TAXI has been helping songwriters, artists, and composers get record, publishing, and film and TV music licensing deals since 1992. As the company moves into its third decade in business, an ever-increasing number of opportunities for musicians to place their music directly in TV shows and Hollywood blockbusters have occurred.

Although TAXI continues to help musicians get their songs and instrumental tracks into catalogs of music libraries, film and TV music publishers, and music licensing agents, it’s the increasing number of requests that come directly from Hollywood’s top film and TV music supervisors that delight the company’s founder, Michael Laskow.

Musicians Keep All the Money…

“Everybody laughed at me when I started TAXI. They thought it was insane that I wasn’t taking at least half the money from the musicians who got deals through us. I thought it seemed more reasonable to get a small membership fee that worked out to less than a dollar a day,” explains Laskow.

“If a songwriter licenses a single song into a movie trailer and gets $50,000 for that placement, they’d normally give up $25,000 to their publisher. If they get that same placement through TAXI, they’d keep the entire $50,000,” continues this passionate music business change agent.

To See How TAXI Works, Click Here!

Million Dollar Radio Hit

Laskow further explained that, “If somebody hits the jackpot and has a huge radio hit that earns $1,000,000 in performance royalties over time, they’d keep the whole million if they got that deal through TAXI. If they had a publishing deal on that very same song and placement, they’d end up splitting that million with the publisher.”

With the music industry in a major slump, and an abundance of great music available because home recording technology has become so good, income and fees to musicians are dropping at an alarming rate. So, while some people were initially quick to criticize TAXI for taking an upfront fee, in hindsight, Laskow’s idea appears to be a prescient stroke of genius.

To See Unedited TAXI Member Success Stories, Click Here!

TAXI is an Equal Opportunity, Opportunity Provider!

“Not all of our opportunities are directly to the music supervisors or licensors. We want to provide every legitimate opportunity we can for our members, so we still run Industry Listings for publishers and music libraries as well,” says Laskow.

Here are some examples of TAXI’s Industry Listings:

Major New York Ad Agency U-R-G-E-N-T-L-Y needs a (quoting the agency here): “Cool, energetic ROCK/Punk-ish SONG with a DISTICTIVE and DRIVING beat. Lyrics COULD come into play, but they don’t need to be TOO specific. General, UNIVERSAL LYRICS about POWER, CONTROL, RISING ABOVE, and/or BEING a BADASS, could work. An EDGY SONG with a REAL BITE that reinforces how TOUGH this TV spot’s main character is will work best for this pitch. This TV spot has very little Voice Over in it, so the SONG WILL LITERALLY DRIVE THE PACING of the spot. We’re looking for MODERN, UPTEMPO, CONTEMPORARY SONGS that give a nod to PUNK and HARD ROCK of yesteryear. We’re open to BOTH Male or Female vocals with plenty of attitude! The Clash’s ‘Janie Jones’ is a great example of the TEMPO and TONE we need for this spot.”

As always, DO NOT rip off the reference track in any way, shape or form. Use it ONLY as a guide for TEMPO, TONE and VIBE/ATTITUDE. ESTIMATED FEE is $60,000 for this spot. This is DIRECT-to-the-Agency, so you’ll KEEP 100% of this deal with NO Publisher Splits! Broadcast Quality is needed (excellent home recordings are fine). You must own or control 100% of the Master and Composition rights. Full-length songs are preferred. DO NOT title your SONG like you would for a music library. Give it a cool, Indie Band-like title. If you ARE chosen, the Ad Agency or the Music Supervisor will contact you DIRECTLY. Please submit one to three SONGS online or per CD. Please include lyrics. All submissions must be received no later than TODAY, NOVEMBER 28th at 5pm, (PDT). TAXI Listing #Y111128PR

SINGER/SONGWRITER ARTISTS inspired by the styles of Neil Young, Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, etc., are needed by a well-respected Independent Label looking to sign new, contemporary artists. They need performers/songwriters that have a CLASSIC, TIMELESS sound. Literate and descriptive lyric themes are a MUST. An AUTHENTIC, EARTHY and WORLD-WEARY sound is the key component to what they’re after. ALL tempos are OK. MALE vocals ONLY. Be sure to submit songs that show off your talent as performers and songwriters. This listing will be screened by a screener hand-picked by the label. Broadcast Quality recordings are needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine.) Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics/photo and bio. All submissions must be received no later than Tuesday, January 22, 2013. TAXI # Y130122SS

PRESIDENT of A&R at a MAJOR RECORD LABEL is looking for POP/ROCK ARTISTS/BANDS in the style of Maroon 5, The Script, OneRepublic, etc., QUOTING THE SOURCE: “Artist/Bands must have star potential with fully developed songs that represent their direction.” They’ll be looking for songs that are COMMERCIALLY COMPETITIVE and are able to hold their own with the referenced artists. Melodies should be captivating and maintain the listeners attention from beginning to the end. Vocals must be STRONG, with SOLID hooks and melodies that scream RADIO! MID-to-UPTEMPO songs will work best here. NO ballads please. CD sales, touring experience, and an Internet presence are big bonuses – be sure to mention this info in your bio! Vocal and instrumental presentation must be top-notch! Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics/photo and bio. All submissions must be received no later than Monday, January 7, 2013. TAXI # Y130107PR

Click here to get FREE Daily Alerts when the music industry needs something you could have!

TAXI Music is the world’s leading independent A&R company, helping songwriters, artists, and composers get record, publishing, and film & TV music licensing deals while keeping as much of their income as possible.

Maybe the question should be, “How do I get a record label to even notice me?”

Record companies are in the business of making money with music. You want to make money with your music too, and they need artists whose music will make them money. So, what makes a record label want to sign a deal with you?

Show them that you can make them money. Notice that I said, “show them,” not “tell them.” If I had a nickel for every time an artist has told me how much money they can make me, I’d be retired already.

Proving You Can Make Money for the Record Label

Having lots of Facebook friends, Twitter followers, and Youtube views is a good thing, but generally not enough to get you signed to a record deal. If you can get those friends and followers to buy your songs on iTunes and pay to see you play live shows, that will get a record company’s attention!

What Record Labels Are Looking For…

• Artists who write hit songs that (typically) fit in popular radio formats.
• Artists who have a great live show.
• Artists who can sell tickets to shows and generate sales from their independent releases, whether on CD or from digital download sales.
• Artists who show a strong willingness to do the hard work involved in building a loyal fanbase that will spend their money on live and recorded music.

Submit Music

That’s what everybody wants to know! “How do I submit my music to an A&R person at a record label?”

The truth is that most of the record companies you’d like to be signed to don’t accept unsolicited submissions. That means that if they don’t know you, or somebody they know and trust, like a manager, music publisher, or an A&R scout, they don’t want to hear from you, and your music is going to end up in the trash.

Even if you use a music industry or record label directory that gives you a record company’s address or an email addy, it usually won’t help you much unless they accept unsolicited material or you have an “in” with them.

Music Production Matters If…

Even if you write and produce incredibly great music, you still need to know if it’s the right kind of music for the record labels you’d like to submit music to. Don’t submit Rap music to a Country label. Don’t submit Country music to a record company that mostly releases Pop records.

Common sense, right? You’d be surprised how many people will get their hands on a free music industry directory and shotgun out hundreds of CDs or MP3s to record labels that never sign or market the genre of music they submit.

What Record Companies Are Looking For

What’s better than having a list of record company contacts or addresses? How about an updated list of exactly what they’re looking for? How would you like to get FREE updates like this in every genre of music you can think of?

ACOUSTIC-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITERS with a UNIQUE, WELL-DEVELOPED INDIVIDUAL SOUND are needed by the V.P. of A&R of an Indie Label looking to expand its roster. THINK: Nick Drake, Bert Jansch, Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes, etc. QUOTING THE SOURCE: “We’re looking for Artists that have a sad, worried, and heartbroken acoustic-based sound like the referenced artists but with a distinctive sound all their own.” They’re looking for a FRESH approach to universal themes with personally revealing lyrics that can instantly connect with the listener. Vocal performances should be INTIMATE and COMPELLING. Artists MUST have EXCEPTIONAL musicianship. DOWNTEMPO songs ONLY. MALE vocals ONLY. Be sure to submit songs that show off your talent as performers and songwriters. Broadcast Quality recordings are needed (excellent sounding home recordings are fine.) Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics/photo and bio. All submissions must be received no later than Friday, January 11, 2013.

Here’s another example:

PRESIDENT of A&R at a MAJOR RECORD LABEL is looking for POP/ROCK ARTISTS/BANDS in the style of Maroon 5, The Script, OneRepublic, etc., QUOTING THE SOURCE: “Artist/Bands must have star potential with fully developed songs that represent their direction.” They’ll be looking for songs that are COMMERCIALLY COMPETITIVE and are able to hold their own with the referenced artists. Melodies should be captivating and maintain the listeners attention from beginning to the end. Vocals must be STRONG, with SOLID hooks and melodies that scream RADIO! MID-to-UPTEMPO songs will work best here. NO ballads please. CD sales, touring experience, and an Internet presence are big bonuses – be sure to mention this info in your bio! Vocal and instrumental presentation must be top-notch! Please submit two to three songs online or per CD, include lyrics/photo and bio. All submissions must be received no later than Monday, January 7, 2013.

Would you like to see 100 or more of opportunities like those for your music every month?

Grab FREE daily updates of what Record Labels are Looking For by clicking here, and you’ll never have to wonder how to get a record label to sign you again. Write great songs, build your fanbase, and give the record company the kind of music they need!