gig and doing music full time, retiring with a nice nest egg, and doing it all without any huge start up costs, do NOT miss this pivotal episode of TAXI TV!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C_ni0Ux0ifE
There’s no doubt that Dramedy has been one of the most consistently requested (and often-used) genres of Instrumental Cues of the last decade.
Dramedy was most-likely popularized by the long-running TV show, Desperate Housewives, and seemed to take on a life of its own after that. There are actually sub-genres of Dramedy now like Urban Drmeday and Latin Dramedy.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a reality TV show that doesn’t use Dramedy in a variety of ways. Sneaking around, waiting for something odd to happen, a quirky moment, or something that would cause eyebrows to raise, are all examples of when Dramedy would be applicable.
As I was fantasizing about doing a TAXI TV featuring great examples of this genre, I listened to some of TAXI member Steve Barden’s work. The first thought I had was, “These are state of the art.” Steve’s cues are lovingly crafted, and frankly, they might actually be better than they need to be!
But, I was so impressed by the quality of Steve’s work, that I decided to dedicate an entire episode of TAXI TV to playing lots and lots of his Dramedy Cues. He’s been on TAXI TV quite a bit lately, so we’re going to try hard to limit our discussion to the composition and production of these Cues.
The idea behind this episode is to have Dramedy seep into your musical soul by osmosis, so you never have to wonder what Dramedy sounds like, or how to create top-notch Dramedy Cues, again!
Do not miss this critically important episode of TAXI TV if earning your living doing TV music is your goal. We’re going to shave an entire year off your learning curve in just 90 minutes!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2IE1p0qAyLE
I love recording studios! I especially love studios with incredible histories and tons of gear.
With the advent of great, inexpensive recording gear, many of the venerable, large-format studios that have been instrumental in many of the biggest hit records have sadly gone the way of the Dodo Bird.
That’s not the case for Westlake! As a matter of fact, it’s one of a handful of yesterday’s most iconic studios that continues to thrive in today’s recording industry. On this week’s episode of TAXI TV, I get to hang out with Westlake’s CEO and Co-Owner (with partner, Steve Burdick), Al Machera.
Al is a studio junkie like myself, so every time we’re together our conversations take me back to the world I’m most comfortable in––studios with great live rooms and large-format SSL and Neve consoles. There’s a brotherhood of people who “grew up” and worked in studios like that; and in this episode of TAXI TV, we’re going to take a walk down memory lane and find out why Westlake’s numerous studios have remained viable (and booked solidly) in this day and age.
I’m hoping we’ll hear some great War Stories about some of the artists and historic records recorded at Westlake. Here’s a small sample of just some of those artists: Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Shakira, Justin Timberlake, Madonna, Ne-Yo, Donna Summer, Alanis Morissette, Boston, Van Halen, Frank Ocean, Josh Groban, Quincy Jones, Dave Matthews, Kelly Clarkson, Nas, Keyshia Cole, Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Britney Spears, Nine Inch Nails, Justin Bieber, Fifth Harmony, and many, many more! Also, a countless number of films, television shows, and commercials have been recorded at Westlake!
Pro studios at Westlake’s level have demanding training for their staff members and achieve professional results that exceed what even the most demanding artists and producers require. I plan to ask Al how some of that “pro-level juju” can be passed along to today’s home studio owners as well.
Don’t miss this unique episode of TAXI TV. I’m excited, in case you can’t tell!
Want to get a little preview and some of Westlake’s history? Click here and here!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/n_33ijHW8bs
I have a very small circle of close friends who I lean on when I need sage business advice. Tony van Veen is at the very top of that list. He’s extremely smart, and he’s one of “us.”
“How so?” you ask! Well, besides being the CEO of a highly successful company, he’s also a drummer, an indie label owner, and truly he understands the soul of a musician.
Tony is the CEO of DIY Media Group, the parent company of Disc Makers, Merchly, BookBaby, and until very recently, CDBaby, as well. He leads a team of 300 people who are quite expert in helping creative people manufacture, stream, distribute, sell, monetize, and collect monies earned from their content – which for the purpose of this episode is music!
I’ll tell you a bit more about Tony at the top of the show, and then we’re going to jump right into the 7 Mistakes Nearly ALL Musicians Make, goodies. Aren’t you curious to see how many you’ve made, or are making right now?
This is going to be a powerfully unique episode of TAXI TV because we’re going to cover ground I don’t remember ever covering in our 10 years on the air! All you need to do to be part of this powerful, career-changing episode is click the button below to tune in at 4pm (Pacific Daylight time) on Monday, August 5th!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2emrBVzjQZc
We all know that Instrumentals made for TV and Film placements is supposed to support an emotion or mood, don’t we?
When you sit down to compose an Instrumental piece, do you start with an emotion in mind and stay on track as the piece develops?
When the piece is done, is the mood or emotion clear and obvious? It needs to be if you’d like to improve your odds of getting that Instrumental placed in a TV show or film!
No matter how good your engineering and production sound, if the music doesn’t support a mood or convey an emotion, the chances of a Music Supervisor using it are dramatically diminished.
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Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jPY8OXjxyRw
Legendary record producer Michael Lloyd had such a great time on TAXI TV last April, that he’s coming back again this week! The cool part about this return visit is that Michael will be doing live Song critiques!
He’s kind of famous for being super generous with his feedback at TAXI’s free convention (the Road Rally) every year, so we’d like our loyal viewers to experience the same thing on TAXI TV!
Here’s Michael’s bio, and you’ll find submission instructions below that!
Michael Lloyd was Vice President of A&R for MGM Records by the age of 20, and for more than 45 years has been producing hit records and soundtracks, earning more than 105 Gold and Platinum awards, and selling over 150 million records.
Some of the artists he’s worked with include, Barry Manilow, Mike Love and the Beach Boys, Lou Rawls, Sylvie Vartan, Shaun Cassidy, Steve Holy, Belinda Carlisle, The Monkees, The Bellamy Brothers, The Osmonds, Stryper, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bill Medley, The Righteous Brothers, Debby Boone, Kimberley Locke, Leif Garrett, Air Supply, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few.
Michael was the Music Supervisor for the film Dirty Dancing, wrote the Latin dance music for Patrick and Jennifer to dance to - and produced the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album. Currently, there are several “Dirty Dancing - the Musical” companies that are touring all over the world. He’s done the scoring, music supervision, songwriting, song placement, and/or music producing for nearly 200 motion pictures, TV movies, TV specials and television series. His chart records span six decades, from the ’60s to the present. Michael is also a recipient of TAXI’s Lifetime Achievement Award!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/AzGK6MIBlQM
Check out Rob's Plugins: https://www.finalmix.biz Get 50% off everything with code TAXI2019 Get Free Mastering EQ9 with code TAXI-TV
Michael had Multi-Grammy-Winning Producer, Engineer, and Mixer Rob Chiarelli in the TAXI TV studio to review TAXI Members' mixes and to give them some awesome mixing tips along the way!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UeMJAlgI3ZI
Get Steve's Book: amzn.to/2MZAxse
We had so many great tips to give you guys last week that we didn't get to that Steve Barden is coming back this week to make sure you hear them all. We're also going to spend more time answering viewer questions.
And yes, we will be giving away another free book!
Steve is a production music composer for film and television, and his music can be heard on television somewhere in the world on a daily basis. His music has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC Family, A&E, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, Biography Channel, Bravo, The Cooking Channel, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, Game Show Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, National Geographic Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network, Outdoor Channel, Oxygen, PBS, Science Channel, Style Channel, SyFy Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, Univision, and VH1.
Steve is also the author of, Writing Production Music for TV - The Road to Success.
Win a copy of this awesome book by being in the chat room during the live broadcast of this episode!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ESjh9uF6lsY
Get Steve's Book "Writing Production Music for TV - The Road to Success": https://amzn.to/2N3fQMb
Successful TAXI member, composer and author, Steve Barden, will share a boatload of Common Sense Tips for Production Music Composers on this week’s episode!
Steve is a production music composer for film and television, and his music can be heard on television somewhere in the world on a daily basis. His music has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC Family, A&E, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, Biography Channel, Bravo, The Cooking Channel, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, Game Show Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, National Geographic Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network, Outdoor Channel, Oxygen, PBS, Science Channel, Style Channel, SyFy Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, Univision, and VH1.
Steve is also the author of, Writing Production Music for TV - The Road to Success. https://amzn.to/2N3fQMb
Win a copy of this awesome book by being in the chat room during the live broadcast of this episode!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/dmPI_qZi0Io
Sometimes, it’s the littlest things that can hurt your career… seemingly unimportant things. But they’re not unimportant! As obvious as many of these mistakes are, you can never be reminded too often about what I used to call, “Stupid Musician Tricks.”
It’s not the musicians who are stupid, but making these errors can make you feel like you were stupid for making them! I’ve been making a list of common mistakes, and have enough of them for a full episode!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/Lo7ETFVc6rk
TAXI has been at the forefront of helping independent songwriters, artists, and composers get record deals, publishing deals, and Film & TV Music Licensing deals for 27 years. This video is filled with great tips on how musicians can be more effective in pursuing their careers!
It's not always about just making great music... there's often more to it than that. Join TAXI's CEO, Michael Laskow, as he answers viewers' questions like:
Why can't songwriters form a union that would allow them advances on royalties like Producers get?
If I license my song to a Film/TV music publisher, can I also release the song on my own via iTunes or some other online distribution platform?
Is it necessary to re-register a copyright after I've remixed and re-mastered a song?
How can I incorporate a throwback or retro vibe in my songs without sounding dated?
How does the music industry feel about female empowerment?
You'll get the answers to these and many more great questions during this in-depth Q&A session on TAXI TV!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/_cgmX79uwHI
Get Ralph's Book here: https://amzn.to/2Xuzt0w
I lost a very close friend on Tuesday. Ralph Murphy was also a friend to countless songwriters all over the world. They lost their most generous teacher and cheerleader this week.
If you aren’t already familiar with Ralph’s bio, click here to see it.
Ralph was in Los Angeles last month, and we enjoyed 2 glorious days of golf together. But it was our late night chats at the Laskow family kitchen table that were always the most enriching and endearing part of our friendship over the last 25 years or so.
Ralph enjoyed a life that was very well lived, and he had a million great stories to share. I’m actually surprised that none of the obituaries mention what an incredible raconteur he was. Spending four or five hours on a golf course with Ralph was an entertaining education and a philosophy class rolled into one. I’ll miss our annual outings.
For this week’s TAXI TV, we’re going to replay an episode with Ralph from a couple of years ago. He had “chemo fog” during last month’s appearance on TAXI TV and wasn’t always able to articulate his thoughts as well as he would have liked.
I prefer to remember my friend when he was 100%. Actually, if Ralph were reading this, he would have joked, “Have I ever been 100%?” Yes Ralph, you were.
I miss his warmth and sense of humor. I miss watching him plant songwriting seeds all over the world. Join me for this special episode as we wish Ralph a fond farewell.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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Watch This Video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_cgmX79uwHI
We know that it’s become a “thing” that many of our viewers like to enjoy a tasty libation while watching the live version of TAXI TV, each week. We think it’s only fitting that we celebrate that with an episode dedicated to Drinking Songs!
A few weeks ago, one of our favorite Film/TV music publishers requested drinking songs from our members. We’d like to find out if our A&R team was drinking while they reviewed those songs. We’re kidding of course, but we would like to listen to some of the songs they forwarded and some they didn’t!
You’re going to cast your votes on the some of the same songs and see if you agree or disagree with our A&R team. We suspect that some of you might be drinking while voting, so this should be educational, fun, and very entertaining!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/intyCmrB4AQ
Learn more about Bobby: http://bobbyowsinski.com
Check out Bobby's Podcast: https://bobbyoinnercircle.com
Get "The Music Business Advice Book":
Have you ever asked any of these questions?
Why are the royalty payments so low? What about publishing royalties? What about this 44% raise in rates that’s coming? Why are YouTube rates lower? Why aren’t all my views monetized? What does it take to have a view and a channel monetized? Is a million views or streams really that much any more? Which pays more - Spotify or Pandora, and why? Why do songwriters make more from Spotify?
Well, you’re going to get answers to these questions and many more related topics if you join my guest, Bobby Owsinski, and me on this week’s TAX TV!
Bobby is an in-demand producer/engineer working not only with a variety of recording artists, but on commercials, television and motion pictures as well.
He was one of the first to delve into surround sound music mixing, co-founding the industry leader Surround Associates and eventually working on over a hundred surround projects and DVD productions for a variety of legendary superstar acts including The Who, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Iron Maiden, The Ramones, and Chicago among many others.
Bobby has become one of the best selling authors in the music recording industry with 23 books that are now staples in audio recording, music and music business programs in colleges around the world, including the best selling “Mixing Engineer’s Handbook, The Recording Engineer’s Handbook, and Music 4.0: A Survival Guide For Making Music In The Internet Age.
But I’ve asked Bobby to join us this week to cover a topic that we should spend more time on here at TAXI TV, and that’s, “Can you please help me understand how I get paid when my music is streamed?”
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/r8wgq2Lew7w
Get "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV" by Robin Fredrick: http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E
I’m often amazed by how many people still don’t really understand the ins and outs of getting their songs and instrumentals in TV, films, and commercials. So, this week I’m going to do a deep dive into:
Why you should consider this part of the music industry
What works and what doesn’t
What genres of music are most often requested
How many songs or tracks you need to gain critical mass
How much money you can make
How long it takes to see the income start to roll in
How much and what type of gear you need in your studio
And much, much, much more!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SUV9XIrrT2Y
Get Ralph's Book: https://murphyslawsofsongwriting.com/
During his five-decade-long career, Ralph Murphy has been a hit songwriter, performer, record producer, music publisher, lecturer, author, and Vice President of International and Domestic Membership at ASCAP.
He’s also the author of the powerfully insightful book, Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting -- the Book, which is chock-full of practical songwriting tips and examples that will help you become a better songwriter before you finish reading it! Colleges and universities the world over use Murphy’s Laws as a leading textbook, and he’s an in-demand lecturer at music conferences in the U.S., Canada, Australia, Scandinavia, and Europe. How to Get Your Music Reviewed on Monday’s TAXI TV…
We’d like to get a jump on submissions for this episode, so please start posting links to your songs over this weekend! Please read the following paragraph, it’s important!
To have a shot at getting your Song reviewed by Ralph on this coming Monday’s episode, and all you need to do is post a link where we can stream AND download it on our Facebook page. You need to be a current TAXI member to submit a song, and by doing so, you grant us the right to play the song publicly, live on the show, give live feedback on your song, and have your song and the feedback included in the archived version of the show. If you don’t want your song played and critiqued, simply don’t submit it!
Songs need to be posted on Facebook no later than NOON on Monday, April 29th! Note: We will not be doing Film and TV-centric song reviews, only songs you’d pitch to other artists or record yourself for radio and records.
Once again, to submit your song, go to our Facebook page and post a link to where we can stream AND download your song. IMPORTANT: Please post your lyrics with your Facebook post so we’ve got them for the show. Here’s a link to our Facebook page.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/QDga9YD5BwE
Self-help guru Tony Robbins has been saying this for decades:
“There’s a Pathway to Power; a way to achieve what you want in a shorter period of time. And the way to find it is to model someone who’s already achieving what you want. If someone is extraordinarily successful in business, they’re not lucky. They’ve got a set of strategies that they apply and those strategies work. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. You don’t need to reinvent a way to succeed. Throughout my life, I’ve always believed it’s been best to learn from others. That’s how you compress decades into days.”
This week’s special guest on TAXI TV is Barry DeVorzon -- who in my humble opinion -- is that person to model.
Barry was writing, performing, and producing hits back in the early ‘60s, built a publishing company and record label, sold them to Warner Bros., invested the money in real estate, and continued to create success with everything he has touched!
Barry is also well known for composing the theme music for the legendary soap opera, The Young and the Restless – better known as "Nadia’s Theme." He also composed the awesome theme music for the hit TV show, S.W.A.T., and tons of other cool stuff. He even co-wrote the Joe Walsh/Eagles hit, "In the City," and had another hit with it when Mary J. Blige sampled it years later.
Barry has won 6 Emmy Awards, a Grammy, and was nominated for an Oscar. Today, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of the incredible MasterWriter songwriting software! He’s also launched SongGuard, which we’ll also talk about on this week’s episode.
Barry never stops, he’s built what most people would consider an “empire,” and yet remains one of the busiest, most hard-working, and nicest people you could ever meet! If you think the “good guys” should win, then don’t miss today’s show so you can learn exactly how it’s done!!!
This is going to be a great episode!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WW46hHrcDF8
TAXI is a music company, first and foremost. That’s why the staff and I do regular hang outs to listen to our members’ music. We turn off the phones and meet in my office once a month to listen to playlists built by staff members.
Our most recent playlist was put together by Angela Mukul, our Head Screener. It was all Instrumental Cues; and as I listened, I couldn’t help but think our TAXI TV viewers would enjoy hearing what we heard.
By the end of the listening session, I was beaming with pride! I think you will as well, and I think you’ll learn a LOT if creating Instrumental Cues is what you mostly do!
Want to be great? Listen to great material and let it seep into your musical soul! Join me for Monday’s show as we listen and learn together! I think you’re going to enjoy this journey into what we hear behind the scenes at TAXI world headquarters.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/buggarSsnPI
I’m thrilled that we’ll be joined by legendary record producer, Michael Lloyd, on this week’s episode! Here’s his bio…
Michael Lloyd was Vice President of A&R for MGM Records by the age of 20, and for more than 45 years has been producing hit records and soundtracks, earning more than 105 Gold and Platinum awards, and selling over 150 million records.
Some of the artists he’s worked with include, Barry Manilow, Mike Love and the Beach Boys, Lou Rawls, Sylvie Vartan, Shaun Cassidy, Steve Holy, Belinda Carlisle, The Monkees, The Bellamy Brothers, The Osmonds, Stryper, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bill Medley, The Righteous Brothers, Debby Boone, Kimberley Locke, Leif Garrett, Air Supply, and Frank Sinatra, just to name a few.
Michael was the Music Supervisor for the film Dirty Dancing, wrote the Latin dance music for Patrick and Jennifer to dance to - and produced the Dirty Dancing soundtrack album. Currently, there are several “Dirty Dancing - the Musical” companies that are touring all over the world. He’s done the scoring, music supervision, songwriting, song placement, and/or music producing for nearly 200 motion pictures, TV movies, TV specials and television series. His chart records span six decades, from the ’60s to the present. Michael is also a recipient of TAXI’s Lifetime Achievement Award! Just a few of the things I’ll be asking Michael:
If you had to pick one thing that makes a hit record, what would that be? What makes an artist desirable to labels and the public? What are some tips for artists who are producing themselves in home studios? What are some common misconceptions songwriters and artists have about making it in the music business? Any tricks that help you get killer vocal performances from artists in the studio?
What Would You Ask Him?
Michael revels in helping TAXI members! He loves answering their questions and inspiring them every year at the Road Rally. So bust out your very best questions for Michael’s first appearance on TAXI TV!
The first questions we’ll answer from viewers will be those submitted before the broadcast. Post your questions on our Facebook page OR tweet us your questions on Twitter no later than TODAY, Monday, April 1st at 3pm, Pacific Time!
If possible, we’ll take some questions from viewers during the live broadcast as well!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EfQ80uEJQ5Y
Buy "Five Star Music Makeover": https://amzn.to/2Uer7vi
Learn more about Bobby and Michael's "Intro to Music Publishing" here: http://bit.ly/2Tx1DVQ
Bobby Borg and Michael Eames are so incredibly well informed, and highly expert on so many aspects of the music business that it’s difficult to give them just one description!
Publishing, management, booking, contracts, The Music Modernization Act, music licensing, and much, much more! The last time these guys were on TAXI TV, they blew the viewing audience’s collective minds, and I expect they’ll do the same on this episode!
They’ve come up with some inventive ways and places in which you could license your music, and they will share some of those as the lead topic of this week’s episode. But, I can guarantee you that we’ll cover a range of topics that you won’t want to miss!
Their Bios!
Michael Eames is the Founder and President of LA-based independent music publisher PEN Music Group, Inc. PEN specializes in both worldwide publishing administration and pitching music to film/TV/ads. PEN currently represents both well known songs and artists ("I've Had The Time Of My Life" from DIRTY DANCING, "Hotel California", Olivia Newton-John and her longtime writer/producer John Farrar) as well as rising songwriter/artists (such as Todd Wright, ShyBoy, Holly Conlan, Lizz Wright and many others). PEN's songs have been recorded by artists such as Christina Aguilera, Aloe Blacc, Luther Vandross, Kenny Rogers, kd lang, The Black Eyed Peas, Kenny Rogers, Etta James, Frank Sinatra and countless others. Prior to PEN, Michael is a trained songwriter/composer from Cornell University and worked with Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and worked on the catalogues of Jimi Hendrix and Roy Orbison. Michael is also currently the National President of the Association Of Independent Music Publishers.
Bobby Borg is a former Major label, independent, and DIY recording/touring artist with over 25 years experience. A graduate of Berklee College of Music with a BA in Professional Music, and UCLA Extension with a certificate in Marketing Management and Project Management, he serves as a music business educator at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and at the University of Los Angeles in California, and he also arranges educational programs with institutions overseas. As a music business and A&R consultant to managers, labels, and supervisors, Borg is also a prominent guest speaker at music industry events and a regular contributor to international music business publications. He is the author of Billboard Books best-seller The Musician’s Handbook (https://amzn.to/2UjaOxD), Business Basics For Musicians (https://amzn.to/2TCTrDo), and Music Marketing For The DIY Musician (https://amzn.to/2UaBgsX). Borg was elected Vice President of Special Events For The American Marketing Association in Los Angeles and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/Lo6GMgjS7hI
We can’t tell you who it is in this email because some people sometimes do crazy stuff when we disclose who some of our guests are ;-) We’ve actually considered having a guest of this gent’s stature wear a mask on the show!
All secrecy aside, this Music Library CEO is going to listen to some of our viewers’ Film and TV Songs (no instrumentals) and let us know if they’d work for syncs or not! We’ll tell you how to submit for possible feedback in a minute! Keep reading…
We’ll also take the last half hour of the show to discuss some dopey mistakes some musicians have made that hurt their chances of getting placements. We’ll also answer some random viewer questions as well during the live show, so get them ready, and keep them on the short and pithy side!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xZm-nN4FXtw
Every now and then we get a frustrated member who feels like TAXI’s A&R team just isn’t getting it right when it comes to his or her music. We have a Head Screener whose job it is to look at and do quality control on every critique that we send back to our members.
The Head Screener is also the person who takes care of disputes over forwards and returns by TAXI’s A&R team. Nearly all cases are resolved by the Head Screener :-)
A few times a year those disputes make it to my desk and my ears. One of those cases hit my desk a month or so ago, and the TAXI member is totally amenable to having some of his music “judged by a jury of his peers” on this week’s episode of TAXI TV.
This is where your ears come in!
We will read the TAXI Listing(s) the song(s) was submitted for, play the song in full (at the member’s request), and then have our live viewing audience weigh in with their opinions.
How many people would forward the song based on what the listing asked for?
How many would return it?
If they wouldn’t forward it, how did the song not hit the mark?
What could be improved, if anything?
After the audience lets us know how they “vote,” we’ll see what TAXI’s A&R person said in his or her feedback.
Tune your ears! Every time we do one of the A&R Ear Check episodes, we get really positive feedback from our viewers. They love testing their skills! More importantly, they often tell us that “Judging other people’s music really helps me make mine better.”
Don’t miss this adventure in testing you’re A&R chops. It will be fun and very educational!
To Join the Live Chat and Cast Your Votes During the Broadcast…
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SFAN_JuSk_Q
Learn More about Erin: http://themusicindustrylawyer.com
Check out Indie Artist Resource: http://indieartistresource.com
We love having Erin Jacobson on TAXI TV! She’s smart, she’s super well informed, and best of all, she really understands what independent artists, songwriters, and composers need from an entertainment attorney. We know that for a fact because a bunch of TAXI’s members have used Erin for their legal needs and they all love her!
When was the last time you’ve heard anybody say they “love” their attorney?
Here’s Erin’s bio:
Erin M. Jacobson is a music attorney whose clients include Grammy and Emmy Award winners, legacy clients and catalogues, songwriters, music publishers, record labels, and independent artists and companies. She is based in Los Angeles where she handles a wide variety of music agreements and negotiations, in addition to owning and overseeing all operations for Indie Artist Resource, the independent musician’s resource for legal and business protection.
We’ll be covering some of today’s most frequently asked musician questions, and then open the floor to questions from the viewing audience during the live show.
**Opinions expressed during this episode or in any edited segments of this episode of TAXI TV do not constitute legal advice.**
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mPtv1e8aT1o
James Kocian has been a TAXI member for years and has done a superb job of leveraging the contacts and relationships he’s made. His work ethic and incredibly positive attitude are the reasons we think he does so well.
With that in mind, I’ve asked him to come up with 5 Habits that successful musicians often display. Take notes during this episode – trust me on this! If you think you’ve had some obstacles get in the way of your creativity and productivity, James will inspire you to overcome them. I’m certain of it!
This guy is a giver! Here’s a blurb from his website… James Kocian is an award-winning writer/producer and VP of A&R for Street Lamp Records.
James has enjoyed commercial success with various artists in multiple genres, including Pop, Country, Gospel and Contemporary Christian music. His songs have also been featured by Ralph Lauren, Inditex (H&M, Mossimo, etc.), Bosch, and in many network television shows, such as The Kardashians.
His song, "This Changes Everything" was the theme for the ELCA Mass Gathering in Houston, TX where he performed live at NRG stadium for over 32,000 people. When James is not in the studio, he can usually be found mentoring young artists or leading worship at his local church
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2xqXUV3xp3g
Call Ilio at 818-707-7222 on Tuesday, February 19th, 2019, and you can get a discount on the Vienna Smart Orchestra! (Just let them know that you watch the TAXI TV with Martin and Chuck!)
There’s a steep learning curve in mastering the art of using Virtual Orchestral libraries. Understanding how the various instruments are played and what they play is not something you can learn in a weekend.
Most people who need orchestral sounds every now and then typically don’t master the virtual domain, and sadly, it shows when you hear the music they make!
All of us TAXI were very intrigued when we heard about Vienna Symphonic Library’s new Vienna Smart Orchestra. We want to know much more about how this product makes it easier to create believable sounds and arrangements without the super steep learning curve, and pretty inexpensively as well!
We’ve invited Martin Tichy – the Marketing Director for Vienna Symphonic Library and a TAXI member – to show us some of the cool stuff that the Vienna Smart Orchestra can do. Martin will be joined by Six-Figure TAXI member, Chuck Henry, who is quite expert at creating instrumental music. Even better: Chuck is also a great keyboard player and a willing test subject for this first episode of its kind on TAXI TV!
Join us for this exciting, in-depth look at what we hope might be an inexpensive solution to a problem that a majority of our viewers might have: “How do I create instrumental cues with orchestral sounds when I don’t have the chops or the budget to buy or use the top libraries?”
Quoting the VSL web page: “Playing a 140 piece orchestra on the keyboard has never been easier and more rewarding. The Vienna Smart Orchestra brings the power of a large symphonic orchestra right to your fingertips. Whether you are looking for inspiration, quickly sketching a symphonic idea, delivering a final score on a deadline, or playing live on stage – this orchestral powerhouse lets you play all the sections and lead instruments at once, spread out over the entire keyboard.
Create large orchestrations on the fly, without worrying about balancing and fine-tuning the instrumentation! Get creative with experimental FX presets for hybrid soundscapes and organic textures. This lean and resource-saving package delivers a perfectly balanced orchestra that’s fun to play, and at an irresistible price.”
Sounds great to us!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GOeWaSTwvnw
Find Out More about Dean: https://www.deankrippaehne.net
CHECK OUT DEAN'S BOOKS "Demystifying the Cue" - https://amzn.to/2SEFE2L "Demystifying the Genre" - https://amzn.to/2I0O4gB "Write, Submit, Forget, Repeat" - https://amzn.to/2I207un
• Do you know what the difference is between an instrumental and an instrumental cue?
• Do you know what a “developmental arc” is in the context of an instrumental cue?
• Do you know how to make inexpensive, and sometimes outdated sample libraries sound like a million bucks?
• Do you know how long it should take to write, produce, mix, create stems, and tag an “average” cue? Hint, that’s a loaded question!
• Do you know the simple little trick that can make people think they’re hearing a real band, when they’re mostly hearing computer-generated instruments?
• Can you name more than three types of Tension cues?
• Do you know the genres of instrumental cues that get used most often?
• Do you know why one cue might get picked over another for a particular scene?
Meet the Guy Who Will Answer Those Questions and Give Live Feedback on Some Viewers’ Instrumental Cues During Our Live Broadcast!
Dean Krippaehne is one of TAXI’s most successful members, and a veteran songwriter, musician, author, and music producer. His many credits include: Late Night with Seth Meyers, Oprah, Duck Dynasty, Scorpion, One Life to Live, Parenthood, Vampire Diaries, Dr. Oz, The Today Show, Biography A&E, Best Ink, Lucky Dog, Amazon Direct and T-Mobile to name just a few.
As a songwriter, Dean has earned Gold and Platinum records, a Billboard Top 10 with Universal artist Stefanie Heinzmann. The vast majority of Dean’s signings, placements, and Gold and Platinum awards are a result of his TAXI membership and the relationships he’s made through TAXI.
Dean is also the author of the excellent books: "Demystifying the Cue" (https://amzn.to/2SEFE2L) and "Demystifying the Genre" (https://amzn.to/2I0O4gB) (both #1 Amazon best-sellers), and his most recent tome, "Write, Submit, Forget, Repeat." (https://amzn.to/2I207un)
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/l2OLf570mms
TAXI CEO Michael Laskow celebrates 27 years of TAXI by reading stories of your accomplishments on this special episode of TAXI TV.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g4zLTnqgmFg
TAXI Member Brit Fox is going to be in town, so we've invited her to be on this week's TAXI TV! Brit is a mother raising a young child, so we're going to discuss how she balances her family life with having a budding music career creating tracks that have been heard on HBO, BET, Netflix, and more!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Fy_Sb6AJ45M
Get a FREE Copy of Rob's Mastering EQ Plugin until Friday, January 18th: http://bit.ly/2VUG6sf and enter the code TAXI2019 at checkout!
When was the last time you were able to ask a Multi- (Multi, Multi, Multi, Multi…) Platinum, Multi-Grammy-winning Producer/Mixer/Engineer any question your heart desired? Yep, that’s what we thought!
Well, now you can! Rob Chiarelli is coming back to answer every question you can throw at him on Monday (time permitting), and he’s going to give some of his famous FinalMix plugins away to our live audience!
Get FREE Stuff, Just for Watching!
Rumor has it, everybody in the live show’s chat room will get something awesome, so this is a show you don’t want to miss!
Want to see what the possibilities are? Click here to see Rob’s awesome plugins! http://bit.ly/2VUG6sf
Learn More About Rob: https://www.finalmix.com/about/
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WJZ4yu4adb8
Find Out More About Steven: http://stevenmemel.com
People have called Steven Memel a “genius” after seeing him on stage at our convention, the Road Rally. We’ve seen him create astonishing artist transformations right before our very eyes. His performance and vocal delivery strategies really work, and they work quickly!
We’ve noticed that so many big artists today, don’t sing using what we’d call a traditional approach. Instead, they use a much more “indie” approach, and we want to know how you turn off your inner, traditional Pop or Rock voice, and conjure up a vocal delivery that sounds like what the “cool kids” are doing.
Do you have to be a twenty-five-year-old hipster to use these techniques? Hell no!
If you’re creating songs for TV and film, you can cop the indie style and nobody needs to have a clue as to how old you are. The end result is all the music library executives and music supervisors really care about!
Join Steven Memel as he plays some current songs and analyzes what makes the vocals sound so indie, and how you can implement the same approach.
Do you clam up in the studio or sweat bullets in front of a live audience?
How many times have you stared a microphone in the face and delivered a sucky vocal performance because you were afraid of hearing your own voice under the studio “microscope?”
Do you ever freak out before you sing live?
Steven is also going to give us some great tips and techniques for getting over stage fright, which is super-handy for live performances and in the studio as well!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/PZIq5ueKMUw
Watch this episode, write the resolutions down, tape them to your bathroom mirror, and say them out loud every morning after you brush your teeth. Good oral and mental hygiene can make you healthy, wealthy, and wise!
End 2018 in the best possible way, as Michael gives you 10 success strategies that he’s seen TAXI’s most successful members use over and over again.
You know what they say – if you want to become successful, just do what the successful people who came before you have done! Watch this episode if you’re ready to become successful with your music in 2019!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/b7e40GkgzH8
Get Robin's Books ------------------------------ "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" http://amzn.to/2gKyeI5 "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV" http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E
TAXI TV favorite Robin Frederick will be in the studio this week to tell us about 10 mistakes that songwriters often make when writing for both film and TV and for records! Robin is definitely an expert on the subject; heck, she's even written two books about it (Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting and Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV)!
Join us during the live show for an episode that you're not going to want to miss!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ACIYiXtdxkw
We're excited to have TAXI TV favorite and A&R Team Member Brooke Ferri back on this week's TAXI TV! Brooke really knows her stuff when it comes Film and TV music licensing; so for the first half hour of the show, she and Michael will going over the ins and outs of Music Publishing as it relates to Film and TV music! If you're new to TAXI or new to the music licensing game, this will be a must-watch!
For the remaining hour of the show, we're going to play a fun new game inspired by last week's guest, Henry Winckel: "Can You Outguess the Screener?"
You'll be able to submit a Film/TV-related Song or Instrumental on our Facebook page that has been "returned" by a TAXI A&R Team Member; we'll play it live on the show and then the audience and Brooke will try to figure out why the song was not forwarded by the screener.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/V2PXHncEj2U
We were unable to broadcast this episode last week because of an unforeseen emergency. We've postponed it to this week.
Nothing gets us more excited than watching TAXI members progress and flourish. One of those members is Henry Winckel. He’s been a guest on TAXI TV before, and he was great!
What makes Henry so cool is that he’s a great observer. He notices everything, absorbs what he sees and hears, and puts it to good use. You’ve heard the timeworn phrase, “He’s got a mind like a steel trap,” no doubt. I think it was coined in Henry’s honor!
I spoke to Henry a few days after the Road Rally and was astonished at how many golden nuggets he retained! Frankly, I think Henry knows more about what happened at the Rally than I do, and I was in the driver’s seat! I’m seriously envious of his capacity to remember details exactly like they happened.
I’ve asked Henry to join us on the show again so you can benefit from what he saw, learned and will faithfully regurgitate for your benefit. If you didn’t make it to the Rally, this might be the next best thing. If you were there, but couldn’t be in two places at once, maybe Henry was in one of those places and can share what you missed!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WT4dBP7Ngm4
"Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting" by Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/2RXs4mU "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV" by Robin Frederick: https://amzn.to/2qU73ON "So You Want to Become a Media Composer?" by Adonis Aletras: https://amzn.to/2zjVQM5 "Writing Production Music For TV" by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/2qUIlgY "Murphy's Law of Songwriting: The Book" by Ralph Murphy: https://amzn.to/2Q6hjBK "Demystifying the Cue" by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/2DNybXV "Demystifying the Genre" by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/2TmyOfI
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YcZDYBEAKi0
The Road Rally went incredibly well, and we’re already back in the office bringing you more great opportunities for your music. We’re really excited to have two of our favorite guests on today’s show – Matt Vander Boegh and Chuck Henry!
Both of them are among our most successful members, and two of the nicest people you could ever meet! They’re great examples of how making the right music, having the right attitude, and treating the process of creating music as a profession can pay off to the tune of a six-figure income.
Join us for an insider’s look into “the secret” that has made each of these guys successful. Spoiler alert: If you think it’s something that’s beyond your reach, watch this show and you’ll be convinced otherwise!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sGbBIyQvxrQ
Chuck Henry is one of the most successful TAXI members of all time. He's cracked the code when it comes to doing mostly Instrumentals for TV and Film, and licensing them like crazy!
Chuck will be joining us live in the TAXI TV studio on Monday so he can show us how to build Future Bass and Trap-Tension Cues from scratch!
Chuck is going to step us through the process, then add all the other instruments to build Cues. If you’re a singer/songwriter type and building beats is a little intimidating, this episode of TAXI TV could be super helpful in transitioning you into a couple of the most in-demand styles requested by Music Supervisors and Music Libraries alike!
I'm also going to be joined by TAXI TV Producer and Road Rally veteran Briagha McTavish at the end of the show to walk you through some of the frequently asked questions we've been getting from members and their guests about this year's TAXI Road Rally! Don't miss this part of the show if it's your very first Rally.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uflErjx8Zlw
The name Randon Purcell might sound familiar to you because his Passenger Profile interview has been running in the TAXI Transmitter for the last 3 months. The final installment will be out in a couple of days!
As luck would have it, Randon is in Los Angeles this week, and is able to join us for a special episode of TAXI TV today at 4/7 pm.
Find the time to watch this episode! Randon is an incredibly deep well of information. He will tell you what works, what doesn’t, and how long it might take for your efforts to gain traction.
He’s got some great advice when it comes to dealing with Music Library owners and Music Supervisors. Frankly, he’s got great advice on almost any aspect of creating music for TV and film.
I’m really excited to get Randon in this live setting so you can hear what his common sense, but often overlooked “secrets” to success are. Get your questions ready folks!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7TEgi68uSPM
At last year’s Road Rally (TAXI’s free convention), I played an exciting orchestral cue titled “Across the Valley” by member, Martin Tichy. I love that piece, and the audience in the grand ballroom quickly understood why!
As I got to know Martin better, it was pretty easy to understand why his music was so good -- in particular his orchestral work. You see, his grandfather was a violin teacher, and they lived in Austria, a country revered for its classical musicians and composers.
At some point, Martin became a drummer, playing in rock and country bands. His grandfather must have loved that, lol! He returned to playing violin seven years later. He also studied business and economics while in college. Martin’s pedigree served him well as worked for Warner Music and EMI, and eventually when he started his own marketing company, which led him to become Vienna Symphonic Library’s Marketing Manager.
Martin understands what an orchestra is supposed to sound like, and that my friends is key to creating believable music with sample and virtual instrument libraries!
Don’t miss this one-of-kind episode with a man who will get your head pointed in directions you might have never uncovered on your own. We will discuss the “floor plan” of an orchestra, articulations, bowing techniques, and anything else I can think of to get this humble, generous man to teach you things that somebody who is merely interested in how a library sounds “right out of the box” might overlook.
We will play you some samples, and maybe even more importantly, I’m going to dedicate a substantial amount of time to viewer questions.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zJ2Gtdl7wGM
Music For Income Courses: http://bit.ly/2QCRGFS
I’m excited to have a Music Library owner from far, far away join me on Monday for the live broadcast of the big show! He’s very smart, and by virtue of him living on another continent, I’m curious to see if there are any musical or business differences from U.S. music libraries that he can point out.
Why am I not disclosing exactly who this guest will be? Because this email goes to thousands of people, and oftentimes, when I put a guest’s name in the promo dozens of people Google the person, and then add them to their email lists and drive them crazy. Our members who watch TAXI TV are usually a little better behaved ;-)
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/NT8lwKdxf14
Michael's going to be out of the office on Monday, so he asked Tom and I to come up with something new and fun for this episode! Our answer: TAXI Trivia!
Get right answers, win a bunch of cool prizes: Several great books, and a Shure microphone!
Tom and I are going to be asking you questions about all things TAXI––so be sure to do your research before tuning in! :) Make sure you're logged in to you YouTube account and active in the chat so you can answer and win!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jXEDnwLEjgU
Get Bobby's Book: amzn.to/2BlujwT
Michael will be back in the saddle for Monday's TAXI TV, and he'll be helping you learn about one of his favorite topics -- Marketing Music! Fishing was a good guess, but not for this show ;-)
Many of you know Bobby Owsinski for his best-selling books on engineering and mixing, but you may not know that he's also a world-class expert on marketing with social media, websites, and email as well! If you're frustrated that your marketing efforts aren't panning out like you'd hoped, don't miss this episode of TAXI TV!
Michael will be giving away a FREE, autographed copy of Bobby's book, Social Media Promotion for Musicians (amzn.to/2BlujwT) to one of our lucky viewers, but that's not the best part! The best part is that you'll get to be a fly on the wall as one marketing titan picks the brain of another, and all of it will be for your benefit!
We'll also also be taking questions live from the TAXI TV Chat Room, so please have you pithy questions ready to go before the big show!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rxrEgxWxu_0
Michael is going to be out of the office for this week's episode of TAXI TV, so he's asked Tom and I to cover for him again!
This week we're going to be answering your questions about the TAXI Road Rally (TAXI's Members-Only Convention) and giving you insider tips on how to make the most of this awesome event! Tom and I have collectively been to over fifteen TAXI Road Rallies, so we would consider ourselves experts on the subject (:
Here are some examples of some good questions to ask us:
What's the best way to approach industry people at the Rally? What should I bring? CDs? Business Cards? How do I make sure I get the One-to-One Mentor I really want?
We're sure that you'll have some great questions for us, and we're excited to answer them! If you've never been to a TAXI Road Rally before, this will definitely be a must-watch!
To make sure your question gets answered on Monday’s episode, all you need to do is post it on our Facebook page (http://bit.ly/2931C7x) or tweet us (http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ)!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2cNQ2PVavAw
How to Interpret TAXI Listings: https://youtu.be/jAS0395q_PQ
TAXI's Forwards Blog: http://bit.ly/1UhZxFg
TAXI member Henry Winckel was an unexpected and undeniable hit when he did a phone interview on TAXI TV a few weeks ago. He also has some very specific and incredibly valuable insights on how to get more music forwarded by TAXI, which will ultimately lead to more publishing deals and licensing deals in TV shows, films, and commercials.
While Henry isn’t a six-figure per year TAXI member (yet), he is beginning to enjoy some great signings and placements. His honest analysis of what he’s done wrong in the past and how he self-corrected his approach to using TAXI is a road map for other members who want to get more forwards and have more success.
Henry will be joining me by phone again because he lives three hours from the TAXI TV “studio.” His no holds barred, direct approach in giving precious pearls of wisdom to his fellow members was greatly appreciated when he joined us a few weeks ago, and we’re sure he’ll be wonderful during this episode as well!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FQ6sSXYbx2U
Demystifying the Cue by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/2u640F4 Demystifying the Genre by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/2u7no4H
Writing Production Music for TV by Steve Barden: https://amzn.to/2uac5Zi
I’m excited to have Adriana Lycette join me on Monday’s show to take a deep dive into why men make up the larger percentage of Film/TV music creators, by far! We want to encourage more ladies to become comfortable with gear, so they can get their music out of their heads and into TV shows, films, and commercials!
Adriana began her journey doing acoustic singer/songwriter music, and by building a great network of mentors and collaborators has branched out into doing instrumentals in her home studio as well!
And it’s not ONLY the ladies! I know plenty of men who have not taken the time to learn their way around a studio, so don’t think for a minute that this episode is only for the ladies. We want to empower everybody!!!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2CpDNG21WOw
Check Out the TAXI Road Rally: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
There are very few moments I enjoy more than when a skeptical TAXI member sees the light and discovers how to best use TAXI to become successful.
Henry Winckel wasn’t happy with TAXI. He was frustrated, discouraged, and not enjoying any success. Henry is also a good listener, a determined individual, and opened his mind to new and different ideas, tactics, and techniques. I’m going to interview Henry live, via telephone on this episode of TAXI TV.
If you’ve ever been frustrated by your lack of forward movement with TAXI, then this is an episode you really need to watch! Henry pulls no punches – he’s very direct, very truthful, and doesn’t mince words. If you think this is going to be some bought and paid for “fanboy” episode, then think again!
This could very well be the episode of TAXI TV that causes the breakthrough moment you’ve been waiting for during your entire music career!
BONUS: After Henry’s interview, I’m going to reveal what many of the Grand Ballroom Panels will be at this year’s TAXI Road Rally convention, coming up in November! Cool stuff, don’t miss it!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VLYnrv3LtJU
Check out the Forwards Blog: http://bit.ly/1UhZxFg
There’s no better way to sharpen your own writing and production skills than trying to pick what made the grade and what didn’t for a really high-bar request for music!
Do you think you can pick which songs our A&R Team thought were good enough that they should be considered for a $10,000 placement in a Big Budget Feature Film?
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XNzq9aCLfFs
Ronan's Recording Boot Camp: http://bit.ly/2LKZyCe
Modern Recording Techniques book: https://amzn.to/2JyC727
We’re extremely excited to have one of our favorite guests Ronan Chris Murphy back in the office for a brand new episode of TAXI TV!
We’ll be taking a deep dive into everything you need to know about Engineering and Production––so come with your learning cap on!
Want to know more about Ronan?
As a producer, engineer and/or mixer, Ronan Chris Murphy has worked with the likes of King Crimson (several albums), Steve Morse (Dixie Dreggs Deep Purple), Terry Bozzio (Zappa, Missing Persons), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, John Lennon, Pink Floyd)), Martin Sexton, Jamie Walters, Ulver, The California Guitar Trio, Chucho Valdes y Groupo Irakere, Joan LaBarbara (Philip Glass Ensemble, Steve Reich) Nels Cline (Wilco) as well as various projects featuring members of Tool, Ministry, Weezer Dishwalla, and Yes.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UqH9B__FsBg
I’m beyond excited to have one of my favorite people from the Film/TV Music Licensing world join me on the upcoming episode of TAXI TV. He’s incredibly smart, extremely hard working, highly successful, and on top of all that, he’s a great guy!
His energy and intellect are contagious, and he doesn’t dish up B.S. He’s a straight-shooter of the very best kind.
I’ve wanted to have him on the show for the last 8 years, and I’m absolutely thrilled that we’ve finally gotten him to join me for what I’m sure will be a power-packed episode. You can expect gems to come flying out of his mouth, rapid-fire.
Get your notepads out, have a pencil or pen at the ready, and be prepared to get a PhD in what Music Libraries and Music Supervisors need––and what you can do to increase your chances of getting your music licensed!
Even if you’re six-figure TAXI member who already knows the ins and outs of the music licensing business, you’ll probably still learn a lot from my mystery guest. Do not miss this episode!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uLqN9Tx4bJM
Buy "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting": http://amzn.to/2gKyeI5 Buy "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV": http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E
Learn More About TAXI: 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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wb1pIc5YANw
Get Ralph's Book, "Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting" here: https://amzn.to/2HPaTU9
Ralph Murphy has long been a favorite speaker, teacher, and mentor at the TAXI Road Rally. His insight into what makes a song a hit song is a deep dive into the art, craft, and maybe even a little bit of science thrown in for good measure. His decades of experience, research, and love of passing on what he’s learned from hit songwriters like Harlan Howard and many other Music Row legends is apparent every time Ralph beings to speak!
Ralph is an artist, songwriter, producer, and music business executive, who has worked extensively on both sides of the Atlantic during his music career.
He has served as president of NSAI, as well as VP, International/Domestic Membership Group for ASCAP, Nashville. He is currently a consultant to ASCAP via his company Murphy Music Consulting. His book, Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting, is a national and international best-seller, and is used as a part of the curriculum of Universities and Colleges worldwide.
He’s had hits with artists like James Royal, Jeannie C. Riley, Crystal Gayle, and Ronnie Milsap, and continues to write songs and get cuts all over the globe!
If you’ve always dreamed of writing a hit song, getting it cut, and watching it climb the charts, there are very few people who have as much detailed knowledge that they’ll share as Ralph Murphy!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Mf8TReBUdYY
We love to see our members succeed using TAXI, so we like to give new members sort of a Quick Start Guide to make sure they get the most out their memberships!
We know people don’t like to read, so our Quick Start Guide comes in the form of a fast-paced, informal video hangout on TAXI TV. We’ll turn you on to on some tips that could literally mean the difference between success and failure in the music industry!
If that sounds like a big premise, watch the episode and see if you don’t think it’s the best list of common sense music industry tips you’ve ever heard.
If you’re new to TAXI and really want to improve your chances of being successful with TAXI and the music industry in general, don’t miss this episode of TAXI TV!
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch this Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/axk8IJu0iWI
Problem: Michael always feels badly when he sees questions flying by in the live show chat room and he doesn’t answer them if they aren’t relevant to the topic for that day’s show!
Solution: Every so often, Michael does a show that’s dedicated to answering any and all questions about the music industry, TAXI, the screening process, film/TV music, building a career, avoiding procrastination, and just about any other topic you can think of!
This is your big chance to Ask Michael Anything! There’s no reasonable question that he won’t answer––even at the risk of embarrassing himself!
Your Best Chance to Get Your Question Answered: Post it on our Facebook Page or send us a Tweet no later than 2pm PDT on Monday, April 23rd, 2018.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5fj8GhNicks
We’re really excited that one of our successful members let us know he’s going to be in Los Angeles and available for a “pop-up,” special edition of TAXI TV, today!
Long-time member, Bob Mete is going to join me for this special WEDNESDAY edition of the show, and I’ll be asking him questions that will help viewers learn how to best use TAXI, and what he’s done that has helped him become successful!
Bob is a Composer, Producer and Musician and well known for his dedication to and promotion of Jazz, especially with young musicians. His Jazz Piano Music is regularly placed in top TV shows and movies on ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Showtime, HBO and Netflix. Bob is President of Redd Productions LLC, a music production company specializing in Classic Jazz, Smooth Jazz, New Age and Neo-Classical. Some of his recent placements include: Comedians in Cars, Californication, Late Night with Stephen Colbert, Rosewood, The Originals, Ray Donovan and Silcon Valley on Showtime, Nashville, several Indie films, Hemlock Grove, Corazon Valiente, a TV Commercial for Pure, DKNY – Donna Karan, Guy Code on MTV, The Glades, The Convenient Groom, The Fosters, Secret Places in America, Younger, Kevin Probably Saved the World, and a recent TV commercial for Public Storage.
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Watch the Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-53Tt1Wc0eo
For the last 42 years, I’ve been heartbroken by watching musicians fail to achieve their dream of succeeding in the music business. My crusade to help each and every musician succeed is never-ending, and I’m always adding new failure-causing "sins" to my list.
If you've been dreaming of a music business career for more than a decade, and you don't have one yet, please join me for this pivotal episode of TAXI TV.
This is the one episode that will help you understand exactly what you've been getting wrong all these years. Once you can see that clearly, success will become much more obtainable!
Learn More About TAXI: 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 Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Get Robin's Books: "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting": http://amzn.to/2gKyeI5 "Shortcuts for Songwriting with Film & TV": http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E ____________________________
Want to know if your song is contemporary or dated? Would you like to know how to fix it, if need be?
Truth be told, we've had a number of people tell us that we spend too much time on each song during past episodes. While Robin and I are trying to give you guys as much information as possible, the viewing audience is basically yelling, "Pick me, pick me!"
Robin is so incredibly good at what she does that everybody wants a chance to have her comment on his or her song. We get it!
So, during this episode of TAXI TV, we'll play about half of each song, and Robin will give quick, shoot-from-the-hip bullet points rather than her normal deep dive analysis!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/wYUqE4f5rhE
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Get Steve's Book: http://amzn.to/2CZgErX
Are you a songwriter who’d like to create music for TV and Film, but you don’t know where to start?
Do you think the word “composer” means you have to know write charts and program orchestral music?
Would you like to find out how TAXI members are making tens of thousands of dollars a year extra income, when they have day jobs, families, and all kinds of “adult responsibilities?”
Would you like to know the secret to making a six-figure income from doing Instrumental Cues? Yes, there are more people than you’d think who are doing that!
Would you like to know what kind of recording set up you’ll need, and how inexpensively you can get in the game?
Would you like to know what to do the first time you sit down to start “composting?”
Would you like to know how to choose the structure, length, chord progression, melody, instrumentation, sounds, and moods for the Instrumental Cues you create?
Would you like to know if different types of Cues work better for some types of shows than others? We’re not just talking about the genres – there’s more to it!
Would you like to know how think about the emotions you’re creating? There are several types of “happy,” and even more types of “sad.” We’ll teach you how to know which kind you should be writing about!
Get the answers to these and many more questions I’m going to ask Steve Barden on TAXI TV! Steve joined us last month, and we got a lot of requests to bring him back!
I’ve got to admit, there was a lot more I wanted to ask him last month, so I’m really happy he’s joining us again!
Steve’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, violin, and many other stringed instruments. His music can be heard on TV somewhere in the world on a daily basis, and he’s had placements on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC Family, A&E, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, Biography Channel, Bravo, The Cooking Channel, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, Game Show Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, National Geographic Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network, Outdoor Channel, Oxygen, PBS, Science Channel, Style Channel, SyFy Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, Univision, VH1, and many more.
Steve has also written an excellent book, titled, Writing Production Music for TV, which is a must read!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/wYUqE4f5rhE
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
TAXI Member Craig Robart will be interviewing Michael in a no holds barred session on TAXI TV Today. Craig will be asking questions that he and many other TAXI Members would love to know the answers to. We look forward to seeing our boss squirm in the hot seat ;) and so should you!
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/2pnutrx2hg4
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
NOTE: We removed 2 song reviews because of Copyright claims!
Brooke Ferri is one of the most highly regarded and often-complimented members of the TAXI A&R Team. She gets a lot of “fan mail” from our members, and she’s highly esteemed by industry colleagues and the TAXI staff as well.
We’re very excited to have her join us to answer our questions, your questions, and give some feedback on viewer music as well!
Watch This Episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2pnutrx2hg4
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
If you ever get frustrated by not quite knowing how to interpret TAXI’s Industry Listings, don’t miss today’s episode of TAXI TV!
Michael’s going to go through a bunch of examples, and think them through out loud so you can learn the “art and science” of reading the tea leaves.
Want to hit the bullseye more often? Want to get more music sent to the people who requested it and sign more deals? Don’t miss this episode! ________________
Watch Last Week's Episode: https://youtu.be/2xradU47t20
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Long time TAXI member Steve Barden is pretty humble and unassuming, but he probably shouldn’t be! He’s racked up a ton of credits and learned a lot about several facets of creating music for media along the way. He’s a multi-instrumentalist who plays guitar, piano, violin, and many other stringed instruments.
Those skills have translated into him becoming a production music composer for film, television, commercials and corporate videos. His music can be heard on TV somewhere in the world on a daily basis.
His music has aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC Family, A&E, American Heroes Channel, Animal Planet, Biography Channel, Bravo, The Cooking Channel, Discovery Channel, E!, Food Network, Game Show Network, HGTV, Investigation Discovery, Lifetime, MTV, National Geographic Channel, Oprah Winfrey Network, Outdoor Channel, Oxygen, PBS, Science Channel, Style Channel, SyFy Channel, TLC, Travel Channel, truTV, Univision, VH1, and many more.
Steve has also written jingles and theme songs for Los Angeles radio personalities, Mark & Brian, and Kevin & Bean, and recently, he released his first book, Writing Production Music for TV - The Road to Success.
Steve’s wide range of experience is why we’re delighted to have him on TAXI TV to discuss topics including: • The difference between scoring to picture and creating instrumental cues. • What stems are, how to create them, and what the most frequently requested stems are. • How to create the best titles for you work. • Understanding contracts. • Organizing your workflow. • Building relationships, and much more! ________________________
Get Steve's Book: http://amzn.to/2CZgErX
Learn More About TAXI: 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
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
Connect With Us On... Facebook: http://bit.ly/2931C7x Twitter: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ Instagram: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we
Welcome to 2018! We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions like this: “I’m going to get serious and start writing and recording more music this year.” Seems simple enough…
Yet 99% of the people who make that resolution probably won’t stick with it! Why? Procrastination!
Personally, I’m a world-class expert on the subject of procrastination. I’d much rather sit on the couch watching TV than doing work. I’m lazy at my core, and I can find a million reasons to put off anything that even resembles work.
But there’s one thing that’s pushed me to overcome my proclivity to take the easy way out. It’s the thing that has given me the energy, focus, and will power to create an internationally known company that’s been a beacon for musicians for more the last 26 years.
I’m going to share it with you during this powerful, life-changing episode of TAXI TV. This is the one episode of TAXI TV you can’t afford to miss, especially now, at the start of this New Year.
I think my “secret” will work for you like it has for me!
Michael listens to viewer submissions as we determine "What's the genre?" This episode is really helpful for learning how to pitch your songs better!
TAXI Members, and mother-son duo, Marcus Cohen and Sherry Marcus Milano, aka, We Will Write You a Song, have had 300 of their songs and tracks signed to a bunch of film/TV Music publishers during the year between the 2016 and 2017 Road Rallies.
Yes, you read that correctly. That's almost a song per day!! Want to know how they did that?
That's exactly what we'll be uncovering, and so much more on today's TAXI TV at 4pm Pacific time!
Songwriters sometimes overlook the most obvious “job” that a song is supposed to do – keep listeners engaged! One of the most powerful tools a songwriter can use to accomplish that goal is emotion.
For records, the song’s “emotion quotient” keeps listeners from skipping to the next song or station. In the context of Film, TV, and Advertising placements, songs play a critical role in supporting the emotion of the scene! Emotion is communicated by your choice of chords, melodies, rhythms, lyrics, arrangement, and even the vocal’s performance and style of delivery.
Want to get feedback on your song’s “emotion quotient” from the best-selling author of Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV and Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting? Please join Robin Frederick and me for an episode that will probably make you say, “Wow, I never would have thought of that!”
Have you ever wished that your recordings sounded more like what you hear on the radio? Are your instrument sounds stuck in the ‘70s and ‘80s?
We’re going to help you fix that problem on today’s TAXI TV with special guest, Ronan Chris Murphy!
There’s been a sea change in the way engineering is approached, and it ain’t your father’s paradigm from decades past. You can update your sound, and the first step is to simply understand what the sea change was, and why it happened!
Want to know more about Ronan?
http://www.venetowest.com/rcm/
As a producer, engineer and/or mixer, Ronan Chris Murphy has worked with the likes of King Crimson (several albums), Steve Morse (Dixie Dreggs Deep Purple), Terry Bozzio (Zappa, Missing Persons), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel, John Lennon, Pink Floyd)), Martin Sexton, Jamie Walters, Ulver, The California Guitar Trio, Chucho Valdes y Groupo Irakere, Joan LaBarbara (Philip Glass Ensemble, Steve Reich) Nels Cline (Wilco) as well as various projects featuring members of Tool, Ministry, Weezer Dishwalla, and Yes.
What do you get when you cross somebody who’s got a Ph.D. in high-energy particle physics and an uncontrollable obsession with creating great sounding instrument samples?
Yep, a nuclear sample library! Well, kind of…
Dr. Jeffrey Steinman is a long-time TAXI member who is truly obsessed with perfection, especially when it comes to how the instruments in his sample libraries sound.
He’s so obsessed that he hires legendary, Grammy-winning musicians like Eric Marienthal to come into incredible studios so he can capture their sonic nuance for the people who purchase sample libraries from Jeff’s company, Warp IV Technologies (http://www.warpivmusic.com/).
Frankly, Jeff’s obsession with incredible sound is most meaningful to discerning musicians who aren’t looking for a $39 library. If you want to get a behind-the-scenes “tour” at what goes into creating a Rolls Royce-level sample library, join us for this episode of TAXI TV.
Wow, what a show this is! Super informative on so many levels. The peeps who watched the live show LOVED it, and so will you! Want to know how you get paid when your music is on the Internet? Want to know how to market yourself as an artist or composer? Those and many, many more questions are answered in this power-packed episode with Michael Eames and Bobby Borg - BOTH world-class experts!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Execs at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Doug Fenske, Director of Education at Cre8 Music Academy joins Michael to give an excellent mixing tutorial at Westlake Studios in Hollywood. The advice Doug gives is world-class!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Execs at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Michael plays the Motown-esque Instrumentals that TAXI's A&R department picked to be contenders for a national TV commercial for an insurance company. Listen to all 11 of the tracks that got forwarded and see what you think!
Michael gives a good first look at what the big panels will be in the main ballroom. He's joined by Briagha McTavish who gives out some great tips for Rally attendees.
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Execs at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
We had so many songs left over at the end of the prior show that we decided to do a second week of listening and voting.
Richard "Crawdaddy" Dance is a fantastic guitar player who records some killer tracks with some really old school gear, and it sounds incredible. Not only does his music sound great, but his collaborations with other TAXI members show that you can be "old school," and still be very relevant in today's Film and TV music licensing market.
Michael interviews A-List guitarist Sean Hurwitz about what it takes to land gigs to do stadium level gigs tours and play to tens of thousands of people. We're sorry for the all the video buffering in this episode. It was beyond our control. There was much more ground to cover with Sean, and he's going to come back and join us again soon!
Michael and the viewing audience audition and review Instrumental Cues. Do you know the difference between an Instrumental Cue and an Instrumental? Watch this to find out!
Steven Guiles gives out some great information that could be a huge help in launching your career. Hint: 4 of the things are on a bumper sticker!
Master TV and Film composer Chuck Henry generously shares his composing secrets with our viewing audience on this in-depth episode of TAXI TV!
Michael plays some of the music submitted for TAXI Listing # S170602AC and the viewers vote to see if they agree or disagree with what the A&R team chose to send to the producer who requested the music. Listen to see how you’d vote!
Cre8 Music Academy's Director of Education, Doug Fenske, joins Michael to give an in-depth look at why gain staging is so important for home and pro studio recordings, alike!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Execs at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Jorge Hernandez from IAT Artist Services joins Michael and dishes up tons of great advice on using video to market yourself as an artist or band.
TV and Film Music Publisher Bob Mair joins Michael to talk about things that musicians can do to shoot themselves in the foot when pitching their music.
Michael and the viewing audience vote like they're in the A&R hot seat, deciding whether or not the Singer/Songwriter Songs should be sent to the industry people or not! Very educational. How would you vote?
Michael highlights six important and sometimes overlooked aspects of making music for TV and Film and building a career doing it!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Execs at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
TAXI member Adriana Lycette proves that hard work, focus, and not backing down from a challenge results in having the musical and studio skills that allow you to accomplish whatever you want!
Adriana also filled viewers in on her duo, South and Royal, with fellow TAXI member Nathan Nasby!
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WHAT IS TAXI: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
CURRENT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
ROAD RALLY CONVENTION: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
READ SUCCESS STORIES: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Michael opens packages from TAXI members and TAXI TV viewers. Did we hear some good music? Yes! did we get some neat TAXI swag? You bet!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for Today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Executives at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
BUY ROBIN'S BOOKS: "Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV": http://amzn.to/2ehZf0E "Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting": http://amzn.to/2gKyeI5
Robin Frederick joins Michael for a great tutorial on 4 of the biggest mistakes songwriters make and how to avoid them. Hint: One of them is something that nearly 100% of all beginning songwriters make!
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Get Your Music to Record Labels, Music Supervisors, and Music Libraries: http://bit.ly/2mPVGYh
See what the Music Industry is looking for today: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
Rub elbows with Music Industry Executives at this FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
See who's been successful using TAXI: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Aaron Davis from Exploration.io explains how music is monetized when it plays on YouTube and Soundcloud. Are you and your publisher doing all the right things to make sure you're getting paid what you should be? Watch this episode of TAXI TV to find out!
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JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
CURRENT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
ROAD RALLY CONVENTION: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
READ SUCCESS STORIES: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Music Attorney Erin Jacobson does a fabulous job of fielding questions from viewers that almost all musicians want to know! Watch this and get enlightened!
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JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
CURRENT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
ROAD RALLY CONVENTION: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
READ SUCCESS STORIES: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Viewers got to ask Michael anything they wanted, and he answered! Music Publishing, Record Labels, Film and TV Music Licensing, and much more was covered in this high energy episode!
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JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
CURRENT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
ROAD RALLY CONVENTION: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
READ SUCCESS STORIES: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Successful TAXI member Matt Hirt explains what the Five Year Plan is and plays some of his music. This is a powerfully educational episode that you can't afford to miss if you want to do music for Film and TV!
Michael and the audience listen to music and make suggestions as to what they would pitch it for. This is great ear tuning and helpful when creating your own music!
Successful TAXI member Stephen Baird shares his story about how he went from wanting to be a Rock Star to cracking the code for earning a great income doing instrumental cues for media. This episode is the Holy Grail for musicians who want to know how to pursue the music for TV and Film market.
Rather than talking about limiters, EQ, and delay settings, TAXI's songwriters, artists, and composers learn about mixing music by listening to other people's mixes and analyzing it. Learn by hearing, not theorizing!
If you're a songwriter, artist, or composer who wants to be successful with your music, this is a success strategy that's been right under your nose, but you've probably never given it any thought.
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JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
CURRENT INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd
ROAD RALLY CONVENTION: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp
READ SUCCESS STORIES: http://bit.ly/28Rnhyp
FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/2931C7x TWITTER: http://bit.ly/2jJ0EnQ INSTAGRAM: http://bit.ly/2jcg7we USTREAM: http://bit.ly/1tiimPl
Michael and the audience review songs submitted for a $20,000 opportunity for a placement in a Travel focused TV Commercial.
We played Twenty Questions with a Reality Show Music Supervisor. Watch this episode of TAXI TV to learn a ton about licensing your music into one of TV's most popular formats!
Hit Songwriter Jon Asher (Britney Spears, Chainsmokers, Aaron Carter, etc.) joins Michael to talk about writing contemporary songs, vocal production, networking in the music business and more.
Our faithful viewers gave us some great songwriting tips and techniques that go beyond what you'd learn from books and videos. Great stuff from great people. Watch and become an even better songwriter!
These songs were chosen by our staff, NOT the A&R staff, and they were great! Fun show playing music we love, and it was great seeing how much the viewers loved it as well!
JOIN TAXI NOW: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
Michael delves into several more genres of Instrumental Cues and how they are composed and arranged. Very special thanks to Dean Krippaehne for letting me quote his books and use his examples from Demystifying the Genre.
Michael uses Dean Krippaehne's awesome book Demystifying the Genre and some of Dean's Instrumental Cues to demonstrate how simple Cues can be!
Special guests Ryan Gaughan, Adriana Lycette, Nathan Nasby, and Russell Landwehr join Michael to talk about touring and time management for musicians.
Ronan Chris Murphy joins Michael to talk about ways you can save money when recording your next project. There's always a bunch of great stuff to learn about recording and production when Ronan is in the house! - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
Best-selling author Robin Frederick does an amazing job of dissecting songs sent in by viewers who wanted feedback on the songs they hope to pitch for TV and Film placements. Incredibly good insight from Robin. So much to learn from her!
Michael plays 25 songs that were forwarded for a recent TAXI Listing for a $15,000 placement on a Primetime, Broadcast Network TV Show. Killer songs!
Hit Songwriter Marty Dodson joins Michael for a tour de force episode loaded with Country Songwriting tips, techniques, and insider info straight from Music Row!
Bobby Borg and Michael Eames join Michael for a killer discussion covering so much great information about DIY Music Promotion and Music Publishing, that even we couldn't believe how good this episode was!
Peter Malick from Westlake Pro joins Michael to talk about some cool new studio gear and what Westlake will be bringing to the Road Rally in November! - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
Peter Petro and Doug Fenske from Cre8 Music Academy tell our viewers what makes their curriculum quite different, and in opinion incredibly good. Get some great production tips from this episode as well.
Recorded on 8/29/16
Michael plays Instrumentals and Cues from TAXI members Russell Landwehr, Keith LuBrant, and Andy Gabrys to show how Instrumentals and Instrumental Cues are composed, arranged, and produced.
Recorded on 8/1/16 via Ustream
Michael answers viewers questions about TAXI, making the right kind of music, what to compose for Film and TV placements, how the A&R process works, how to interpret TAXI's Industry Listings, and much more in this EXTREMELY informative episode!
Recorded on 8/22/16
Multi-Platinum Producer/Mixer/Engineer Rob Chiarelli reviews TAXI members' songs and gives some great mixing advice!
MORE ON ROB: http://finalmix.com/Final_Mix,_Inc./Home.html
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Electronica artist and producer Astronautica is really hitting the radar in the beat scene. When you watch this interview you'll understand why! She's talented, humble, and generous with her advice. Watch this and be inspired!
Recorded on 7/25/16
Michael gets some help from the viewers as to which panels and classes they'd like to see at the upcoming TAXI Road Rally, November 3-6th!
Robin Frederick joined us for some great in-depth analysis as to the moods and scenes viewers songs could work for. Robin's general songwriting analysis is mind blowing in this episode.
Recorded on 7/11/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
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Learn how to create better material for Film and TV Music Licensing by incorporating a single mood or emotion into your piece!
Recorded on 6/27/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
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Music that was forwarded and returned for a $150,000 soft drink commercial played with the viewers voting! Would you license this music for a big commercial? Watch and find out!
Recorded on 6/20/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
JOIN TAXI: http://bit.ly/28KMOaz
Michael plays submissions that were forwarded and returned for TAXI Listing S160527MC and the viewing audience cast votes as to whether or not they would send the music to the company that requested it.
Recorded on 6/13/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
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Music production advice for film and TV music licensing. Michael did a remote episode with TAXI members Chuck Henry and Stephen Baird showing how to build Hip Hop Instrumental Cues for TV and an EDM Song. Do NOT miss this episode!!
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Recorded on 6/6/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
Scott was so great two weeks ago that we asked him back to cover more TAXI A&R specific questions and give live feedback on viewer songs. The live audience loved the show, and so will you!
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Recorded on 5/23/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-m...
TAXI member Richard Dance joins Michael and plays a bunch of great music that exemplifies what great groove feels like. Richard gives very detailed instructions about how he creates such great feel with a minimum of gear. You're going to love this episode!
Check out Richard's stuff: https://thecrawdaddy.bandcamp.com
JOIN TAXI: https://www.taxi.com/join/?cid=&icid=&mvar=
Recorded on 5/16/16 via Ustream
TAXI A&R person Scott Warren talks about what screeners look for, how they approach their work, and more!
Recorded on 5/9/16 via Ustream
Michael and the viewing audience review music that was Forwarded and Returned for TAXI Listing # U160328HO, asking for music for a $30,000 TV Commercial request.
Recorded on 5/2/16 - Captured Live on Ustream at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/music-marketing-online
Ralph Murphy joins us to give feedback on viewers' songs and tell the audience which song forms and tempos are making the most hits!
To get more info on Ralph and buy his book click here: http://murphyslawsofsongwriting.com/
Recorded on 4/25/16
Peter Malick from WestlakePro.com stops by to recommend gear for beginner, intermediate, and top of the line home studios and answer questions.
Composer Lydia Ashton was was the John Braheny Award recipient at the TAXI Road Rally on November 6th, 2015. She came by the TAXI office the day after the Rally to talk about her journey to becoming a successful TV composer.