Okay - I guess I'll join in...

Von here from ONOFFON. I joined TAXI and was a member for two years. I submitted quite a few songs and had about a 50% forward rate, which I was told, was very good. I never got any kind of licensing deal. We were actually offered a 'record deal' once. All we had to do was give the 'record company' a completed master, all artwork and liner notes, AND $2,000.00. If we sold a thousand pieces in the first three months, they could opt to invest on a second release.

Not the record deal I've ever dreamed of signing.

Anyway, I opted not to renew for a third year. I didn't ask for my money back since TAXI did what they said they would - no promises. But, the drawback with TAXI is they work within the 'industry'.

ONOFFON has never written or recorded music with the 'industry' in mind. We don't do what they prescribe - we're not in the 18-26 year old age bracket that they demand - we don't try to sound like anyone. We try to produce completely unique material that has the ONOFFON sound.

99% of TAXI listings ask for music that sounds like some popular group. They want music that sounds like someone without having to pay that someone's licensing costs. They are looking for a bargain but want specific qualities to be present in the songs they license.

This KILLS creativity and innovation in music. If you are trying to sound original and visionary - you will not do well at TAXI. This is a melting pot for generic, rubber stamped music that fills the requirements of the producer asking for the music. Your intro has to be no more than four bars, it has to get moving right away, you need a precise verse, and your chorus needs that hook.

Now, you might say that this is just sour grapes from a group that can't cut it. Well, our music has won awards, earned features, and the most excellent reviews any artist could ask for from literally thousands of sites around the world for our three released CDs over our ten year existence. Without TAXI, I've placed our music in twenty different productions, the most prominent being with FOX Sports and the Discovery Channel.

The fact that we never placed music through TAXI doesn't qualify our music - it just means we didn't fill the music supervisor's criteria for something that needed to sound like something he was specifically searching for. That's just the nature of the beast. We're just too unique to fit the mold.

It's funny - there are a couple of catch phrases that float around the industry - 'thinking outside the box' and 'it's about the music'. Well, nobody in the mainstream thinks outside the box and it's never about the music - it's about the image and marketability.

BTW - I met Ted Lowe a couple of times - very nice man. Personally handed him our CDs on both occasions. He obviously didn't like what he heard from us because he never contacted me about anything - which is fine. I'm not foolish enough to think that everyone is going to like our music. But, I have to say - I read the reference to playing for the Lakers a few posts back - the beauty of sports is, if you are really good at what you do, you can play for the Lakers. In music, talent is only a convenient by-product. I'm not saying everyone who has made it has no talent, but there are a lot more Ashley Simpsons out there than Yo-yo Mas.

Cheers!

Von from ONOFFON