Don’t Give Up
Remember that success in sync music takes time, persistence, and continuous improvement. If you think you can join TAXI, make a few pitches, get “discovered,” and the money starts rolling in from that day forward, think again! The music licensing side of the business isn’t like the record side. It’s not about having a hit song or record. Expect to spend the first year making mistakes and learning the ropes. The second year might yield a few forwards and maybe even result in getting some music signed. The third year will see you getting faster and better, creating more output, more on‑target pitches, and increased frequency in the number of tracks and songs signed, as well as a few placements. The fourth year could find you developing relationships.
Invest in a Custom Critique
Consider custom critiques from TAXI screeners to get specific advice on improving your music. I always forget to recommend custom critiques, but successful members often say that they’ve used them and found them to be highly beneficial.
Target Your Strengths
Identify your strongest genres or styles and focus on submitting tracks in those areas. As you gain traction and get some deals and placements, then you can start to slowly branch out to other genres. You’d be wise to stick to neighboring genres (Country – Americana) at first. If Country is your main genre, don’t pitch to an Orchestral opportunity unless you’re immune to disappointment and frustration.
Read TAXI’s Listings Carefully
Take the time to fully understand the details of each listing to ensure your submissions are a good fit. Make a list of the attributes and stay true to what the brief or listing asks for. If you go down a rabbit hole, you’ll have wasted your time.
Use References Wisely>
Analyze all reference tracks provided in listings to match the style, mood, production style, instrumentation, and tempo. What do the refs have in common? Similar tempo? Similar vibe? Similar instrumentation? You’re not trying to copy the refs. Instead, look for commonality and triangulate those things to create a track or song that could fit on a playlist with the refs.
Write to Briefs Only
Focus on creating music specifically tailored to listing requirements, rather than submitting pre‑existing tracks. Submitting existing, old songs or tracks will most likely not yield success because there won’t be enough of the particulars in the song that match what was requested in the brief. Square peg—round hole equals disappointment.
Develop a Thick Skin
Use “rejections” as learning opportunities to refine your craft. It’s not you personally that’s being “rejected,” it’s the song or track. And most likely, it wasn’t rejected because it was bad. Statistically, at TAXI, most submissions that don’t get forwarded didn’t match what the brief asked for.
Use Templates for Efficiency
Create DAW templates to save time when starting new projects. Why re‑invent the wheel? Why spend your writing and composing time looking for the perfect kick drum? Create templates for each genre you work in and use them as starting points.
Learn to Write Sync‑Friendly Lyrics
Write lyrics that are universal and lack specific details that could conflict with a scene. Instead, write about general feelings—how someone made you feel, not what they look like or did, where you met them, what they were wearing, or what they said, etc. Buy Robin Frederick’s excellent book, Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film and TV. Trust me on that!
Actively Use Feedback
Implement TAXI screener feedback to continuously improve your music and align with industry standards. Virtually every one of our members who sends us success stories for the newsletter tells us that at first, the feedback pissed them off. But at some point, they got past that, and when they used the feedback, they saw dramatic improvement.
Broaden Your Skillset
Experiment with new genres and production techniques that are frequently requested in TAXI listings. Don’t limit yourself to just what you are comfortable doing. Do you do Country or Indie Folk? Could you stretch yourself a bit and do Americana? Take it in increments, not giant steps.
Create Music in Genres Others Won’t Submit To
Do music libraries need more Dramedy or Tension cues? Not really. But they are hungry for ethnic music, as evidenced by how many briefs we get asking for things like French café music, Italian music, German music, Romani styles, etc. Very few of your fellow members make those genres, and libraries don’t have much of that music. When music supervisors search catalogs, you’ll have a much greater chance of getting placed because you won’t have nearly as much competition. Zig when others zag!
Organize Your Catalog
Keep a detailed database of your tracks, metadata, and which listings you’ve submitted them to. Use Composer Catalog and Trackstage to keep what you do organized and to track your pitches, signings, and placements.
Lose the “All I need to do is write a great song and somebody will hear it and want to use it” paradigm that’s a hangover from the days of pitching only to record companies. Licensing your music for TV and film is all about creating music that fills a need by supporting or amplifying a mood or emotion, helping set the time, helping set the place, and making the action in a scene more impactful.
Master Instrumental Cues
Focus on crafting instrumental cues with clear structure and developmental arcs to increase your chances of placement. Instrumentals are easier and much faster than writing a song with lyrics, nailing a vocal, recording background vocals, and mixing all those tracks. Instrumentals get licensed more frequently because there’s more need, and learning how to create them will make you faster, better, and more efficient.
Develop a Consistent Work Schedule
Treat music production like a job by dedicating specific hours each week to writing and producing. Waiting for the “muse” is highly ineffective.
Improve Your Recording, Mixing, and Production Techniques
Enhance your recording quality to meet broadcast‑quality standards for sync placements. YouTube has tons of really good videos and courses that are excellent.
Stay Updated on Trends
Follow industry news and trends to understand what music is currently in demand. Watch TV and films and pay close attention to the music—what was used, how it was used, and then think about why it was used. The why is important.
Set Submission Goals
The music licensing industry is a numbers game. Your goal is to get hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces in at least 10 different catalogs. Having only a few pieces in one or two catalogs isn’t enough to yield substantial results. Set a goal of submitting at least two instrumentals to TAXI listings every week.
Celebrate Small (and Big) Wins
Acknowledge every forward, placement, positive feedback comment, and signed deal as steps toward your larger goals. Post your success on the TAXI Forum. Music library executives have discovered and signed members whose posts they’ve seen there.
Polish Your Personal and Professional Branding
Create a professional‑looking website, bio, and social media presence to make a strong impression.
Expand Your Networking Efforts
Engage with other TAXI members, composers, and industry professionals to build connections. TAXI’s Forum and our annual conference, the Road Rally, are excellent places to meet other members who could introduce you to library owners or collaborate with you.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Aim to submit fewer but highly crafted tracks that match listing requirements. Over time, quality will naturally lead to quantity.
Create Alt Mixes and Stems
Provide instrumental, stripped‑down, or alternate versions of your tracks for flexibility. Learn how to effectively create stems as well. It makes your music more useful and can boost the income you make from each song or instrumental track.
Invest Time in Your Education About the Industry
Watch TAXI TV episodes and read recommended books to deepen your understanding of the sync music industry. Watch YouTube videos about recording, mixing, and music production.
Attend the TAXI Road Rally
Make plans to attend this free (for TAXI members) annual conference, held the first weekend of every November, to network with industry professionals and learn from panels, breakout classes, one‑to‑one mentor sessions, and Eat & Greet luncheons. Ask anyone who has attended, and they’ll tell you they learned more and made more valuable contacts in one weekend than in their entire prior music career.
Develop Your Metadata Skills
Learn how to properly tag your tracks with relevant metadata to make them easier to discover. Make sure your contact information, PRO affiliation, and splits are included.
Collaborate with Peers
Connect with other TAXI members to co‑write, produce, and expand your creative network. Most producers work in isolation, but collaboration often accelerates growth. The TAXI Forums and Road Rally conference offer incredible opportunities to meet and connect with collaborators.
Polish Your Track Intros
Ensure the first 10–15 seconds of every track grab attention and convey the core vibe. Editors want to immediately know what they can expect to hear from the rest of the track. If they don’t hear it right from the jump, they’ll move on to the next track.
Learn Music Licensing Terms
Familiarize yourself with licensing jargon like sync fees, performance royalties, splits, perpetuity, work‑for‑hire, and exclusivity.
Learn About Rights Management
Educate yourself on how music rights work so you maximize your royalties.
Don’t Give Up
Remember that success in sync music takes time, persistence, and continuous learning and improvement—just like anything else you want to become successful at doing.
Lose the “All I need to do is write a great song and somebody will hear it and want to use it” paradigm that’s a hangover from the days of pitching only to record companies. Licensing your music for TV and film is all about creating music that fills a need by supporting or amplifying a mood or emotion, helping set the time, helping set the place, and making the action in a scene more impactful.
Master Instrumental Cues
Focus on crafting instrumental cues with clear structure and developmental arcs to increase your chances of placement. Instrumentals are easier and much faster than writing a song with lyrics, nailing a vocal, recording background vocals, and mixing all those tracks. Instrumentals get licensed more frequently because there’s more need, and learning how to create them will make you faster, better, and more efficient.
Develop a Consistent Work Schedule
Treat music production like a job by dedicating specific hours each week to writing and producing. Waiting for the “muse” is highly ineffective.
Improve Your Recording, Mixing, and Production Techniques
Enhance your recording quality to meet broadcast‑quality standards for sync placements. YouTube has tons of really good videos and courses that are excellent.
Stay Updated on Trends
Follow industry news and trends to understand what music is currently in demand. Watch TV and films and pay close attention to the music—what was used, how it was used, and then think about why it was used. The why is important.
Set Submission Goals
The music licensing industry is a numbers game. Your goal is to get hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces in at least 10 different catalogs. Having only a few pieces in one or two catalogs isn’t enough to yield substantial results. Set a goal of submitting at least two instrumentals to TAXI listings every week.
Celebrate Small (and Big) Wins
Acknowledge every forward, placement, positive feedback comment, and signed deal as steps toward your larger goals. Post your success on the TAXI Forum. Music library executives have discovered and signed members whose posts they’ve seen there.
Polish Your Personal and Professional Branding
Create a professional‑looking website, bio, and social media presence to make a strong impression.
Expand Your Networking Efforts
Engage with other TAXI members, composers, and industry professionals to build connections. TAXI’s Forum and our annual conference, the Road Rally, are excellent places to meet other members who could introduce you to library owners or collaborate with you.
Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Aim to submit fewer but highly crafted tracks that match listing requirements. Over time, quality will naturally lead to quantity.
Create Alt Mixes and Stems
Provide instrumental, stripped‑down, or alternate versions of your tracks for flexibility. Learn how to effectively create stems as well. It makes your music more useful and can boost the income you make from each song or instrumental track.
Invest Time in Your Education About the Industry
Watch TAXI TV episodes and read recommended books to deepen your understanding of the sync music industry. Watch YouTube videos about recording, mixing, and music production.
Attend the TAXI Road Rally
Make plans to attend this free (for TAXI members) annual conference, held the first weekend of every November, to network with industry professionals and learn from panels, breakout classes, one‑to‑one mentor sessions, and Eat & Greet luncheons. Ask anyone who has attended, and they’ll tell you they learned more and made more valuable contacts in one weekend than in their entire prior music career.
Develop Your Metadata Skills
Learn how to properly tag your tracks with relevant metadata to make them easier to discover. Make sure your contact information, PRO affiliation, and splits are included.
Collaborate with Peers
Connect with other TAXI members to co‑write, produce, and expand your creative network. Most producers work in isolation, but collaboration often accelerates growth. The TAXI Forums and Road Rally conference offer incredible opportunities to meet and connect with collaborators.
Polish Your Track Intros
Ensure the first 10–15 seconds of every track grab attention and convey the core vibe. Editors want to immediately know what they can expect to hear from the rest of the track. If they don’t hear it right from the jump, they’ll move on to the next track.
Learn Music Licensing Terms
Familiarize yourself with licensing jargon like sync fees, performance royalties, splits, perpetuity, work‑for‑hire, and exclusivity.
Learn About Rights Management
Educate yourself on how music rights work so you maximize your royalties.
Don’t Give Up
Remember that success in sync music takes time, persistence, and continuous learning and improvement—just like anything else you want to become successful at doing.