Schedule Of Events from Last Year (2024)
The 2025 Schedule is coming soon
Classes, Mentors, and more downloadable below
Nobody Can Beat the Room Rates You’ll Get for the Rally!
TAXI contracts for a large block of rooms at the Westin LAX Hotel, so that means the rate you’ll get through us is guaranteed to be cheaper than Kayak, Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, etc. Even cheaper than bundling your flight and hotel! Click the button below to book directly with the Westin.
Road Rally Complete ScheduleDownload the PDF
Main Ballroom PanelsDownload the PDF
2024 Driver's Ed Class DescriptionsDownload The PDF
2024 One-to-One Mentor SessionsDownload The PDF
2024 Panelist/Mentor/Speaker BiosDownload The PDF
2024 Eat & Greet LunchDownload The PDF
Schedule of Events
For Current TAXI Members, only
Thursday, November 7th
Road Rally RegistrationNear the Grand Ballroom on the hotel’s first floor. You must have a photo ID to get your Road Rally badge! One-to-One Mentor Registration
Grand Ballroom Foyer – After you register for the Rally, proceed to One-to-One Mentor Registration in the Ballroom Foyer. Refer to the Mentor Bios list to make your selection. Members only, please. One Mentor per member. First-come, first-served basis. Must already be registered and have your Rally badge with you. Dinner
Eat at the hotel’s Daily Grill (the food is really good) with all the new friends you’ve made during Road Rally Registration! Jam Room and Open Mic
The Jam Room is in the Concourse Ballroom (2nd floor—backline provided) and the Open Mic is in the Mezzanine Theater (top of escalator). The Open Mic is on a first-come, first-served basis. Members and guests are welcome to jam and perform!
Friday, November 8th
RegistrationContinues at the Rally Registration desk near the hotel’s Grand Ballroom on the first floor. Opening Remarks
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Legendary Record Producer Michael Lloyd. Welcome to the Road Rally
TAXI Founder and CEO Michael Laskow welcomes attendees to the 28th Road Rally. Michael will draw a ticket stub (between 9:05am and 10:45am) and one lucky person will win $500 cash to help pay for their travel expenses. You must be in the ballroom and have your ticket stub with you to win! Keynote Panel – Will AI-Generated Music Steal Your Job?
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – The rise of AI-generated music is shaking the foundations of the industry. Is it a career-destroying nemesis or the next revolutionary tool for songwriters, artists, composers, and producers? Will AI music dominate sync placements and reshape the entire music industry? Can it even be copyrighted? How do music libraries, PROs, labels, publishers, TV networks, and movie studios view what could be a seismic shift? Join experts—Tanvi Patel (CEO, Crucial Music), Stephanie Reid (V.P., Black Toast Music), Brenton Hund (V.P., Legal and Business Affairs, Warner Bros./Discovery), Paul Croteau (Composer/Producer), and Erin Jacobson (Music Attorney)—for a no-holds-barred discussion on AI’s future (and yours) in music. One-to-One Mentor Sessions
Located in O’Hare and Orly rooms. (Mezzanine Level / 2nd Floor). How Music Supervisors Pick Music for Advertising
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Music in advertising serves a different purpose than music for TV shows or films. Join Music Supervisor Nick Haussling to uncover the role music plays in ads, the most popular genres, and who ultimately decides what’s needed and what makes the final cut. Learn what goes into landing lucrative ad placements and how to boost your chances in this competitive space. Don't miss this insider’s guide to breaking into the world of music for advertising! Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. Eat & Greet Luncheon #1
Concourse Ballroom (2nd Floor) – You need to have purchased your Eat & Greet ticket in advance, and have your Rally badge with the Eat & Greet Luncheon credential on it to attend. Bring CDs, USB Drives, or postcards/business cards with QR codes of your music if you’d like to give some out! Does Your Song Work in This Film?
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Prior to the Rally, Music Supervisor Mason Cooperstrong> ran a TAXI Listing (S241024AC) for a film (starring Sylvester Stallone) that needs music. We gave Mason the playlist of “forwards” from the Listing. He pared down the playlist to songs he thinks are viable. We’ll watch the scene with each of Mason’s selects played with the video. Audience members will give their input, and Mason will give his, as well. Mason will pick the song that works best. Depending on the film’s post-production schedule, the TAXI member’s song could make it into the film. If the timing doesn’t work out, Mason will keep the song in his personal stash because he uses this genre quite often! Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. Film & TV Song Pitch and Feedback Panel
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Songs (from TAXI members only) will be played for Music Supervisors and Music Licensing Executives: Stephanie Reid (Vice President, Black Toast Music), Mason Cooper (Music Supervisor), Dan Waldkirch (Vice President, A&R/Operations, Crucial Music), Jacob Nathan (Sr. Director of A&R, Fervor Records), and Jeff Freundlich (Founder/Co-CEO, Fervor Records).. Songs only! Music played during this panel will be chosen randomly from a playlist generated from a panel-specific TAXI Listing (S241022RR) that ran prior to the Rally. Submissions not played during the panel will be screened on a yes/no basis after the Rally, and Forwards will be sent to all the panelists. In other words, you have two chances at getting your music into the hands of these music licensing executives. Jam Room and Open Mic
The Jam Room is in the Concourse Ballroom (2nd floor—backline provided) and the Open Mic is in the Mezzanine Theater (top of escalator). Tickets will be given out in the Open Mic room, and performers will be drawn at random. Members and guests are welcome to jam and perform!
Saturday, November 9th
Instrumental Pitch and Feedback PanelGrand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Panelists Steve Barden (CEO, Reel Note Music), Chuck Henry (CEO, 10 West Music), Geoff Siegel (CEO, Fundamental Music), and Pedro Costa (CEO, InStyle Music) will listen, give feedback, and possibly take some music home! Music played during this panel will be chosen randomly from a playlist generated from a panel-specific TAXI Listing (S241021NS) that ran prior to the Rally. We’ll call your name if your music is randomly chosen. If you’re not in the ballroom, we’ll move on to the next person’s track. Submissions not played during this panel will be screened on a yes/no basis after the Rally, and Forwards will be sent to all the panelists. Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. Turn Your Authentic Story into Hit Songs
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – What do Adele, John Legend, Taylor Swift, Sting, and Jason Isbell all have in common? They write from their life experiences and turn them into hit songs. Join Robin Frederick, author of the best-selling books Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting and Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film & TV, to find out how you can mine your authentic life story for some chart-worthy gold. Music played and critiqued during the second half-hour of this class will be culled from a playlist generated from a panel-specific TAXI Listing (S241023FD) that ran prior to the Rally. Robin will listen to all submissions and choose several to include during the hour. One randomly selected TAXI member who submitted for this panel will win a one-hour consult with the amazing Ms. Frederick. You must be in the Grand Ballroom during the session to win the consulting session. Eat & Greet Luncheon #2
Concourse Ballroom (2nd Floor) – You need to have purchased your Eat & Greet ticket in advance, and have your Rally badge with the Eat & Greet Luncheon credential on it to attend. Bring CDs, USB Drives, or postcards/business cards with QR codes of your music if you’d like to give some out! Letting Go of “Precious”
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Creators often feel deeply personal about their music. But, holding on too tightly to your creative work can stifle growth and even kill one’s career. This panel will explore the importance of "letting go of precious" — detaching emotionally from your work to embrace feedback, make business-savvy decisions, and increase your chances of success in the music and sync licensing business in particular. Join five-time Grammy-winner Rob Chiarelli; platinum-level producer/A&R executive Ron Harris; and composer/entrepreneur Robina Ritchie-Barker for what could be a life-changing discussion on how to balance personal expression with the practical realities of building a sustainable creative career. Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. One-to-One Mentor Sessions
Located in O’Hare and Orly rooms. (Mezzanine Level / 2nd Floor). How to Get into Sync’s Inner Circle
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Breaking into the inner circle of sync is the holy grail for many musicians, and these panelists have done just that! Want to be the composer, artist, or producer that music libraries and supervisors call on regularly? Join Jim Thacker, Patty Boss, Greg Carrozza, Matt Vander Boegh, and John Pearson as they pull back the curtain on how they became “go-to” pros in the music licensing business. Get ready to hear insider tips and strategies that can launch your career to the next level! Before They Were Hits
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Veteran Publishers Steve Bloch and Bobby Rymer have original demos of some big Country and Pop hits, and we’re going to play them, followed by the versions you’ve heard on the radio! We’re adding new songs you didn’t hear last year! Michael Laskow will also play the “best piano/vocal demo” he’s heard in his entire career, followed by the version that was a radio hit. This will be a casual hang out. Feel free to bring your favorite beverage and food/snacks, so you can kick back and enjoy this session that the audience loved last year! Dinner Break
You should have tons of new friends to dine with! Try the Thai restaurant next to the hotel. Our attendees love it! Jam Room and Open Mic
The Jam Room is in the Concourse Ballroom (2nd floor—backline provided) and the Open Mic is in the Mezzanine Theater (top of escalator). Tickets will be given out in the Open Mic room, and performers will be drawn at random. Members and guests are welcome to jam and perform!
Sunday, November 10th
Turn Your Old Recordings into Sync IncomeGrand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Got recordings from the 1990s or earlier? Don't miss this session! Michael teams up with Jeff Freundlich, co-founder/COO of Fervor Records and leading expert on vintage music for sync, along with Fervor’s Sr. Director of A&R Jacob Nathan. Discover how your old masters and even old demos can still generate sync income in today’s market. Tons of TAXI members have landed some really nice placements with their vintage material! Learn what music supervisors are looking for and how to capitalize on the growing demand for vintage tracks. Perfect for artists, songwriters, and composers with a back catalog ready to be revived and monetized! Getting Stuff Done, and Quickly!
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Ever see the perfect TAXI Listing, but instead of jumping on it, you procrastinate and let the moment slip away? It's not a lack of talent, it's a lack of action that's holding you back. You don’t start. You don’t finish, and you certainly don’t submit. One less chance to get signed, get licensed, and earn income doing what you love. Want to stop spinning your wheels, making excuses, and killing your career before it even has a chance of taking off? Join TAXI members Will Derryberry, Matt Vander Boegh, and Robina Ritchie-Barker who will show you how to become motivated, faster, and more efficient when it comes to getting stuff done! Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. Lunch
No Eat & Greet Luncheon today. You’re on your own. Enjoy the Daily Grill, which we anticipate will be very busy. You can also try the Thai restaurant next to the hotel. Plan accordingly. Song Listening and Feedback Session
Theater (Mezzanine Level, 2nd Floor) – Note: This session is NOT for Film & TV music feedback. This session is for Songs for Label, Publisher, and Artist feedback only!
Craig Pilo, Host, DJ, and Jazz
Chris Long, Rock and Singer/Songwriter
James Kocian, Top 40 Pop, Christian/Gospel, and Country
Ty Knox, Hip-Hop, Top 40 Pop, and R&B
Steve Bloch, Country
Bobby Rymer, Country, Pop, Christian
VERY IMPORTANT: You will be given ONE numbered ticket as you enter the Mezzanine Theatre before the session begins. A duplicate ticket will be placed in a box labeled with the genre option you specify. PLEASE know what genre your song is BEFORE you come to the session. Sorry, but latecomers will NOT be able to get a ticket out of fairness to the people who arrived on time. To choose songs for the panel, we’ll randomly pull tickets from each of the genre boxes (in rotation) and call the ticket number out for you to bring up your phone, pad, or laptop, and a printed lyric sheet. PLEASE have your song ready to be played so you don’t spend time searching for it! Only TAXI members with a valid Road Rally 2024 badge can submit for this session! How to Write and Produce an Instrumental Cue
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Looking to master the art of composing and producing instrumental cues for TV, film, and commercials? Join Dean Krippaehne, acclaimed composer, songwriter, and author of Demystifying the Cue, Demystifying the Genre, and Cue Tips, as he walks you through the essential elements: instrumentation, arrangement, and the developmental arc needed to craft cues that get TAXI Forwards, music library deals, and ultimately placements. From structure and dynamics to creating emotional impact, Dean will share his time-tested techniques while creating an instrumental cue live on-stage. Q&A to follow. Eye-opening for beginners, empowering for experienced composers! Interpreting TAXI’s Listings and Industry Briefs
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – Reading and interpreting TAXI’s Listings and Industry Briefs is a critical part of making the perfect pitch. Knowing how to best use the musical references is another crucial ingredient. Mastering these skills can be the difference between success or failure, and this panel will go a long way toward helping you get more forwards, more deals, and more placements. Please join successful TAXI members Greg Carrozza and Bob Mete, plus Stephanie Reid (Film/TV Music Licensing Executive), Andrew Jordan (TAXI member who writes TAXI’s Listings), and Tom Stillwagon (TAXI’s Sr. Director of A&R) so they can help you crack the code and become more successful. Driver’s Ed Classes
See class grid and descriptions for more info. The Happy Ending Pitch Panel
Grand Ballroom (Lobby Level, 1st Floor) – This panel of experts from varied backgrounds will listen to randomly selected songs during this Rally-ending Pitch Panel. Film, TV, Song, and Artist pitches are all fair game during this panel with: Michael Lloyd (Multi-Platinum Producer, Music Supervisor), Rob Chiarelli (Multi-Platinum, Grammy-Winning Producer, Mixer), Ron Harris (Label A&R, Multi-Platinum Producer), Pedro Costa (Film/TV Music Licensing Executive), and Stephanie Reid (Film/TV Music Licensing Executive). Music played during this panel will be chosen randomly from a playlist generated from panel-specific TAXI Listings (S241020LB, S241019SG, S241018RM) that ran prior to the Rally. We’ll call your name if your music is randomly chosen. If you’re not in the ballroom, we’ll move on to the next person’s track. And don’t miss the acoustic guitar prize donated by Michael Lloyd! You’ve got to be in the room to win.
Thank You Sponsors
"What a great convention. This was my first year, and I could not get over the fact that it's FREE! I cannot figure out why TAXI’s not charging $400-$500 for something of that caliber." -Kerry Cox, TAXI Member
"I flew 15 hours from Sao Paulo to LA just for the Rally. And I can tell you: it was one of the best experiences in my life!" -Rogerio Maudonnet, TAXI Member
"I would pose this question to anyone who could but didn't come [to the Rally]. Are you serious about music?"
-Terry Anthony, TAXI Member
"Will the Rally be a waste of my time if my music isn't 'ready?' I almost didn't go to the Road Rally this year because I didn't feel ready and professional enough. I decided to go anyway, and I'm so glad I did. Not only did I make some incredible contacts, but also I came home feeling much more professional and knowledgeable about the industry and my own direction as an artist. Thanks again for opening so many doors for me!" -Celia Rose, TAXI Member
"Many relationships began for me at the Rally, not only with fellow members, but also with music library owners and publishers who eventually signed my music. I would not have any of the success I have had so far without the TAXI Road Rally. It’s a no brainer in my opinion, if you’re serious about your career."
-Robbie Hancock, TAXI Member
"I think I’ve personally gained several years experience over just three days. I am now more focused and have a better understanding of what TAXI listings and TAXI screeners are looking for."Terry Solfleet - Penistone, United Kingdom
"The industry professionals were truly indeed approachable and very willing to share and lift others; I was blown away by the easy access to them."Heather Yates - Kansas City, MO
"For once in my life, my passions and interests have been validated. Thank you, TAXI."Rosanna Angela - Houston, TX
"I took off time without pay and flew 3,000 miles... well worth the time and financial investment! I didn’t walk away with a publishing deal, but I walked away with the tools to effectively pursue and hopefully ( crossing my fingers) obtain a publishing deal or a music library placement." Christine Matte - Charlotte, NC
"2019 was my 13th consecutive Road Rally! I hope I never miss one. It may sound over the top but the Road Rally is truly a life changing experience! Everything I’ve accomplished with my music has been because of the Rally and this incredibly loving and giving TAXI music community."Casey Hurowitz - Fort Washington, PA
"90% of my success I can trace back to trust relationships made and develop from the TAXI Road Rally over the years and in my opinion, attending the TAXI Road Rally is a must if you are serious about taking your music to the next level. Thank you to all the TAXI staff for putting together such a wonderful event that has launched my music career. It has definitely changed my life and the lives of so many other members that I now call my friends."Robbie Hancock - Victoria, BC, Canada
"The Road Rally brings together a group of musicians and songwriters from all over the world, in one spot for one long weekend, for what is basically a 'family reunion' for those who come every year. Where else can you hang out with such a group of like-minded people? We catch up with one another in person and share a wealth of information - from recording and songwriting techniques to best business practices, just to name a few things. I stay in touch, year round, with these 'family' members, and I collaborate with the ones I get along with best. So if you want to join this family, all you have to do is show up in November - you'll be welcomed with open arms."John Lewitt - Toronto, ON, Canada
"Well, as a Brit attending my first Road Rally, I do have a lot to say. My initial concern was, is it worth the expense, time and (in my case) horrendous jet lag? Without a doubt Yes it was! I had an amazing time, not only in meeting the friendliest, warm hearted, giving people that I’ve ever met, but just to be surrounded by musicians that are all striving for the same goal."Mark Parr - Hove, United Kingdom
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