Episodes

  • Reasons Your Music Isn’t Getting Licensed (And How to Fix It)![032326]

    Reasons Your Music Isn’t Getting Licensed (And How to Fix It)![032326]
    Mar 24 2026
    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.
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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926]

    Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926]
    Mar 12 2026
    Would YOU Forward This Song_ (Real A&R Decisions)[030926] by TAXI Independent A&R
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • Is Your Age Killing Your Sync Licensing Chances_[030226]

    Is Your Age Killing Your Sync Licensing Chances_[030226]
    Mar 3 2026
    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.
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    1 hr and 34 mins
  • 6X Grammy-Winner Rob Chiarelli![022326]

    6X Grammy-Winner Rob Chiarelli![022326]
    Feb 24 2026
    We’ve got a great show lined up for you today on TAXI TV! Joining me is six-time Grammy Award winner Rob Chiarelli, one of the most respected producers and mixers in the music industry. Rob has worked with countless major artists across multiple genres, and today he’s sharing real-world insight into what it takes to build a successful music career —creatively and professionally. We’ll be talking about: • What separates music that gets used from music that gets ignored • How to think like producers, labels, and decision-makers • Career lessons Rob has learned working at the highest levels of the industry If you’re serious about improving your music and your chances of success, this episode is packed with practical, experience-based advice.
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    1 hr and 49 mins
  • How TV Producers Choose the Music They Use![021626]

    How TV Producers Choose the Music They Use![021626]
    Feb 17 2026
    Biagio Messina is a successful TV and documentary film producer, director, editor, and music composer! Those roles make him incredibly well-qualified to explain how and why music gets used in media. He’s been on the main stage at the 2023 and 2025 Road Rallies, and the audiences loved him and learned a lot! I’m still many time zones away from Pacific Standard Time, and not able to do live shows until I get back in a few days, so I wanted to feature this interview I did with Biagio in 2025. I especially want to encourage new TAXI members to watch this. It’s like getting a free year of school. Actually, school was never this informative (at least the classes I took). More importantly, it’s real-world information that I don’t think any music schools currently teach. And the tuition for an episode of TAXI TV is… wait for it… FREE! If you want highly valuable sync tips and composing techniques that can help you navigate the music licensing world faster than you might have ever hoped, this is a great episode to watch!
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • How Editors Decide Which Music to Use![020926]

    How Editors Decide Which Music to Use![020926]
    Feb 10 2026
    Adonis Aletras is a long-time TAXI member and successful composer who lives on the island of Cyprus, several thousand miles away from the United States. But being thousands of miles away from the epicenter of the U.S. sync market hasn’t been an issue for him! As a matter of fact, he’s repeatedly told me, “If I can succeed at this from a tiny island nation in the Mediterranean, I think anybody from anywhere can do it as well.” I recently asked Adonis what he’d like to discuss on this episode of TAXI TV, and his answer was immediate: “Let’s talk about what composers and artists can do to make editors want to use their music more often!” I’ve been talking about the “usability” factor when creating music for sync licensing for years, so I was excited that he suggested that topic! Please join Aletras and me for this frank and informative conversation that could help you succeed as well!
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    1 hr and 40 mins
  • What AI Really Means for Music Creators![020226]

    What AI Really Means for Music Creators![020226]
    Feb 3 2026
    Michael Eames might be the smartest person I know in the music industry. We’ve been friends for 15 or 20 years, and I’m always amazed by his insights, depth of understanding, and wisdom. I feel enriched each time we speak about all things music industry-related, and this interview lives up to that promise. Read his bio, and I think you’ll see why you shouldn’t miss what he’s got to say about AI and the music industry… Michael Eames is a trained composer, songwriter, and pianist with experience in film scoring who studied music at Cornell University and UCLA Extension; Michael also secured a minor in Business Management from Cornell. As President of PEN, Michael oversees all aspects of the operation, as well as focuses on pitching the catalogue to all media and business development. Michael was chosen to serve (along with four other independent music publishers and five songwriters) on the Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee (UROC) of The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) that will commence blanket mechanical licensing of the digital services in the U.S. as of January 1, 2021. Prior to starting his publishing company, Michael oversaw the international activities and film & television department of Don Williams Music Group, where he was responsible for song catalogues such as Jimi Hendrix, Chicago, and Roy Orbison, among numerous others. He also worked previously for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and the management and music supervision firms The Derek Power Co and Seth Kaplan Entertainment.
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • TAXI’s Head Screener Answers Members' Questions![012626]

    TAXI’s Head Screener Answers Members' Questions![012626]
    Jan 27 2026
    I had a whole bunch of questions I didn't get to ask our Head Screener the last couple of times he joined me on TAXI TV. He's a consummate pro, and you guys seem to love his answers, so I pulled out the unasked questions from his last two appearances and got some great answers! I'm not going to hype this up, but I really think you'll learn how to use your TAXI membership more effectively if you watch this episode. I'm also sure you'll learn how the sync industry really works, rather than relying on sketchy info and opinions from people who know some stuff, but not all of it. Do yourself (and your career) a favor and invest less time than it takes to stream another mediocre movie. Craig and I will give you more accurate inside information about sync than you'd get by taking a full-semester of a college music class. How do I know this? Because they don't teach this stuff in college! Get real-world tips that can make all the difference by watching today's episode.
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    1 hr and 39 mins