Does anyone here make serious money from their music?

[Greg_L]

Of course they don't. If they were risking money backing unknown songwriters, their business would collapse!

Sure, but I prefer they get paid off of results. You get paid when I get paid. I know it's a business, and they apparently have a good one, but I'm not allowing anyone to make money off of me unless I make money myself. Let me get mine and I'll break you off a taste for your help. That's the way I see it. That's the only way I'll operate. Maybe it'll keep me from ever making money. That's fine. I don't give a shit. I never did this to make money anyway.

 

[miroslav]

Of course they don't. If they were risking money backing unknown songwriters, their business would collapse!

Exactly.
They use time/effort and probably some $$$ to peddle your music for you, and after all that, if nothing sells, and if they only got paid after you get paid....that means they just worked for you for free.
Yeah, you didn't get anything out of it either, but still, they have to do some leg work either way...and that's what their fees are for.

The only time anyone offers to work for "potential" profit is when they see a somewhat sure thing, and are willing to take a risk.
Taxi accepts songs from anyone/everyone....so there's no way they (or other similar organizations) are going to take a risk with every submission and work for potentially nothing.

Considering how much money people already spend on their audio/music...I don't think it's a major financial risk to give something like Taxi a shot at least one time.
Yes, there have been many scams in the past....the "pay me and I'll make you star"...but Taxi has been around a long time, and lots of people have used it...some successfully.

I just noticed that they offer a 1-year, full money-back guarantee....that's no risk at all then.

 

[Greg_L]

I'm mostly just mad I didn't think of it myself. I'd gladly take 300/yr from you guys and give you the same song and dance and 6% success rate.

 

[Greg_L]

In all seriousness its a cool idea its just seriously expensive for a 94% failure rate. You could do better betting on horses.

 

[jonny deep]

Exactly.
They use time/effort and probably some $$$ to peddle your music for you, and after all that, if nothing sells, and if they only got paid after you get paid....that means they just worked for you for free.
Yeah, you didn't get anything out of it either, but still, they have to do some leg work either way...and that's what their fees are for.

The only time anyone offers to work for "potential" profit is when they see a somewhat sure thing, and are willing to take a risk.
Taxi accepts songs from anyone/everyone....so there's no way they (or other similar organizations) are going to take a risk with every submission and work for potentially nothing.

Considering how much money people already spend on their audio/music...I don't think it's a major financial risk to give something like Taxi a shot at least one time.
Yes, there have been many scams in the past....the "pay me and I'll make you star"...but Taxi has been around a long time, and lots of people have used it...some successfully.

I just noticed that they offer a 1-year, full money-back guarantee....that's no risk at all then.

View attachment 76736

That's a guarantee against listings, customer service and feedback; not success.

 

[miroslav]

That's a guarantee against listings, customer service and feedback; not success.

Right.
And any potential success depends on their listings, CS and feedback....so if you are not satisfied with those things, you can get a full refund.

Wadda you want....a guaranteed record deal with Capital Records?

 

[jonny deep]

Right.
And any potential success depends on their listings, CS and feedback....so if you are not satisfied with those things, you can get a full refund.

Wadda you want....a guaranteed record deal with Capital Records?

I want a million pounds in used notes.

 

[JimmyS1969]

Dumb American question...What is a used note? Here, it seems to be an 'E'. Or in death metal, a 'D flat'.

 

[Greg_L]

I didn't see the money back guarantee. That makes it a little more palatable. Spend your 300, and if the percentages hold true and you get nothing out of it, on the 364th day get your money back. I could work with that.

 

[chuckduffy]

I didn't see the money back guarantee. That makes it a little more palatable. Spend your 300, and if the percentages hold true and you get nothing out of it, on the 364th day get your money back. I could work with that.

I wonder if you look at it statistically, what percentage of the inputs are crap. Do they take on everyone, or do they reject people up front who don't have a prayer?

 

[jonny deep]

Dumb American question...What is a used note? Here, it seems to be an 'E'. Or in death metal, a 'D flat'.

I guess you'd call it a bill. Although D flat will do...

 

[Chili]

I wonder if you look at it statistically, what percentage of the inputs are crap. Do they take on everyone, or do they reject people up front who don't have a prayer?

I've always wondered about that myself. I'm willing to bet that if someone is putting up $300/yr they have tunes that can pass muster (Not Mustard - DogBreath!!). You can go to their website and see a listings page and get an idea of how they roll.

Most submissions have to pass through a Taxi reviewer first who decides whether to send it on to the client. If they turn it down, they have to give you a reason and hopefully some critiques/suggestions for improvement. Other times, the client will ask for all submissions to not go through a reviewer and they will give a yes or no.

For the review process, I hear that's the soft part. Who exactly is reviewing your submission and deciding whether it fits their clients' needs or not?? Do they actually listen to the song?? In songwriting forums, I hear people complain about this aspect of Taxi. However, they might be jaded musicians who can't take rejection. If you're gonna play in this game, get used to rejection.

 

[Greg_L]

However, they might be jaded musicians who can't take rejection. .

That's probably true. Most songwriters/musicians get really butthurt over any kind of critique that isn't rectal sunshine.

 

[chuckduffy]

I've always wondered about that myself. I'm willing to bet that if someone is putting up $300/yr they have tunes that can pass muster (Not Mustard - DogBreath!!).

That's interesting, I almost think the opposite. I mean there are plenty of people who buy $1000 microphones and pre-amps who have never made a dime off their music. So yeah, $300 is real money - but I can totally see someone rationalizing 'it's just $10 a month'...

That's probably true. Most songwriters/musicians get really butthurt over any kind of critique that isn't rectal sunshine.

yeah, lots of people do. I don't know anything specifically about taxi, but most services aren't likely to be overly harsh - killing hope in delusional people is like killing the goose that laid the golden egg. I've submitted a few of my tunes for consideration in low/no budget indie films. The worst I've gotten is 'not quite what we were looking for' 3X, verbatim (obviously a stock reply). The best 'a real contender, but unfortunately didn't make the final cut'.

 

[Greg_L]

yeah, lots of people do. .

I find really, really interesting how insecure and fragile songwriters and musicians can be. Visual artists seem to be a little more mentally stable and generally seem to understand that their art isn't for everyone. Musicians typically aren't that level headed. Musicians tend to think that they're music should be loved by everyone and they get upset if it isn't. There's a few people here like that.

 

[chuckduffy]

I find really, really interesting how insecure and fragile songwriters and musicians can be. Visual artists seem to be a little more mentally stable and generally seem to understand that their art isn't for everyone. Musicians typically aren't that level headed. Musicians tend to think that they're music should be loved by everyone and they get upset if it isn't. There's a few people here like that.

I think part of that is just 'humans' and ego in general. At my job, I have to critically evaluate all the work people on my team put out on an ongoing basis. Some people accept it immediately and move on, some people pitch a fit and get over it, some people *never* get over it. They lose their shit, literally can't stop bringing it up, over and over until it starts to cloud their vision and negatively affect all their work. It's unfortunate, as those kind of people are the 'toxic' ones that have to be let go and refuse to change even if it means their job.

 

[miroslav]

I've submitted a few of my tunes for consideration in low/no budget indie films. The worst I've gotten is 'not quite what we were looking for' 3X, verbatim (obviously a stock reply). The best 'a real contender, but unfortunately didn't make the final cut'.

The p0rn industry can be picky....the right music makes the scenes.

 

[miroslav]

I think part of that is just 'humans' and ego in general. At my job, I have to critically evaluate all the work people on my team put out on an ongoing basis. Some people accept it immediately and move on, some people pitch a fit and get over it, some people *never* get over it. They lose their shit, literally can't stop bringing it up, over and over until it starts to cloud their vision and negatively affect all their work. It's unfortunate, as those kind of people are the 'toxic' ones that have to be let go and refuse to change even if it means their job.

I remember back in the day before "electronic media", sending out countless envelopes with a music cassette, lyric sheets and short bio to hundreds of industry addresses. I knew most of it was going to be tossed or sent back - unopened.
That's the way it is, you just have to keep plugging away.
I think I got back maybe 3-4 actual replies where they listened and said something like, "sounds good, not what we are looking for, but feel free to submit more in he future".

Looking back.....I spent a nice chunk of $$$ doing that, and I got nothing back in return. So, I don't think something like Taxi is that much more of a risk or expense.
This business usually all hinges on just ONE song getting to the right set of hands....but that's always been a needle-in-haystack proposition.

 

[Chili]

...rectal sunshine.

Rectal sunshine. OmG. I'm in an airline lounge right now laughing my ass and people are looking at me weird.

This business usually all hinges on just ONE song getting to the right set of hands....but that's always been a needle-in-haystack proposition.

Yeah, one foot in the door is all it takes. Then they'll LOVE everything piece of crap song you throw at them. Look at the Stones!!

 

[mjbphotos]

Well crap, it wasnt this forum that I posted about Taxi last year, as I see now I just posted my first post here, and this one I am typing is my second. LOL, sorry for my mistake. Nonetheless, Taxi is a valid avenue for those interested.

Well, you can't post links yet (you need 10 posts), but what is Taxi? Google doesn't help!