Archive | November, 2007

Songwriters and bands, this is for YOU…

If you’re already a member of TAXI.com, then you surely know by now, that the 2007 (11th annual) Road Rally convention — free to members, plus one guest — is happening this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9, 10, 11, 2007 — at the LAX Westin Hotel (on Century Blvd, near the Los Angeles Airport). [Photo credit below.]

Check out this year’s incredible schedule of events!

TAXI (the name refers to the vehicle that gets you from here to there in the music business), describes itself:

We’re the world’s leading Independent Artist & Repertoire Company. As a matter of fact, we invented independent A&R more than a decade ago. Since 1992, TAXI has specialized in giving artists, bands, and songwriters real access to the people in the music business who have the power to sign deals.

The Music Industry Comes To Us To Find You
Record companies, publishers, and music supervisors call us directly to find new artists and bands to sign. They also call to find hit songs, instrumentals and tracks for TV and film placements.

We get the request, then give you the exact details about what type of music they’re shopping for. The company requesting the material remains anonymous (for the time being) to protect them from being bombarded with truckloads of unsolicited material. More…

Yes, we do endorse them…they’re one of the best deals on the planet for hooking you up with the people/companies who need YOUR songs (if they’re appropriate and well written, of course)!

John Braheny will be participating again this year … he’s on a panel discussion, also participating in the Mentor Lunch, as well as teaching a class “Songcraft Basics, Control What You Know,” PLUS he’ll offer PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS while at the event (as time permits).

During the convention, I’ll be located in the hotel’s “Bookseller’s Area” … selling John’s 3rd edition of his ever-popular (70,000 copies sold) book, The Craft and Business of Songwriting. I’m not just bragging … this book is referred to as “the Bible” of the music business. We’re very proud of it …

We hope to see YOU at this year’s TAXI Road Rally!

[Photo taken at the 2006 TAXI Road Rally, Renaissance Hotel, Hollywood, California, with me between our friends, the twins, Jeff & Todd Brabec, who always participate at countless songwriters’ events… Jeffrey Brabec is an entertainment law attorney and vice-president of business affairs for the Chrysalis Music Group. A former recording artist, he has been vice president of business affairs for the PolyGram Music Group and legal/business affairs director for the Welk and Arista-Interworld Music Groups. Todd Brabec, a former recording artist and entertainment law attorney, serves on the boards of the Los Angeles chapter of NARAS, the National Academy of Songwriters, and the California Copyright Conference. He lectures extensively on film and television contracts, commercials, publishing and the worldwide revenue sources of the music industry. He is also the executive vice president and director of membership at ASCAP.]

Enjoy!

Hi All,

[I took this photo, Oct. 7, 2007, of some of the judges: L to Rt. – John Braheny, writer producer Roy Braverman, hit songwriter Michael Caruso, producer Jeff Weber and (front) Jon Anderson (the group Yes).]

As I’d posted in the past, John Braheny was on a great panel of judges during the Summer, for the WineryMusicAwards.com competition. Above are pictured just a few of them…

Bands and solo songwriter/performers pre-auditioned and came from all over the country (from Canada too) to compete in a one-weekend-per-month series of live performances in Paso Robles, California. (Exactly half way between LA and San Francisco – in the center of 150 vineyards and wineries!) The 5-month event ran from June to October.

I usually don’t rave about each place we’ve been, unless people there have done a particularly stellar job, but for this we’re standing on our chairs, applauding and yelling, “Bravo!” (holding up our lighters) to all who worked so hard to make this happen. It is a rare occurrence in which a whole town chips in to make a music event so successful.

Several local wine-makers and vendors generously participated to promote the Paso Robles area, as well as to shine a spotlight on wine and music — what a winning combination! If you haven’t explored that section of Central California, we highly recommend it.

You certainly want to check out Halter Ranch (vineyards) for superb wine-tastings. You might also stop by Silver Horse and J. Lohr wineries too. Yum. Also, be sure to visit Pasolivo Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and take the quick tour when you’re there – fascinating!

We also want to thank our gracious hosts at The Canyon Villa, and the Vintage Ranch.

These 5 weekends were a superb opportunity for us to schmooze and to hear some exciting new talent. Hearty congratulations to Shannon Curtis of Los Angeles for winning this year’s competition. Click here to see the other winners.

We certainly hope that Kathy Kelly, who did an outrageously fantastic job of organizing and producing and publicizing the event, will continue to direct many others in the future!

Finally, for those of you who are performing songwriters/musicians, watch the web site, WineryMusicAwards.com or keep in touch with Kathy Kelly regarding auditions for next year’s events: kathy@winerymusicawards.com.

Enjoy!