Yeah. tell me about it. I am in the same boat. But for $5 a pitch, what the hell. Maybe by the time I spend $1,000 I will get a hit for something that pays $250. LOL

I would probably have spent near on that by now at a guess.

I'm starting to think that the providers only bother with Broadjam for the financial incentive and don't ever 'really' consider songs on some posts.

In my opinion, you guys are probably better off to keep making records, build your popularity, get some high profile radio play and gigs. Then, you name YOUR PRICE! (-:

are you guys certain, i see a lot of artists accomplishments on here placed with tv/film and adds..two of my songs were selected for cable show licensing, i never got the huge payout commercial deals but those are pretty tough to get, i guess I just have to keep plugging until i get that big pay day!! lol

We've been selected for 'cue sheets' for cable. First couple, turned them down cause they didn't allow us the ability to remove our music in future if we wanted. Fox one recently, but nothing come of being selected. We got asked if we had a filmclip for the particular song, we said no but we could film one if needed. Never heard from them again.

I'm not saying NOBODY benefits on here 3 SP don't get me wrong .. Many do .. But in the opportunities we apply for, very rarely see anyone successful.

Anything is better than nothing. The whole "Soundtrack" thing gets a bit absurd. If it is a real big budget film, they are going with people who score films. Big budgets usually go with big hit tunes or artists. Has changed a bit though. Some are using indie music, but the pay is disproportionate. Was just watching a Kevin Smith flick, and he uses stuff off his IPOd and what he likes. Nothing against him, very cool guy, but, you see my point. Lower budgets will pay what they can for what they can get. If you push for some sort of standard minimum, they will probably just use in house. Some $$$$ from performance royalties is great. Shit, $250 is cool, but if you spend $1,000 to get $250....not smart business. The # of opps really outnumber the placements by leaps and bounds. Also "Exlusive", "All In"..... People want music for nothing. We are a dying breed. But alas, I still believe in paying musicians for their work. Screw machines!!! LOL

And, the Blog has now somehow become a promotional page for favorites. Why not just have a "Video promotion page" and let the Blog be the Blog? I don't even get opp notifications anymore. Probably because of threads like this. (-:

And...LOL...the best way to save this buisiness is to teach the younger people the right way.

hey guys what about commercials, are those easier for independents to get instead of big films? I haven't gotten any yet but i don't want to keep wasting my precious dollars trying if it's highly impossible :(

Commercials can be hugely profitable. Keep in mind Barry Manilow wote and perfrormed "You Deserve A Break Today". If you can get that kind of deal. Highly competative, and often left to "Jingle Houses". And, Merv Griffin wrote the theme to "Jeaprody" which I believe over the years made him 80 mill. Good luck!!!

oh that sounds much better, sounds competitive but more profitable and an easier reach than big film, thanks Todd appreciate it!!!!

How do you find it with Taxi, EOTS? I've been told about that one too, do they let you pay monthly like Broadjam or just a yearly payment? have you had success on that one?

It takes money to make money. The little guys don't stand a chance against the corporations.

So if we don't stand a chance against the huge Corporation why make us pay 5.00 and 10.00 when they know the big payout commercials is just going to go to them. Is it to sell us a dream? so we keep paying hoping to land one and in return keep making broadjam richer and richer? Maybe that's something to think about.

Ya gotta start somewhere. Takes some time to build the relationships, meet new people, get you product up to standard. After this experience, (My first with "Social networking" also) Ill do what I have always done. Get my stuff recorded, try to work with great people. Believe it or not, you actually have to go and meet people. (-: This is more like a shot in the dark. I am going to join the Nashville Songwriters Association. With your yearly fee comes some great stuff. Includes 12 pro reviews of your tunes a year. Not just Country music. Being as I am in Nashville a lot anyway, seems like a pretty good deal. Real people to meet. I prefer real people to computers.

Todd, I agree with face to face meetings, But the "Big Wigs" don't want to take the time to meet someone they don't know and actually give them a shot at being a great talent. I'm not speaking about myself, I'm not near the talent You or a lot of individuals or groups on here are. I think I write good lyrics but so does most everyone on here. I have to have my songs recorded in a studio which is not cheap hence " it takes money to make money. I would rather buy music from artists on broadjam than from a lot of the so called professionals on the radio, but I don't subscribe to credit cards so I am limited on what I can do online.

I am still convinced, for the most part, great material gets heard. Eventually. If you quit trying, your done. Demo's do cost money. And you gotta be selective about what you record. I bet if you were nice, you could get a meeting with whoever you wanted to meet with. Maybe not the "Big wig" him (Or Her) self right away, but you would not expect to talk to David Geffin, Berry Gordie, Tim Dubois, Clive Davis, Jerry Cupit, Buddy Killen, Byron Hill.....just like you would not expect to talk directly to Drew Breeze, Donald Trump, Judge Scalia.....you gotta work your way up the ladder and show that your are genuinely interested. Most people won't bother with "Hobbiests". Make a decison to do it, whatever it takes. People in a lot (Not everyone of course) of professions work their way up. Just cause it is music, doesn't mean there is some illusive force that is going to get you where you want ot go. It's all work. Don't let nobody tell you any different. And after seeing what goes on this site, I would think twice about working with most.

Therese, Taxi is very similar to the Broadjam except that most of the entries are screen and critiqued by taxi staff members before they ever reach the opportunity provider.

The problem I found was that I would receive a critique from a particular taxi staff member, that (regardless of the specifics of the opportunity) would reject you on very flimsy and subjective reasons. Such as for example with some of our lyrics 'When I think of candle, I see serenity and happiness not loss and sadness'. This is fair enough, except that you would then receive the same taxi staff member reviewing you on several other opportunities in the same genre giving the exact same critique.

When the staff member has already determined in their mind that they don't like your song, it is very unlikely they are going to forward it for ANY opportunity. So there is no real point in entering it for anything.

The 'staff' member is interpreting the opportunity providers request to the best of their understanding, but the reaction to your song would always vary from provider to provider if they were hearing it themselves. With that staff member in the way you often have one person holding the key to all the doors, which is ridiculous.

The only way I see that a process model such as Taxi's could ever work fairly, is if the process was moderated. Several screeners selected a larger list at a lower bar and then have the bands to be forwarded agreed on by all 3 of them. This moderation would eliminate a great deal of subjective bias.

I suggested this to Taxi in great depth and all they did was respond to me about how fantastic their screeners were, obviously oblivious to the point I was trying to make that no second hand ear is infallible.

The screeners were notorious for completely misinterpreting the meaning behind lyrics. Our lyrics 'I guess you never really lose what was never meant to be, I'm still lost in the middle.' They told me the words 'Lost in the middle' didn't adequately convey the songs theme of loss', completely overlooking that the song was actually about breaking up with someone you are in love with, when you didn't want to, hence 'Lost in the middle'.

To be fair they had some very worthwhile and intelligent feedback if you were lucky enough to get a screener with a clue.

Someday, there will be a service, that works on strict one time % basis. No placement, no fee. I like the idea of "Screening", but as you say, you need to have good screening. % basis, no-one can bitch. You don't get chosen, no fee. Kinda like.....publishers? (-:

ok thanks for that, all excellent advice and information to consider. I'll never give up. I'm choosing my opportunities wisely as I certainly don't have any music finances, all my own money. I also use Music Xray and Sonicbids, both are excellent and cheap. Cheers!

There are big opportunities on Taxi, but the system is flawed. You have to be really lucky to be forwarded. I think I probably submitted 100+ entries over a year and would have only been forwarded around 5 times.

Someone has told me that the Broadjam model is slightly flawed too in that opportunity providers receive a percentage on the submission fees for the opportunities they provide.

This means theoretically that a music manager could post an opportunity on here and screen entries with no intention of ever submitting them, for no other reason than the monetary value.

If it is true that Broadjam is revenue-sharing with the providers, then there should be conditions attached to fielding a successful applicant.

agree. lastly, is there a yearly fee on Taxi or monthly? do the submissions cost money as well?

I've read this thread twice now and am gonna comment.
Firstly, Sam you guys are awesome in your own right and will be successful going in the direction you currently are. Sure it may take a little time but you are using the right approach, producers, touring etc. IMHO.
You know what grips my shit about BJ - I have never seen a writer be selected for an artist from an opp. The only writers I have seen be successful have done so through their own hard work and perseverence through the usual channels ie publishers, labels etc and not through the opps on here. Which leads me to 2 conclusions, either the songs submitted are not good enough, which I think is bollox having listened to some great songs that would beat the crap outta half the rubbish in the charts these days; or the provider is doing nothing more than profiting from the listings that are released every week anyway, and our desire to succeed. Hence why I don't submit here - I select suitable publishers/labels for the tracks I want and take a chance on them checking me out. So far no money has been made, but I have had a few nibbles on the hook which is promising and doesn't cost me money.
Now don't get me wrong, I like the principle of BJ, and I have met some great people who I have collaborated with to great results, and I have improved no end because of their input, critiques etc and my $5 a month is a small price to pay for that - but listings, Nah.

Well said Adam!!

All opinions expressed in this thread are that of the individual, and do not reflect the opinions of management, it's partners, it's employees, or those related to same. We can not be held liable for aformentioned statements or trash talk. Although, what people have been saying really does sort of make sense. We refuse to acknolwedge any suggested or implied agreement with any statements made by anyone other than ourselves for fear of looking bad. (-: LOL

(I have nothing better to do today) LOL LOL LOL

I'm waiting for Roy to weigh in on this thread. Either confirm or correct what I said regarding the opportunity provider responsible for the listing receiving profit-sharing.

Unlike Taxi where I removed us altogether from their site I wouldn't do that with Broadjam.

But I find that even when I receive and email saying 'ROCK LISTING' I don't even bother reading it any more. I am honestly of the mindset now that the providers for the listing simply pick a few 'favourite' songs from the entries to fulfill their obligation to receive financial incentive and never actually pass anything on.

Very well said Adam, i don't want to believe it because sometimes i am hoping that i would get selected for one of these big time opportunities but when i think of it and i look at the results it seems mute, the more i observe the situation it seem like a money making platform and that's it, however every now and then i will pay 10.00 or 20.00 in hopes that i will land a 30k dollar commercial, you see they got me again lol.. i love this thread :)

Hey. A few bucks here, a few there. Maybe you will get an opp provider who is having a great day, and wants to be a little generous. To live or die by a placement here to set you up for life...well...start enjoying your last days. At least this thread is about music, and business. And not some dick who spent $800 on the six jerk contest, and spent every waking hour reviewng to move up friends to get his share of the $25,000. Which at this point, if I even thought I could win, I would sell everything and write a tune with each of you on this thread and demo it for you. Hey....lets fix it this year? LOL LOL LOL

You mean it hasn't been already??? LMAO

i'm all about co-writing! bring it on!!

You mean I don't have a shot this year either? LOL

Thanks mate, more to yours too :)