Why TAXI A&R Works
We're glad to have you as a member of TAXI, and very proud to offer you the most comprehensive and successful service of its kind.
We don't just call the company TAXI, we really own this one! Members enjoy it every year at the Rally.
By joining TAXI, you have already taken one giant step toward realizing your dreams. TAXI is a vehicle that can help get your music to the right people, but like any other vehicle, if you leave it in the garage, you will have nobody to blame but yourself for not reaching your destination.
Breaking in to the music business isn't something one pursues for three months, six months, or a year, and can expect to see huge results. It's something that most successful people find is a life-long pursuit. "Taking a shot" at a career in music is like taking a shot at being an NFL quarterback, an Olympic track star, or being an Academy award-winning actor. The effort you put in will dictate the rewards you ultimately receive.
As a society, we are conditioned to expect instant gratification, but it would sound unrealistic, even silly to say, "I used to play football in high school. Therefore, I think I'll be the quarterback for the Miami Dolphins this year." Anything is possible. But in order for a dream like that to become probable, one must almost always go through a process. Success is earned, not handed out.
There will be days when you'll love TAXI. There will also be days when you might hate us. Those will be the days when you don't get forwarded and you think you should have been, or when you receive feedback from us that you don't agree with.
But most members tell us that if they take a deep breath, wait a couple days and re-read the critique, they find a lot of valuable information. One member summed it up like this, "Belonging to TAXI has been like going to the world's best music college, but a heck of a lot cheaper!" We couldn't agree more.
The people on TAXI's A&R staff are all extremely well-qualified experts with real music industry backgrounds. Where else you could you get regular feedback from people of that caliber as often as you would like, and for just a few hundred dollars a year?
Make the most of your membership. Think of it as a gym for your music. And like a gym or health club, we provide the tools, but if you choose not to work out, then please don't blame TAXI for your lack of success.
One last thought: please don't call us eleven months in to your membership and say, "I've only sent in four submissions this year. Two were forwarded, but I haven't been offered a record deal yet. TAXI doesn't seem to be working for me. Can I have a refund?"
It took Diane Warren (the most successful songwriter of the last decade) twelve years to get her first cut with a major artist, and there's little doubt that she sent off a lot more than four songs a year before she succeeded. Please don't ask us for a refund based on your lack of commitment or work. That's your responsibility. We're here to help you stay focused on your
Why TAXI Works
The music industry has traditionally not accepted unsolicited materials for two reasons:
- They would be bombarded with far more material than they could ever listen to.
- They worry about possible copyright infringement suits.
TAXI has been designed to make sure that the industry executives who list with us get only the material that is well worth their time, and minimize the risk of lawsuits for them by employing an effective procedure for tracking the material submitted. The result of our efforts is that people who really count in many areas of the music industry (not just record companies), are willing to accept material from people like you, because they come through an organization that minimizes the work and the risk for them.
TAXI A&R staff member, Laura Becker, 2K Sounds / EMI.
If your songs are forwarded by TAXI, they are treated as solicited material. We essentially perform the same task that an attorney or agent who shops music would. We just do it in a more focused and systematic way.
We are not snake oil salesmen promising you instant success. We are, however, dedicated to giving you the most up-to-date information on who in the industry is looking for what, and to sending the best and most appropriate material directly to those people. We have invested more time and money than you would probably imagine to bring you this service, and we don't take our work lightly. This is not the amateur hour.
Please call us at (818) 222-2464 with any problems, questions, comments, or suggestions. We are pleased to help in any way we can.
To Access TAXI Online
Just view our Industry Opportunities, and you will see an alphabetical menu of music genres. You can go directly to any genre, but we strongly suggest that you cruise through all the listings. It's not uncommon to find a "Rock" listing under "Instrumental," or perhaps a "Country" listing under "Film Music." We update the listings online on the 1st and 15th of each month, except January 1st (the industry takes a holiday break).
You'll also find a wealth of other information at taxi.com, including great articles, every issue of our monthly newsletter, Musician's Junction, a unique online database designed to help you find collaborators, bandmates, producers, vocalists, and more. It will also help them find you!
Rules, Rules, Rules
TAXI does have some rules that we have designed to keep things organized for everyone's benefit. These are not loose guidelines, they are hard and fast rules. Sorry to sound like the first day of boot camp, but the only way to make TAXI work and keep those previously locked doors open is to make this as organized and painless as can be for people in the industry. It's also very helpful in keeping our processing time to a minimum so we can spend more time finding great opportunities for you and listening to your music.
Submission Fees Simplified
The listings will usually ask for one song for song pitches, and two to three songs, photo and bio for listings that are band or artist related. The submission fee for a listing that asks for one song is $5 (US). The submission fee for a listing that asks for three songs is $15 (US). If you are sending TAXI several submissions in one package, one check can be used for all fees. If you are submitting online [see below], you'll simply use your credit card for the fees.
With songs in Spin City, (ABC), Judging Amy (CBS) and Passions (NBC) Matt Hirt's earnings to date are close to $12,000.
The Easiest Way to Submit Your Music
TAXI now has a FREE way to provide you with an incredibly easy online submission process. No need to buy expensive padded envelopes, blank material's and postage. And you'll never have to wait in long lines at the Post Office again. Make submissions from the comfort of your own home or office, any time, day or night!
In order to take advantage of this time and money-saving service, you will need to have your music uploaded to our music hosting site.
Here's how it works:
If Your Music Is Not Already On TAXI's Music Hosting Site
Go to http://www.taximusic.com/join and sign up.
There will be different options for joining. If you're an existing (current) TAXI member, click the second button which says, "Current TAXI Member? Click here to set up your FREE hosting account."
You can post up to fifty songs and lyrics, along with three photos and two bios.
Need Help Making MP3s and Getting Them Online?
We also offer a service for a nominal fee if you can't upload your music yourself. All you have to do is send the material and photo, (if desired) to TAXI, and we will convert your songs to MP3's and take care of putting them online for you. The cost is $2 per song and scanning and uploading photos is $5 per photo.
Please call us at 818-222-2464 AFTER you've set up your hosting account, and we'll tell you how to send in your material and Photos to be converted and uploaded.
Making Submissions via TAXI's Music Hosting Site
- Go to www.taximusic.com and log in via the log in box in the blue side bar on the right.
- After logging in, click "Submit Music" (also in the side bar on the right).
- You are now looking at the new TAXI submission page. Your songs will appear on the left side of the screen — the Industry Listings appear on the right side.
- Simply select the desired listing, then click the 'Submit' box next to each song (and/or photo & bio) you want to submit.
- Select another listing if you wish, and repeat the song selection process.
- After submitting songs to any number of listings, click 'Checkout'.
- You are now looking at the confirmation page. Double-check that you are submitting the songs you want to the right listing(s). Once your submission has been completed, the computer system won't allow us to reverse submissions, delete songs or switch listings. For 'S' listings, if you don't want to receive a critique, uncheck the 'Request Critique' box. Click 'Continue to Secure Payment' when done.
- Enter your credit card number and complete the submission. You will receive an e-mail confirmation of your submission.
You will receive an e-mail notification about the status of your submission about two to four weeks after the deadline date of each listing. If you requested a critique it will be available online at that time.
How To Make A Submission By Mail
If you are responding to more than one listing at a time, material can be mailed to TAXI in the same package. However, we do require that each item has its own submission form wrapped around it with your name and the listing number clearly visible on the outside. We also require a return envelope for each separate submission if you would like to receive a critique and/or your material back from TAXI.
Note: If you are submitting the same song to more than one listing, you will still need to treat each one as a separate submission, and include the submission fee for each.
A typed lyric sheet for each song is also required for all material submitted with lyrics. Typing and proof reading your lyric sheets will give a more professional look to them. We also recommend annotating verses, choruses, and bridges on your lyric sheet. If your material already has lyrics in the booklet, that should be fine.
Submissions should be made on CD's or other materials, but please don't make your submission on DAT or mini disc (unless specifically requested). Your materials must be labeled with your name, TAXI member number, song title, your phone number, and the TAXI listing number that appears in the lower right hand corner of each listing. Correct labeling is imperative. It provides an extra measure of safety when everything we need to know is on the submission form, and the item itself.
Label Example: John Doe/H-2893-4321/818-888-2111
Mary's Song/TAXI # S990317RB
Typing the label is strongly recommended. Remember, if you omit any of this information, you may be short-changing yourself. Can you imagine how you would feel if an A&R person fell in love with the music on your submission, but didn't have the proper information he needed to contact you? Sure, they could contact TAXI, and we'd figure it out, but you wouldn't appear to be very professional.
The Submission Form
We have enclosed a Material Submission Form in your new member starter kit. It's custom made with your name and member I.D. number already on it. Please make 50-100 copies to keep around the house, and don't lose the master copy. Our submission form includes a final checklist to use before sending in your material. Complete the form and wrap it around each individual submission before you send it in.
You must enclose a self- addressed, stamped envelope with the correct postage affixed if you would like a critique returned to you or your material returned with a critique (if it's not forwarded). Remember, we have thousands of members to take care of, and cannot supply envelopes and postage for people who forget. No envelope, no postage, no return! Regular and padded envelopes are okay for material returns. Please make sure they can be wrapped neatly in to your "burrito."
"What's A Burrito?"
Glad you asked! It's what your material will look like after you wrap it up for submission.
How To Make A "Burrito."
Cue the material to the beginning of the song (past the leader). Wrap the submission form, lyric sheet, (photo and bio if applicable) around the material, and slip a rubber band around the outside (girth). The final result should look like a burrito; for materials, it will look more like a "quesadilla." Don't worry about curling up your photos. Nobody has ever lost a deal because of a curly photo. People in the industry see them every day.
Remember to place the submission form on the outside (type facing out) with your name and the listing number clearly visible. Place your submission fee in the rubber band on the OUTSIDE of the burrito. See diagram on next page.
We get tons of submissions every week. We'd rather spend our time creating opportunities for you than re-packaging material so we can figure out who they're from, and to which listing they're being submitted.
There's nothing that makes us crankier than members who send in large groups of submissions with each and every burrito wrapped incorrectly. That costs us hundreds of man-hours per year to correct. We will not process submissions that have incorrectly wrapped burritos. If we find a problem with your burrito, we contact you. There is no need to call us every time you submit to ask if your burrito was wrapped correctly.
Don't forget, you can skip all of this by making your submissions online.
"What should I include in my bio?"
Your bio can be just a few paragraphs that tell how long the band has been together (if you're a band), who your musical influences are, that you regularly play clubs to sold out crowds, that you've sold a few thousand materials on your own, if you're getting substantial radio airplay, where you tour, what makes you and your sound unique, and a very succinct description of your music. A&R people really don't need to know that you fell in love with music when you took Mrs. Smith's music class in sixth grade, or that you were her prize student. What they're really looking for is uniqueness, and some proof that you could be a hot commodity.
You can include quotes from press you've received, but A&R people generally won't read pages of press clippings. They're not nearly as interested in your press as you are. Just give them a few highlights imbedded in your bio, or attach a single page of condensed quotes to your bio.
We have some examples of good and bad bios posted. Check them out!
"We Had A #1 Hit Because We Joined TAXI"
"What should my photo look like?"
Hopefully, it will look just like you! All the industry folks really want to see is if you look compatible with your music, and if you have any "star quality." The last thing they want to see is photo of you at a family barbecue last summer or sitting in front of a rack of studio gear. A simple head shot or group shot should do the trick. Many members scan cigarette pack-sized photos on to their bio sheet, thus eliminating the need for expensive photo reprints.
"What if my material already has lyrics and photos included?"
Then you don't need to include a photo or lyric sheets with your submission. Some TAXI screeners like to make notes on lyric sheets, so you may want to include a set for that reason.
"How should I send my submission to TAXI?"
Regular mail, FedEx, UPS, Airborne, carrier pigeon, etc. We don't have a preference, as long as it gets to us on time. You can package your submissions in padded envelopes or boxes, just don't make them impenetrable. Very few things are more frustrating than trying to open a package that is taped up so tightly that you can't open it. Remember, our online submission service is cheaper and easier.
"I want to submit three different songs to the same listing. Should they all have separate submission forms and return envelopes?"
No, you only need to send recording material and one submission form for each listing. If you are submitting to more than one listing, it's okay to send them all in one package and with one check to cover all submission fees.
"Can I submit material for a friend of mine?"
All songs submitted to TAXI must be material that you have written or co-written. You may not submit material from any one else, unless you are a co-author and one of the parties involved in the original creation of that particular material. If the occasion arises that you are submitting three songs from your band, and one of the songs was written by a band member who is not a TAXI member, then you can request an Additional Writer Release form by calling us at 818-222-2464 and we will send you a form.
The Short Course On Copyright
We strongly recommend that you register all material with the Register of Copyrights in Washington D.C., and your ownership of the copyright is displayed on your materials and lyric sheets by including a ©, John Doe, 2003. To order the necessary forms call (202) 707-3000, or write to: Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington D.C. 20559. Request form PA to copyright the music and lyrics, or form SR to copyright the song and the actual recording or sounds. If you have questions concerning copyright, please call (202) 707-5959.
You may also download or print the forms here: Copyright Forms.
TAXI member Matt Hirt has music placed on Law and Order S.V.U. and Dateline NBC.
Now That We Have Your Music
When your submission arrives at TAXI, it will be logged into our database for tracking purposes. The music itself will be held until the screening date for that particular listing. The screening sessions begin shortly after the cut-off date seen in the listing, so it is imperative that your submissions arrive on time. DON'T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO SEND YOUR SUBMISSION. If it arrives late, it will not be screened.
During the screening sessions, our screeners look for the submissions that are the best and most appropriate responses to the listing. It must meet both criteria. Just because a song is great, it doesn't mean that it's right for a particular pitch. While it may be great, it could be something that's just not up that artist's alley.
Our mission is to forward material that's great and stylistically on target, or we won't continue to get requests from the companies that we work with. No requests — no opportunities for you.
By the way, we match the people who are screening each batch of submissions with the type of music being screened. In other words, we won't ask somebody who specializes in Country to screen R&B. It wouldn't be fair to you or the company that we're screening for. Also, there are many times when our screeners actually know the person for whom we are screening the submissions, so they know their likes and dislikes.
"What happens if one of your screeners hears some material, and wants to use it for a project of his or her own, or knows somebody who is looking for that kind of material?"
Our first responsibility is to pass the material along to the company who requested the material. If, however, that company hasn't acted on the material within 30 days, we do allow our screeners to contact you. Several deals have happened as result of that policy. Two opportunities for the price of one!
"Can I still be forwarded if the listing asked for photo and bio, but I didn't include them?"
Yes, but the company is going to ask you for it anyway if they like your music, so you might as
well include them.
"Once my submission is received, how long will it be before I get a response from TAXI?"
You will typically hear back from TAXI in two to four weeks from the deadline date of the listing you submitted for. For example: if you send in a submission on August 16th, but the deadline for the listing isn't until September 7th, you will hear back from us about two to four weeks after September 7th. We don't screen the submissions as they arrive. We screen them right after the deadline passes.
"Why do the TAXI screeners use I.D. numbers on the feedback forms and not their names?"
Because we've had several death threats over the years. We wish we didn't have to use I.D. numbers, but after receiving calls like, "I know where your kids go to school. I'm going to get them first, then come for you and your wife," we figured it was safer to add an extra layer of protection. We know the majority of our members are completely sane, but a few bad apples have forced us to protect the screeners.
"A Dozen Labels and Publishers Came To Our Showcase Because We Joined TAXI"
If Your Submission Is Forwarded
The music that is selected from each listing will be forwarded directly to the person at the company who placed the listing. If your submission is among those forwarded, you will be notified by mail or e-mail. If your submission is not forwarded, material and the screener's critique will be returned to you by mail (only if you requested it on the submission form and enclosed a S.A.S.E.). For online submissions, you will be notified by e-mail.
"Why do some listings numbers begin with the letters "N" or "Y," and those listings are not critiqued?"
Some listings will state that all music submitted will be forwarded directly to the listing party with no pre-screening. Our members rarely complain! In those cases, TAXI does not critique the submissions. Those listing numbers will begin with the letter "N." The $5 per song submission fee still applies. It's a submission fee, not a charge for a critiquing as some members mistakenly assume.
On other occasions, we will run listings that are screened on a YES/NO basis and are also not critiqued. We regret that we can't critique these. The reason is almost always quick turn around situations. For instance, the artist is already in the studio and needs the material pronto. Also, many Film and TV listings are on quick deadlines due to their production schedules. We'd still like to give you these opportunities, even if there's no feedback. Those listing numbers begin with the letter "Y." Because you won't receive a critique for "Y" listings, you may send in a S.A.S.E. with your submission, and we will send you back notification as to whether you or not you've been forwarded. If you don't include a S.A.S.E., you will be notified only if your submission was forwarded. For online submissions, you will be notified by e-mail.
"If my music is forwarded, will the company that received it get back to me if they're interested or not?"
Chances are that they will only contact you if they are interested in you and want to hear more material and begin a relationship. They typically won't call you if they're not interested, because it would add an incredible workload to their already busy schedule if they had to call every person they passed on to explain why they passed. In a perfect world, they would call you up and give you feedback, but in most cases it's unrealistic to hope for that.
"Will the company that I was forwarded to return my material if they're not interested?"
No, chances are they won't. Again, it's a case of them choosing to spend their time on things they consider to be more important.
"If I'm forwarded, can I call the A&R person and follow up?"
Unfortunately, a couple of psychotic members went berserk on the phone with A&R people who had received their demos from TAXI, which put us in the position of having to change the policy to "No Follow Up Calls." We're sorry, but truthfully, they're not sitting in their offices saying to themselves, "Gee, I'd sign this TAXI member if only they'd call me to find out what's going on." If they're interested, they'll call you!
Road Rally 2003 A&R Royalty stops for a photo opportunity. From left to right; Marshall Altman, Columbia; Cliff Audretch, Sony Nashville; Michael Laskow, TAXI; Tony Ferguson, Interscope; Loren Israel, Capitol; and Steve Smith, Aware Records.
What The Critiques Mean
Each critique reflects what just one person thought of your music, and only within the context of the particular listing that he or she was screening at the time. The critique form itself really has no bearing on whether or not your submission is forwarded. That decision is based solely on the screener's experience, knowledge of the industry, and gut feeling as to the appropriateness of the submission for the listing.
We don't forward or return submissions based on "scores" from the feedback sheet. Those scores are only for your edification. Sometimes material does get forwarded even though several of the scores are low. Why? Because the submission was right on target and had something "magical" about it. For instance, it may not matter that the recording had some hiss on it. We may let you know that it does, but the hiss may be irrelevant as to whether or not it gets forwarded.
While the critique is just one person's opinion, it's a very educated one. You might not always agree with our screeners, but it's important to keep in mind that these people have held key positions in the industry. Friends and family may love your music (oh yeah, let's not forget about your beer drinking fans on Saturday night at the club), but none of them have to risk their high paying jobs when they tell you how much they like your music.
The average A&R person at a major label gets one or two signings per year, so you can bet that he or she is going to think long and hard before signing an act. Remember, they're not only gambling a million dollars of their company's money on each act they sign, they're also wagering their six figure job, a hefty expense account, and their company BMW.
When we send our members' material to the listing party, it must hold up to industry standards or the A&R people won't continue to list with TAXI. If they don't list with us, you won't get any opportunities and we'll go out of business. That's a little insurance policy the companies have with TAXI. They know we won't risk our entire business by sending them material that's just "pretty good." By the same token, because we adhere to such high standards, you're assured that you'll always have a nice variety of opportunities to respond to.
The TAXI A&R staff is really biased toward forwarding your submissions for three reasons (although it may not always seem like it). Reason number one: It's easier to write "Great job!" on a feedback form than it is to formulate and write out constructive criticism. The second reason is that the screeners really enjoy proclaiming, "I've got a winner!" during a screening session. They feel a certain sense of pride and "ownership" when they pick what could very well become a hit record. The last reason: If our screeners don't do an excellent job, they won't continue to work at TAXI.
The bottom line is that we really give a damn. You might want to disregard the opinion of one of our screeners, but if the same opinion is expressed by other screeners, it could be extremely valuable feedback that you probably couldn't have gotten anywhere else.
Questions And Answers
Why are there more listings in some categories than in others?
The number of listings reflects the relative popularity of that genre of music. For example, there are usually an abundance of listings asking for Country songs. This is because most Country artists don't write their own material, and are looking for hit songs to record. By the same token, there will be far fewer Folk listings, for example, simply because there are fewer companies releasing Folk music, and many Folk artists write their own tunes.
We try very hard to get as many different kinds of listings as possible, but our listings do reflect the marketplace. If you are doing Aborigine Didgeridoo music, you will see fewer listings than if you are writing songs aimed at the Top 40 chart.
Can I make more than one submission for a listing?
Yes. Each submission should be on its own material, and have its own submission form wrapped
around it and its own S.A.S.E..
Can I send material for several of my submissions in one large package?
Yes. Just make sure that each item has its own submission form wrapped around it. You should also combine the fees for all of the songs to one check. Make sure each item has its own self-addressed, stamped envelope enclosed.
Why does TAXI charge a $5 per song submission fee?
Here at TAXI, we call it the "discouragement fee." It keeps people from sending every song they have for every listing. By keeping your submissions well focused, the system works better for everybody.
Why does TAXI charge $5 for submissions that aren't pre-screened?
The submission fee is often mistaken for a screening fee. It's not. It is designed to keep subscribers from sending in Country tunes for R&B listings. Can you imagine how many items would be sent in for a non-screened listing if there was no fee to make people think twice about what they were sending? You can be sure we'd never get another listing from that company!!
Can I submit the same material again, once it's been "rejected?"
Yes. The reason for not getting forwarded may have been that the material wasn't right on target for the listing. However, it might be perfect for another listing.
Do A&R people prefer materials over other materials?
Probably, as many cars don't have cassette players, and A&R people do much of their music listening in their own cars. But they prefer hit songs no matter what the recording media is. Can you imagine an A&R person passing on a demo because it didn't come in on material, or wasn't recorded digitally? If there is any reason they might prefer materials, it would be the ability to skip to the next track more easily.
How long will it take to hear if my material has been forwarded?
Usually, two to four weeks after the cut-off date shown in the listing. Remember, we don't start
screening until the cut-off date has passed.
How long will it take before I hear something from a company if my material is forwarded to them?
You probably won't hear from them unless they are interested in hearing more music from you, or knowing more about you. If that's the case, you should expect to hear from them in sixty to ninety days, but we've seen cases that took even longer than that.
How do you forward online submissions? Do you send MP3's?
We will burn your songs on to the material and send that to the listing company. We also print out copies of your lyrics and photos.
Is MP3 sound quality good enough?
Yes, it is. Even film & TV music supervisors who are looking for "master quality" material are used to hearing demos in MP3 format. They are mainly listening to the composition itself and judging how well it suits their needs. If they like the music and want to use it, they will call you and get a higher quality recording, if necessary.
What Is TAXI Dispatch, And How Do I Upgrade My Membership To Include It?
Dispatch is our innovative, online service that provides you with hundreds more opportunities for Film and TV placements where quick-turnaround situations are demanded by the music supervisor or producer.
The additional service costs 41.08 CENTS per day, and will be prorated to run concurrently with your existing membership. In other words, if you have 123 days left on your membership, the cost to upgrade to Dispatch would be just $50.53 for the balance of your membership. The $5 per song submission fee will still be in effect.
To upgrade your membership, just call us at 818-222-2464 and say, "I'd like to upgrade my membership to include TAXI Dispatch." We'll calculate your prorated fee while you're on the phone, and get you signed up instantly!
To learn more about Dispatch, click here.
What's The Deal With A&R People?
The most common misconception about the music industry is that A&R people sit in their offices and listen to material's eight hours a day. Not true! Most spend less than ten percent of their time listening. The majority of their time is spent baby sitting existing acts and projects. You may find it comforting to know that your submission is on their desk because they were looking for something in particular, and your material was well suited. TAXI will also do its best to encourage prompt responses.
Sometimes, it can take weeks, even months to get a response from a record label. Most of the time, you'll hear nothing at all. That's the nature of the business. Let's face it, nobody wants to call you up to say, "You music wasn't what I was looking for — sorry." They know better. Every person they reject would eat up tons of their time on the phone: "What do you mean you didn't like it? My friends love it." "Did you listen to it all the way through?" "I know it's a hit. I wrote it about my girlfriend and I breaking up. Can't you listen one more time?"
One of the reasons record labels use TAXI is we provide a layer of insulation for them, while still giving them access to artists and writers they might never get to hear otherwise. But rest assured that if they hear a hit, you will be the first to know about it!
Close Encounters of the Very Best Kind!
If you are contacted by, or offered a deal by a company because of a submission you made through TAXI, please let us know. We'll want to feature you in our newsletter.
Reality Check
The long and the short of it is that if you're tremendously lucky, you could get a call from an A&R person who says, "Hey, we love your tune, and Shania Twain wants to record it," or "I love your band, and I want to fly out and see you live." However, the odds of that happening are extremely slim. In most cases they may not even give you the courtesy of returning your materials, or sending you a "rejection" letter.
Above all, it's important to remember that the road to success in the music business is long and hard. It is extremely rare that someone gets "lucky" in the early stages. Most successful writers and artists have achieved their goals by constantly working to improve their craft, being very patient, and by never giving up. TAXI can certainly help you by acting as a conduit, but it is no substitute for hard work and dedication. At least now you have a conduit and a chance at breaking into the industry. Most importantly, you've taken that crucial first step. Your odds of success are now greatly improved over what they were before you joined TAXI.
Lovely Parting Gifts
Read Billboard Magazine. For that matter, read every music magazine you can get your hands on! It's your responsibility to know who the players are, and what they're doing. That means both the artists and the executives. If you can't afford to subscribe to Billboard, check out your local library. Most of them have a subscription.
Listen to the radio. The most effective way to keep yourself current with what's going on musically is to listen to as much radio as you possibly can. It will keep you sharp, and let you know who is setting the pace in each musical format.
And finally, don't forget the four P's: Passion, Persistence, Patience, and Professionalism.
We sincerely hope you enjoy our service, and benefit by using it. Please don't leave your "TAXI" in the garage!