TAXI TV

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!

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.

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.

Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926] by TAXI Independent A&R

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.