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For Immediate Release
November 27, 2007
ELEVENTH ANNUAL TAXI ROAD RALLY BACK AT
WESTIN
Music Industry Conference Continues To Be Best Value For Aspiring
Artists and Songwriters
Los
Angeles, CA-“Just
wanted to let you know that I arrived at TAXI expecting a HUGE
disappointment and was UTTERLY BLOWN AWAY by how cool, useful,
professional, well-organized and all-around FANTASTIC it was!”
New York City based publicist Shira Dicker was at her first
TAXI
Road Rally, representing Israeli artist Adina Feldman,
and what she had to say about the event resonated with everyone in
attendance this year. In its eleventh year, the Road Rally was back at
the Westin Hotel near LAX Airport for the first time since 2004 November
8-11, and with 2500 aspiring musical artists and songwriters attending,
most folks concur that it was the best Rally yet.
Producer and industry veteran Michael Lloyd is one of the company's
believers as well as someone who uses music from TAXI members
regularly. “It's a testimony to the TAXI member's hard work, in
conjunction with the TAXI staff, that every year the songs and masters
get better and better,” he said. “I know I can rely on the talent and
ever growing abilities of the members. I appreciate and thank the TAXI
members and staff for their work on my behalf.”
The common denominator about the TAXI Road Rally is that it is the best
value for any music industry conference, including South By Southwest.
That's because it's a free event for TAXI members, and while it
continues to grow along with TAXI's member base, is still an intimate
enough gathering for members to interact with industry executives and
TAXI success stories.
This year, the keynote interview was delivered by Kara DioGuardi, one of
the music industry's most sought after songwriters and producers. Kara
is BMI's 2007 Pop Songwriter of the Year and has worked with the likes
of Celine Dion, Faith Hill, Kelly Clarkson, Santana, Taylor Hicks,
Hannah Montana, among many others. In addition, TAXI presented Kara
with its first-ever Humanitarian of the Year Award.
As usual, the panels were informative and entertaining, with subjects
focusing on TAXI specific topics such as The Inside Scoop on How TAXI's
Screeners & The Industry Really Work and Forwards, But No Calls Yet; and
also on industry wide subjects such as A&R, marketing, songwriting,
production, and Film/TV. In addition, there were “Driver's Ed” courses,
which were in smaller classrooms; mentor lunches with panelists; the
annual Murphy's Law update from ASCAP VP Ralph Murphy; a trade show; and
open mics and other impromptu performances by TAXI members.
However, two of the biggest highlights of the Rally were the panels and
performances featuring hit songwriters Brian Howe (Daughtry, Hinder,
Puddle of Mudd), Don Rollins (Alan Jackson, Faith Hill, Carole King),
Adam Watts & Andy Dodd (Jesse McCartney, Hannah Montana, High School
Musical) and Mike Elizondo (50 Cent, Eminem, Snoop Dogg). A panel of
songwriters with such resumes is something that typically inspires
members and leaves them gushing with awe at the same time.
With the Internet making it easier to bring the music industry and the
people who make music closer together, it's worth noting that there are
TAXI members such as Feldman that are coming to the Rally each year,
hoping to score some face time with industry executives.
“It would be easy for us to just coast along and provide another
cookie-cutter conference, but we enjoy the challenge of making each Road
Rally better than the last by adding panels and classes that are
specifically targeted at our members' needs,” adds TAXI president and
CEO, Michael Laskow. “TAXI members go home from the Rally armed with
more tools that will help them get on more industry desks, improve their
songs, and ultimately land more deals.”
For more information, please visit
www.taxi.com
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