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indie music person
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8/17/2016 10:24:54 AM
Ever shop your songs to publishers?
I'm getting ready to try that, looking for advice.
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John Pippus
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8/17/2016 11:29:09 PM
Big topic. The few times I’ve had success with getting songs placed has come from building a relationship first. So networking- going to conferences, workshops, any place you can meet publishers, artist reps, and others farther up the food chain - is a good place to start. And co-writing with people who have established connections can be good too.
If you’re going to pitch publishers cold, via email, do your homework first, then when you find someone who has a catalog where you can see your music fitting in, send them a short, casual email asking if they’re open to you sending an online link or two.
Always be friendly, and if you don’t hear back don’t take it personally, most established publishers are inundated with requests. Follow up once, maybe twice at the most, and then move on.
Sometimes emails don’t get answered but phone calls do. So try a couple of different ways of contacting them.
I wouldn’t pay anyone to pitch your tunes, Taxi comes to mind and various compilation CDs aimed at industry types.
Besides publishers, look into contacting music supervisors, getting your tunes licensed to tv/film/video games is a possibility.
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Richard Scotti
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8/18/2016 7:23:18 AM
@John ~ Have you ever tried TAXI?
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indie music person
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8/18/2016 7:48:42 AM
Thanks John, that was exactly what I was looking for.
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John Pippus
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8/18/2016 11:32:15 AM
My own experience with TAXI is this: I’ve got a co-writer friend who has subscribed to them for 4 or 5 years. She goes to their ‘rallies’ in L.A. and has met some well connected people there and had a very good time.
She submits to their 'call for songs' on a regular basis. Each time you submit you pay a small amount, on top of your annual subscription. Quite a few times, she’s had a song forwarded, usually this one co-write of ours, and then that’s the end of it. (TAXI forwards just the songs, so they say, that they think have merit for whatever it is the pitch is for).
The first few times we had a song forwarded I got my hopes up. But after about a dozen forwards of this particular song, I got skeptical. I thinks she still subscribes, but I’ve told her it’s probably a waste of money.
The other thing I’ll say about TAXI is that everyone in the industry I’ve talked to, or listened to at conferences (music supervisors, established writers) says the same thing. They don’t use TAXI and they don’t know anyone who has any success with it.
Not to say miracles don’t happen, and TAXI can point you to writer testimonials who have done well by them, but I’d rather spend my money in other ways to promote my music.
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Bryon Tosoff
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8/18/2016 11:50:44 AM
connections in the tv jingle or movie industry helps a ton.
I know people who got songs in all the TV movie sound track for movies just because they either played in their band at one time, knew them from other situations and once in ,they hire you and or use their music.
I have been fortunate to have a couple of songs that have been licensed by others. but more in the background music off my first album, I am hoping to get more opportunities with my Kick Back Just Relax Album which has way more production and for me I think that will open more doors.
its a clique industry. and a hard one to crack but if you have good material and well produced with a mix of instrumentals and a variety of styles vocals etc, you have a way better chance of being successful
As for Taxi, I as well know a number of people who used it and none that I know who got very far with the service.
Get all your songs registered , I use CMRAA here in Canada and have a few other places where I have my songs available for licensing
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Richard Scotti
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8/18/2016 3:50:36 PM
---- Updated 8/18/2016 5:04:08 PM
Years ago I did try TAXI and had similar experiences with songs getting forwarded but not amounting to anything tangible. Someone told me they had improved over the years and I was wondering if they had changed enough to actually do what they claim they can do. Apparently from what you said, they still exploit artist's hopes and dreams to make a buck. How could an organization like that continue to rip people off and get away with it? It's a strange business model. I'm amazed that they have survived this long.
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Mick J Clark
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8/20/2016 7:18:01 AM
I was with TAXI for 2 yrs, because the second yr is cheaper. I had many comments that I did kind of agree with.' Another great song Mick , but all your songs seem to sound a bit 80's, great lyrics and tunes though.'
It could be a rip off and a waste of time,but what I have realised is, you don't just need great songs, you need a lot of money to keep promoting them as well. Lets hope they get their bucket load if they're not for real.
I've got 3 albums and a Christmas EP out which I am promoting, so I'm not giving up, and I agree with you I'm amazed they are still in business.
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Francesca Tamellini
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8/31/2016 3:13:34 AM
I have had several forwards from Taxi with lovely little certificates for the wall. After the forward they disappear completely. The trouble is, in this business you sort of live on dreams (I do anyway) and hope that maybe just once something will come of it, but the experience seems to be common. Can anyone contradict this with a story of a real placement?
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Richard Scotti
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8/31/2016 7:30:02 AM
---- Updated 8/31/2016 8:59:37 AM
Several friends of mine have been with TAXI with nothing but "forwards" to show for it but one of them got a song placed as a TV commercial that made a ton of money for him. Unfortunately this is the exception to the rule and the rule is that getting a record contract through TAXI is as likely as winning the lottery. Nonetheless I know artists who use TAXI and feel that ANY opportunity is one that has to be seized regardless of the odds. If one can afford it ($300 a year and $5.00 submission fee per song) I guess it can't hurt but I prefer to spend my money on other music related expenses that yield more tangible results.
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LyinDan
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8/31/2016 4:10:17 PM
---- Updated 8/31/2016 4:12:35 PM
My niece's other half, Kenseth Thibideau makes a living from doing jingles and indepenpent bands in San Diego. Perhaps you need to ask him. I don't think he does Taxi. Smoozing and networking seems to work better. Of course, if you live in Cali, you have a leg up in seeing and contacting these people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWA7gvL7oXM
by "jingles" I mean music for commercials. You've possibly heard him.
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LyinDan
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8/31/2016 4:13:20 PM
Damn! Editing a comment worked! What's going on here?
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Steve White
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8/31/2016 5:24:26 PM
I would love to write Jingles. It's cool, short and fun.
I did look into it once but every place I went you had to pay to submit your jingle. That can get expensive.
Steve
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