TAXI TV

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

There’s a reason Robin Frederick always packs the ballroom at our conference each year, and gets great reviews when she joins me on TAXI TV—she researches what the rest of us don’t have time to, and then gives advice that’s straightforward, easy-to-follow, and many would even say, life-changing. At least, songwriters and artists say that, lol. If you’re new to TAXI, new to our email list, or you’ve never seen Robin on TAXI TV or at the Road Rally, then you’re about to see why she’s achieved “guru” status among songwriters and artists all over the world.

There's so much information, disinformation, and countless opinions on the future of music in the shadow of generative AI that it's virtually impossible to keep up with it all. I try, but long-time TAXI member, indie musician, composer, and producer Paul Croteau does a far better job than I do. Paul has what some might call an "obsession" with gathering facts before he forms his opinions, so I listen carefully to what he has to say. In other words, he's done the heavy lifting, so the rest of us don't have to! If you'd like to become far better informed about AI as it relates to the music industry, you really don't want to miss this episode! Actually, if you create music, I don't think you can afford to not watch it. Paulie is a very smart, well-informed person, and you'll be much better informed having heard what he's got to say.

I hope your holidays have been warm and inspiring. With 2026 right around the corner, now is the perfect time to reset, refocus, and talk about New Year’s resolutions for musicians that can actually move your music career forward. We'll break down practical ideas and habits for independent artists and songwriters navigating today’s music industry. It’s a long list, so don’t try to do everything. Instead, choose the resolutions that fit where you are right now, and that can create the biggest momentum in the year ahead. Whether your goals are writing better songs, pitching more strategically, understanding the music business, or building a sustainable career, these industry tips are meant to help you make smarter moves in 2026. If you’re serious about your growth as an artist, there’s a lot here to take with you into the new year.

It's been a while since we've done an "Ask Michael Anything" on TAXI TV, so that's exactly what we're going to do on today's show! Ask me anything about TAXI, engineering & production (from the mics and wires aspect), or the music licensing business, and I'll do my best to give straight-ahead, helpful answers. Btw, I was at a session at the Foo Fighters' private studio a few days ago and had my mind blown! I'm going to tell you all about that and show you some photos of the control room, live room, guitar amps, and especially the vintage Neve recording console Dave Grohl bought from the legendary Sound City studio when it closed its doors. Other stuff I'll be talking about... Want to know how many tracks you really need before music libraries take you seriously? I get that question all the time, and frankly, the answer will surprise you! And, I’m going to tell you today. These are the types of questions I’ll be happy to answer, and anything else you’ve got! Viewers love these episodes, and I always have fun doing them.

There are so many ways to get paid for your work in the age of digital music that I admit I’m confused as to who exactly pays what. One thing I do know is that the people who attended the presentation by the MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) at this year’s TAXI Road Rally were SO glad they went! They were so grateful that I’ve invited one of the MLC’s executives (Dae Bogan, Head of Third-Party Partnerships) to join us on this week’s TAXI TV. He’s great at explaining why you really could have money just sitting there waiting for you, and what you can do to collect it! I know… the cynic in me used to think that sounds too good to be true, but not since I did my homework and found out that it’s completely true! It would be really sad to miss out on collecting money your music has already earned for you just because you didn’t know how easy it is to collect it. In this case, ignorance is not bliss! Join Dae and me for this "Do Not Miss" episode! He's really smart, highly informed, and has some very interesting thoughts on how musicians might get compensated in the AI era of music. I think those ideas and concepts might be outside of what we can learn about how the MLC works during the show, but they're so intriguing, I'm going to press him to talk about them, anyway!

Hollywood Score Composer and Film Producer Brian Ralston is one of the most well-informed and articulate people I’ve met during my 50 years in the music business. He’s so clear-headed about so many aspects of the music and film industries that I did a solo interview with him at this year’s Road Rally—our annual conference. Brian didn’t disappoint! The people in the ballroom felt like they had learned something important. Things they normally don’t think about because they’re usually focused on the music much more than their career. Because he was so good, I’ve decided to do something I’ve rarely done after the Road Rally—I’ve invited Brian to reprise what we did on stage last month, but this time we’re doing it live on TAXI TV!

During my 33 years as the CEO of TAXI, the Holy Grail I’ve been relentlessly searching for has been that “thing” that makes some composers, producers, songwriters, and artists successful, while others never achieve their goals. What is the “secret sauce?” Why some and not others? I recently ran into long-time TAXI member, Chuck Schlacter, in the hotel lobby during our annual conference—the TAXI Road Rally. We started to discuss the mindset and habits of people who are successful in the music licensing world versus those who aren’t. What he had to say made perfect sense, so I’ve invited him to join me on TAXI TV.

My two favorite things I hear from members at our annual conference are: 1) “I went to school at Berklee, but I’ve learned more in a single weekend at the Road Rally than I learned in four years of college,” and 2) “I was certain that I was going to be let down after all your hype about the Rally, but it’s actually way better than you said it would be.” I hear those same things every single year. It makes me scratch my head and wonder why every single TAXI member doesn’t come. Those of you who were there know exactly what I mean. The vibe, the camaraderie, the access to industry people you just won’t find anywhere else, the networking, and the real-world education are apparently somewhat indescribable. How do I know? Because I can’t seem to find the words to convince all of our members to come. Yet, we have members who came from Finland, Germany, France, New Zealand, Australia, the U.K., Argentina, Israel, Japan, and other faraway destinations that are a full day’s worth of travel away, and at least $1,500 for the plane ticket, and they were thrilled they made the effort. On the other hand, we have members who live in Los Angeles and could drive to the Rally in 30 minutes or less, and they didn’t come. I just don’t get it! Today’s TAXI TV episode is going to be dedicated to the people who came and loved the Rally. We’re going to see photos, we’re going to watch some videos, and we’re going to hear from the members who were there.

I got really excited when I recently listened to a TAXI compilation with emotionally upbeat songs for advertising on it. Why? I heard a great example of a particular style of music that gets used all the time in TV commercials. I liked it so much that I planned on playing that particular song in the grand ballroom at our annual conference, the Road Rally, later this week. After listening to more songs by the artist who created the track that I loved, I decided to do a TAXI TV episode during which I’ll play several songs created by this talented TAXI member. Everything I’m going to play will have you saying, “Oh, now I get it!” I want to surprise you with who the TAXI member is, so you’ll have to watch to find out. You’ll also get to ask her questions about how she learned to write and produce this advertising-friendly style. That was a hint! Yes, the member is a talented young lady, and she’ll be at the Road Rally so you can meet her there. And, when you go to that page, you can grab your Road Rally Program Book for your mobile device, as well as a version you can print on your home printer. This is going to be a very powerful episode, so don’t miss it if you’d like to make great pitches for TV commercials.

Monday’s episode of TAXI TV should be amazing! Robin Frederick is going to join us, and she’s going to tell us what her Top 10 Songwriting Hacks are. Robin’s book, Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting, is a best-seller, and we’ve never heard anything but raves, so even I’m excited to hear what her “hacks” are. If you’re new to our email list or TAXI TV, you really don’t miss this episode. You’ll find out why the ballroom at our conference—the Road Rally, starting November 6th—is always standing room only when Robin does one of her deep dives on songwriting each year. I’m going to give away a copy of Robin’s amazing book during the episode on Monday, but you’ve got to watch the live broadcast on YouTube at 4 pm Pacific time to have a shot at getting a complimentary copy of this seminal book on songwriting! Robin Frederick's Book: Shortcuts to Hit Songwriting: https://amzn.to/48G91bA

We always love having Ronan on TAXI TV, so we’re excited to have him join us on today’s show (4 pm Pacific time) to teach us some tricks of the trade about production and mixing variables that can make your tracks more “synch-able.” We’ll discuss how to approach reverbs, panning, EQ, arrangement, mastering, etc., to make sure your track fits the style/genre, era, and overall sound the music supervisor or music library is asking for. Ronan is a TAXI member favorite because of his practical, no B.S. approach to all things audio. While he’s a highly experienced engineer/mixer/producer, his approach to teaching is to explain things in a way that people can easily understand, no matter what their level of expertise is! Win a One-Hour consult with Ronan! One of our lucky (live show) viewers will be randomly chosen to meet privately, in a One-on-One session with Ronan at our upcoming Road Rally music conference in Los Angeles, November 6th – 9th. You can play him some music, get feedback, or ask him questions about anything audio and production-related.

If you’ve ever been frustrated that your sync career is taking off as quickly as you’d like, you really don’t want to miss today’s live episode of TAXI TV (4 pm Pacific time) on YouTube! I’ll be joined by one of TAXI’s most successful members, Matt Vander Boegh, and I’ve asked him to distill all the things he’s done to become so successful down to the 5 most important. Matt’s music can be heard every hour of the day all over the world, but that wasn’t always the case! He made so many mistakes in the beginning of his career that I’m certain you’ll be saying, “Holy crapola, I do that, too!” as you watch. What did he do that took him from getting 79 (if memory serves) “rejections” in his first year to having his music in dozens of catalogs and getting placements every day of the year? You’ll find out at 4 pm (Pacific time) today when Matt shares the Top 5 things that skyrocketed his career. Win a Private Dinner with Matt and Michael! One lucky viewer of the live episode will win a private dinner in the Westin LAX Hotel’s Presidential Suite with Matt and yours truly during the TAXI Road Rally conference (November 6-9 in Los Angeles), and for dessert, we’ll listen to some of your music and give you feedback! If you can’t make it to the Rally (are you crazy?!), we’ll do a private Zoom and you can order yourself a pizza to eat as we meet ;-)

Get your questions ready for TAXI’s Head Screener, Craig Pilo, because he’s going to join us on this week’s TAXI TV! He’s always a popular guest and has a great deal of knowledge to share about the sync industry in general, as well as insight relating to TAXI’s screeners, the screening process, common mistakes, and great tips for getting more of your music forwarded to the industry people who are searching for it!

It's time to hear some great music from TAXI's members — songs and instrumentals, alike! Our Top 10 episodes are viewer favorites, so please join us today at 4 pm (PDT) for the LIVE show and you'll have a shot at winning a copy of Dean Krippaehne's latest must-have book, Cue Tips! If you want to get your music on TV, this book is indispensable! And you'll have a shot at winning a FREE copy if you're in the chat room for this episode! Join us and you'll hear a range of really cool music that our A&R team has uncovered recently.