エピソード

  • What Nashville Is REALLY Looking For in Country Songs (Right Now)_[041326]

    What Nashville Is REALLY Looking For in Country Songs (Right Now)_[041326]
    2026/04/14
    What does Nashville actually listen for when deciding whether a country song gets cut—or passed on? In this TAXI TV live stream, we’re joined by Steve Bloch, a veteran Nashville music publisher, song plugger, and A&R professional who’s been working in the Music Row community since 1993. Steve has had songs cut by major artists including Faith Hill, Lee Ann Womack, Dierks Bentley, and Cody Johnson, and has pitched material that landed with artists like Kenny Chesney and Tracy Byrd. Today, he continues working closely with top Nashville talent and artists at labels like Black River Entertainment, including Kelsea Ballerini and Chris Young, as well as long-time collaborators tied to Dolly Parton’s camp. We’re going inside the decision-making process that most songwriters never get to see. 🎯 In this episode, we cover: • What Nashville A&R listens for in the first seconds of a song • Why some well-written songs still never get cut • What separates a “good song” from a “cut-worthy” song • How authenticity in country music is judged today • Whether modern demos need to sound like finished records • How writers can stay current without chasing trends • What improves (or kills) your chances in co-writes and song camps • How new country artists are discovered and signed If you’ve ever wondered how your songs are evaluated behind the scenes in Nashville, this conversation gives you a rare inside look.
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    1 時間 42 分
  • Why Editors Reject Your Music (vs What They Actually Love)![040626]

    Why Editors Reject Your Music (vs What They Actually Love)![040626]
    2026/04/07
    Why isn’t your music getting placed in film and TV, even when it sounds great? Most composers assume that high-quality production is enough to land sync placements, but in reality, music for film, TV, and media is chosen very differently. In many cases, it’s not the music supervisor making the initial call—it’s the video editor. And editors aren’t looking for the most impressive or complex track. They’re looking for music that is usable, flexible, and easy to work with in a scene. So what actually gets your music placed? In this episode of TAXI TV, host Michael Laskow is joined by composer and educator Dave Kropf (52 Cues) to break down what editors really want and why so many tracks get passed over. You’ll learn: • What makes music “easy to cut to” for editors • The most common sync licensing mistakes composers make • Why simplicity often beats complexity in film and TV music • How arrangement and production impact usability • Why phrase lengths and edit points are critical • How to create emotional clarity that fits the scene • How to evaluate your own music more objectively If you’re a composer, producer, or artist trying to get your music placed in film, TV, ads, or trailers, this episode will give you a clear understanding of how to make your tracks more sync-ready and increase your chances of getting licensed. Have a question or something you’ve struggled with? Drop it in the comments, I do read them!
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    1 時間 44 分
  • Why YOUR Music Doesn’t Get Placed (Sync Agent Explains)![033026]

    Why YOUR Music Doesn’t Get Placed (Sync Agent Explains)![033026]
    2026/03/31
    Why isn’t your music getting placed...even when it sounds good? In this episode of TAXI TV, I’m joined by sync agent Jim Thacker, who started out as a TAXI member and now represents music for placements in film, TV, and media. Having worked on both sides of the business, Jim shares what actually happens after you submit your music and why some tracks move forward while others don’t. We cover: • What makes a track “representable” vs. just “good.” • The difference between music that gets signed and music that actually gets placed • How sync agents pitch music to supervisors behind the scenes • Why strong tracks still get passed over • Why does he often not listen to music when people send it directly And we take a deeper look at how AI is starting to impact the sync world: • Why many sync agents and libraries aren’t using AI-generated music (yet) • How TV networks, film studios, and advertisers currently view AI music • Why AI is being used in some parts of the music industry, but not in others • What this means for composers right now If you’re trying to get your music placed in film, TV, or media, this conversation will give you a clearer picture of how the business really works and what you can do to improve your chances. About TAXI: TAXI is the world’s leading independent A&R company, helping songwriters, composers, artists, and producers connect with music libraries, music supervisors, publishers, and record industry decision-makers since 1992.
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    1 時間 34 分
  • Reasons Your Music Isn’t Getting Licensed (And How to Fix It)![032326]

    Reasons Your Music Isn’t Getting Licensed (And How to Fix It)![032326]
    2026/03/24
    Why isn’t your music getting sync placements? If you’ve been submitting for film & TV opportunities but not getting licensed, this episode of TAXI TV breaks down 20 common reasons your music isn’t getting placed and what you can do to fix it. TAXI CEO, Michael Laskow, is joined by special guest Greg Carrozza to talk about the real reasons songs don’t get licensed for film, TV, ads, and trailers. Many songwriters believe they just need to write one great song and have the right person hear it. But sync licensing works very differently, and understanding how the industry actually makes decisions can dramatically improve your chances. In this episode, you'll learn: • The 20 biggest mistakes that stop songs from getting sync placements • Why good songs sometimes still don’t get licensed • How music supervisors and libraries actually choose songs • What makes music “sync-ready” for film and TV • How to increase your chances of getting placements If you’re a songwriter, composer, producer, or artist trying to get your music into film and television, this episode will help you better understand what the industry is really looking for.
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    1 時間 42 分
  • Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926]

    Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926]
    2026/03/12
    Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926] by TAXI Independent A&R
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    1 時間 34 分
  • Is Your Age Killing Your Sync Licensing Chances_[030226]

    Is Your Age Killing Your Sync Licensing Chances_[030226]
    2026/03/03
    Is there an age limit for success in sync licensing? For decades, the traditional music industry favored youth, image, and marketability — leaving many talented songwriters, composers, producers, and artists believing their window of opportunity had closed. But does age actually matter when creating music for film, TV, advertising, and streaming media? In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow — founder and CEO of TAXI and a 50+ year music industry veteran — shares an honest look at how age, perception, and experience really affect opportunities in today’s sync licensing world. You’ll learn: • Whether “older” musicians are at a disadvantage in sync • Why film & TV music operates differently from the record business • The surprising advantages experience can bring • Common misconceptions that stop talented creators from submitting music • How the sync industry evaluates music vs. record labels If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to break into music licensing, this conversation may change how you see your opportunities.
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    1 時間 34 分
  • 6X Grammy-Winner Rob Chiarelli![022326]

    6X Grammy-Winner Rob Chiarelli![022326]
    2026/02/24
    We’ve got a great show lined up for you today on TAXI TV! Joining me is six-time Grammy Award winner Rob Chiarelli, one of the most respected producers and mixers in the music industry. Rob has worked with countless major artists across multiple genres, and today he’s sharing real-world insight into what it takes to build a successful music career —creatively and professionally. We’ll be talking about: • What separates music that gets used from music that gets ignored • How to think like producers, labels, and decision-makers • Career lessons Rob has learned working at the highest levels of the industry If you’re serious about improving your music and your chances of success, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based advice.
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    1 時間 49 分
  • How TV Producers Choose the Music They Use![021626]

    How TV Producers Choose the Music They Use![021626]
    2026/02/17
    Biagio Messina is a successful TV and documentary film producer, director, editor, and music composer! Those roles make him incredibly well-qualified to explain how and why music gets used in media. He’s been on the main stage at the 2023 and 2025 Road Rallies, and the audiences loved him and learned a lot! I’m still many time zones away from Pacific Standard Time, and not able to do live shows until I get back in a few days, so I wanted to feature this interview I did with Biagio in 2025. I especially want to encourage new TAXI members to watch this. It’s like getting a free year of school. Actually, school was never this informative (at least the classes I took). More importantly, it’s real-world information that I don’t think any music schools currently teach. And the tuition for an episode of TAXI TV is… wait for it… FREE! If you want highly valuable sync tips and composing techniques that can help you navigate the music licensing world faster than you might have ever hoped, this is a great episode to watch!
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    1 時間 37 分