TAXI TV

What are music supervisors, editors, and TV producers actually looking for in 2026?

In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow shares the trends, patterns, and creative decisions he's observed while studying the music used in today's TV shows, films, and streaming series.

Rather than focusing on hit songs, Michael breaks down how successful sync music supports emotion, tension, pacing, and storytelling, and why understanding those choices can dramatically improve your chances of landing placements.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- What music supervisors are listening for in 2026
- Why emotional impact matters more than chart potential
- How songs are chosen for TV, film, and streaming
- Common songwriting mistakes that hurt sync opportunities
- How to write music that serves the scene
- Current sync licensing trends and creative strategies
- Practical ways to make your songs more licensable

If you're a songwriter, producer, composer, or artist hoping to build a career in sync licensing, this episode offers a practical framework for thinking like the people who choose the music.

Stop writing only for the listener.
Start writing for the scene.

Watch this episode & discover how a strategic shift in your songwriting could open the door to more TV, film, and streaming placements.

What's the biggest mistake musicians make?

It's not a lack of talent.

It's not a lack of hard work.

It's a lack of strategy.

In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow sits down with one of TAXI's greatest success stories, Matt Vander Boegh, to discuss the one thing that transformed his music career—and why it has nothing to do with writing more songs.

Matt went from knowing virtually nothing about writing music for TV and film to building a thriving sync licensing career, with his music being heard around the world every day.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why strategy beats working harder
The mindset that successful musicians develop
How to build a sustainable music career
Common mistakes that slow artists down
The role of strategy in sync licensing
How to think like a professional composer, songwriter, or producer
Practical ways to improve your career without spending more time or money

Whether you're pursuing songwriting, producing, composing, or sync licensing, this conversation will help you see your music career from a completely different perspective.

Sometimes the biggest breakthrough doesn't come from making more music—it comes from making smarter decisions.

If you're serious about building a long-term career in music, don't miss this episode.

What separates professional musicians from hobbyists when it comes to sync licensing?

In Part 2 of this TAXI TV conversation, Michael Laskow continues his discussion with Grammy-winning producer and mixer Rob Chiarelli and producer, songwriter, and film/TV music supervisor Michael Lloyd.

This episode goes deeper into the sync side of the music business — including what music supervisors, producers, and industry professionals actually look for when evaluating songs and artists.

With nearly 100 years of combined professional experience, Rob and Michael share hard-earned insights on:

How sync licensing really works
What makes music stand out for film & TV
Common mistakes artists make
Thinking like a professional creator
Building relationships in the industry
Why some talented musicians never break through
Creative and business lessons from decades at the top

Whether you're a songwriter, composer, producer, artist, or sync writer, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can apply immediately.

If you're trying to get music placed in TV, film, commercials, or production libraries, don't miss this episode.

📺 Watch Part 2 and take notes — there are a lot of industry gems in this one!

What really separates music industry professionals from hobbyists?

Is it talent? Connections? Expensive gear? Or is it something much deeper?

In this episode of TAXI TV, Michael Laskow sits down with legendary producers, engineers, songwriters, and music industry veterans Rob Chiarelli and Michael Lloyd for an honest conversation about what they've learned from decades at the highest levels of the music business.

Between them, Rob and Michael have worked on roughly 200 Gold and Platinum records, earned multiple Grammy Awards, produced hit records, supervised film and television projects, and helped countless artists develop successful careers.

In this candid discussion, they share:

What separates professionals from hobbyists
Why talent alone isn't enough
The mindset that successful musicians have in common
Career mistakes that keep talented artists stuck
How professionals approach creativity and opportunity
The realities of building a sustainable music career
Lessons learned from decades in the recording industry

Whether you're a songwriter, artist, producer, composer, or musician trying to take the next step, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom and hard-earned insights from people who've spent their lives making music at the highest level.

If you've ever wondered what it really takes to move from being passionate about music to building a professional career, this episode is for you.

📺 Watch Part 1 and join the conversation.

Why do some talented composers consistently land sync placements while others keep getting overlooked?

In this episode of TAXI TV, music library owner, composer, and longtime TAXI member Chuck Henry shares the common mistakes he sees from the library side of the sync business—mistakes that can quietly cost composers valuable placements.

After decades in the industry, Chuck has reviewed thousands of submissions and worked with composers at every level. Surprisingly, many of the errors that hurt placement opportunities aren't made by beginners—they're made by experienced writers who simply don't realize what's holding them back.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Common sync licensing mistakes that hurt placement potential
What music libraries wish composers understood
Why great music alone isn't always enough
Submission and production issues that raise red flags
How to improve your chances of getting signed and placed
What successful composers do differently

Chuck also shares his inspiring journey from teaching piano lessons and performing in retail stores to becoming a successful composer and the CEO of a music library.

Whether you're writing production music, composing for TV and film, or building a sync catalog, this conversation could save you years of trial and error.

Join us live and learn how to avoid the mistakes that can quietly kill sync opportunities before they ever reach a music supervisor, editor, or library.