Complaint Review: TAXI: THe World's Leading Independent A&R Company

TAXI claims to be a company that provides "listings" from major labels/artists/production companies regarding types of songs that they are looking for. TAXI then acts as a "screener" for the label/artist or company and "forward" the best material on for "consideration".

They don't tell you anything about the judges, or who works for them. It's all hush hush.

I have no ego in this, I am aware that my music my not be good enough, but three different experiences ($300 each time), submitting music that I slaved over, spent thousands of dollars on, and used world class musicians, and not a SINGLE forward, let alone contact from the company they supposedly forwarded it to? Hmm... something is fishy.

The last straw was when I joined this last time a couple weeks ago. The last two years have been spent in the studio spending upwards of 40k on an album, working with a top platinum-selling songwriter with a Wikipedia page, and singers and musicians that are all world class and have been written up in Bass Player and Keyboard magazine. It's a beautiful song. Rejected. 

One of my other songs was also rejected and I got a critique that I have read many others say they received. The lyrics were too "basic". This coming from a judge of a business where songs like "Baby" by Justin Bieber are hits. Let's be clear I think that's a great song! But don't act like you can't forward a song because the lyrics are too "basic" lol.

My opinion is that "technically" TAXI does what they say they will do. They will forward songs that are EXACTLY what the label wants, but the catch is the label is also having countless other songwriters in the business ALSO write songs. So what are the odds some unknown songwriter from Timbuk 2 is going to get a placement over someone already established? They take submissions from thousands of people, rack up the bucks, and every once in awhile someone gets a "forward". 

I have heard ZERO stories of artists from TAXI having a song placed with a major artist. I would doubt it has ever happened. 

I suspect listings like instrumental music and jazz songs receive more forwards, because the competition from major labels is not as severe. But a listing looking for "hit songs for a major label artist on the level of Bruno Mars" is unrealistic for most songwriters that are unknown at the moment. 

I literally put EVERYTHING I have into this last album, and I am a VERY talented musician. And I couldn't even get a d**n forward? Something is up. 

Also, the convention is a fraud. It's a marketing scheme. I went the year Diane Warren was supposed to speak. Uh yeah, she didn't show lol. Refund? Nope. Lots of so-called "workshop specialists" that didn't seem to know their a$s from a hole in the ground. Myself and the producer I went with knew more than them about the basics of mixing and songwriting. 

I hope this is the last time I fall for this scam. I admit it's a good one. It's a little like a ponzi scheme. JUST enough people get "forwarded" to make everyone else think it's real. 

Don't waste your time. And if you prove me wrong and my music just sucks, then more power to you lol.