Do You Really Need Taxi?
Many indie musicians are looking for that big break, that recording contract or someone to verify their sound. Many artists have stars in their eyes, looking for the one company that will bless them and give them the green light for their material.
This brings into mind the web portal of Taxi.
Taxi is a web portal that declares that it assists individual artists to get record deals, tips on songwriting and publishing. It has a wealth of resources, a musician’s database for collaboration and seminars that musicians can go to and meet with industry executives.
Some of the activities that Taxi has are commendable but at times, they seem to come across as a representative or an extended arm of the major record companies.
Do you really need Taxi to tell you whether you’re good or not? Shouldn’t your fan based determine whether they approve of your music or not? Taxi makes decisions based on business models that are traditional and right now, the business model is to sound like someone else. The music industry is a very cookie cutter industry to begin with and the statistics don’t lie.
Contrary to Taxi telling you that you can be the next hit maker, music industry sales over the past six years have dropped 20%. Why? It’s because of the lack of originality and everyone wanting to sound like someone else.
So if this is the case, what is Taxi really trying to do for you and tell you?
If you make music from the heart, someone is going to listen. Indie artist need to set up their own business models and not be dictated or influenced by representatives that really have the major labels best interest at heart.
Taxi has some good resources, but you don’t need their approval to do music or have an established career.
January 6th, 2008 at 6:08 am
It sounds like Taxi is like a lot of other web resources - something to check out, take what you can from, and ignore the rest. If you happen to have a familiar, established style then it can help you. If you break the mould, then ignore them.
Dismissing them because you don’t like the principle they operate on is probably not the best idea.
January 8th, 2008 at 11:40 pm
Oh, I could have not agreed more. Every band these days seem to want to sound like someone else, and it gets boring and tiresome rather quickly, especially that certain style that I like to call “whiny, nasally” vocals. It’s no wonder record sales have went down 20%.
I think Taxi has a good thing going on with what they are doing, but if you are good, you don’t need to be told so, and you don’t need to be lied to. Put your music on and let the public hear what you’ve got.
February 29th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Interesting! Sounds to me like this is something that has been needed. I am just concerned that people would need validation of their sound.
Having to agree with dismissing them based on non agreement of principles is not a good idea. Sometimes you just have to take what you can get and then wait until your contract is up and move on.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:52 am
well, this is great for many aspiring singers or artists. like what you have said saubryn, this is likely a web resources. and i think it will be a good help for people who would want to get discovered. this article is really great. and many talented people will be recognized because of this taxi.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
The Music business like the Movie business is just as hard to break in with thousands of hopefuls out there. Taxi’s looking more like an agent to an agent and if you can afford $5 a song and you think you’ve stumbled on to that hot single, why not!? The important thing is you’re getting your work out in the open.
July 12th, 2008 at 1:38 am
yes Froix, i agree with you. what is $5 per song if you really want to become popular and get promoted. right? i think that this is a great way for many new and amateur bands and artists. being in the music or even movie industry is very hard, you have a lot of competitions and you should know how to make a way how you will get recognized and appreciated.