TAXI MUSIC, LOS ANGELES TAXI RIPS OFF VULNERABLE SONGWRITERS AND STEALS THEIR MONEY!!!! I AM ONE OF THOUSANDS WHO HAVE HAD $300 TAKEN FROM THEM! OTHER EX-MEMBERS OF TAXI WILL BE WRITING TO SAY THEY'VE BEEN RIPPED OFF TOO! TAXI MUSIC IS A SCAM! THEY STEAL MONEY FROM VULNERABLE SONGWRITERS! Nationwide

I wanted to communicate, that Taxi DID refund us our monies, as they promised.  I would put great confidence in the fact that they will stand behind their word on that. 

The other questions, still and probably always will remain unanswered in the 'gray' areas, as they are the 'inner' workings of their business.   The only way to back up or prove those statements are for Taxi to reveal success stories in detail, and examples of the 'levels' of those stories, as what some might consider a success story, others will not.  They are not an American Idol, they're not going to make you a star...otherwise there would be major name/notable recognition accompanying their marketing, etc.

Our story is legit, we just came off a performance with 9x Grammy winner John Legend at the Super Bowl in Indianapolis last month.  We are professional musicians, we know good, marketable songs when we hear them.  So those questions did weigh heavily on us when we were members of Taxi...speaking for myself, as an owner of 6 businesses, I can personally say that so many inconsistencies in critiquing (of the songs, not in reference to the ads they're submitted to, just in regards to the song itself...also all the forwards, with no communication or follow up...nothing) punches a pretty solid hole in everything from a consumer standpoint.  I know not all clients can or will be pleased in any business, but I also know that if my stores are not consistent from management down to the bottom rung on the ladder, that I will lose business and develop a poor reputation.

The fact that Taxi will stand behind their (warranty) says a lot about Michael and his word, and I think his vision is right on the money, I just feel the parts in the machine are pretty inconsistent.  It should give many newcomers confidence to sign up.  I just wish our band would have benefited from someone as passionate about music as Michael is....but it just wasn't the case.  Having said all of this, we as a band, thank Michael for standing behind his word.  We received a full 100% refund.  So take all of this for what it is.

Jason

www.flatbedtwitch.com

Michael Laskow, I understand the op posted incorrect info about the $10 submission fee and you addressed that verifying that it is $5/submission. What about other issues from user AUTHOR: FlatbedTwitch.com - Cicero (United States of America)? What are your responses to his complaint? Submitted great songs that we're mastered by Grammy engineers and has received inconsistent reviews with no success stories.

Please address this: " the big question for me always has been this...are the relationships w/the companies they work with really that strong?  if you are forwarded that many times, and nothing comes from those forwards,  questions must arise;  #1 how accurate are taxi critiquers meeting their label/publishing requests (ads)??  #2 how talented and strong are the critiquers in general if one says they LOVE the song, and the second says it needs work??   Major inconsistency...."

A ratings in the bbb do not mean anything because they will give anyone an a with a fee. Not reputable in my book. It's on the news.

How do you respond?

Babyboi Texas

Dear Reader,

Note that the person who filed this report does not say if he or she was ever actually a customer of TAXI's. I sincerely doubt it because he or she incorrectly states the submission fee amount. It's actually only $5 per submission.

For the record:

TAXI offers a 365 day guarantee/refund of the membership fee. Scroll to the middle of this page.

TAXI has been in business since 1992, and has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

TAXI has 20 years of records showing that every one of our opportunities/listings are real.

TAXI has a member forum where our members post their unedited success stories.

It's not uncommon for our competitors to post anonymous and false reports to attempt to damage our reputation. Our A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau speaks for itself. NONE of our competitors are even registered with the BBB.

Thanks for reading,
Michael Laskow
CEO, TAXI.com

I have to agree with the original poster, to a certain degree.  We joined Taxi mid summer of 11' upon completing our debut album.  We have multiple members of our band that have toured nationally with national artists, artists w/former #1 hits, etc...my point is we're not hacks, beginners, or inexperienced to the industry.

we joined taxi, in hopes of exploring some new avenues for our music.  we bought into the brilliant marketing and self promotion that taxi throws out there on the internet.  we submitted various songs, had MANY forwards and some horrible critiques of the same material...the negative critiques were NOT about our songs being 'stylistically OFF target' for the listings we submitted to (those critiques were very positive) they were about our songs specifically.  HOWEVER, they were the SAME songs submitted.  if we submit one song, and it is received well and forwarded, with glowing praise....how can that song be ripped apart by another critique??  obviously there is ZERO consistency with the people they have on staff doing the critiquing.  

please keep in mind, we are NOT crying sour grapes...quite the contrary.  our album has been picked up by an indie label in LA (w/national artists on their booking roster), after probably 2 dozen labels courting us, ....NONE from taxi, ALL of them from reverbnation.  IMO, taxi provides a tool for people  to attempt to break some doors down, but regardless of the quality of music provided, the company is SO very inconsistent. 

i own 5 very successful businesses, and i have dealt w/companies like taxi before (not in music).  very sleek, professionally appearing companies that are driven by brilliant marketing, especially in video and testimonials...however the overall results speak for themselves.  i have dozens of peers who have participated in taxi, some affiliated w/artisits like Jason Bonham, Eddie Money,  John Mellencamp, Keith Urban, Big and Rich, etc....NO success from any of them, and not a whole lot of positive feedback.  

the big question for me always has been this...are the relationships w/the companies they work with really that strong?  if you are forwarded that many times, and nothing comes from those forwards,  questions must arise;  #1 how accurate are taxi critiquers meeting their label/publishing requests (ads)??  #2 how talented and strong are the critiquers in general if one says they LOVE the song, and the second says it needs work??   Major inconsistency....

our record was mastered by a critically acclaimed  company...tops in the industry (did all the pink floyd, steely dan records, and countless of other grammy winners)....if our engineer, (who just finished colbie caillats new album) at that mastering company says, "you have a grammy caliber song on your hands", and taxi won't even forward it or gives it an average critique....major red flag imo...to say that taxi critiquers are even in the same ballpark as someone who has mastered over 2 dozen grammy artists, etc....????? seriously???? think about it!

so be aware if you are considering dropping your hard earned money...it might be right for some, but on the majority......i sincerely doubt it...you def are rolling your dice

not slamming taxi, my experience was nothing consistent with their marketing and self promotion

www.flatbedtwitch.com

Jason

This report is anonymous and contains several false statements. TAXI does not charge $10 for a submission fee. We charge $5 per song, and that's to keep people from sending every song they've ever written for every one of our 100 monthly opportunities.

To say that our Industry Listings are not real is also false. TAXI has been in business for 18 years, and if the Industry Listings were false, we would have been shut down by the Better Business Bureau many years ago. We keep copious records of ALL Industry Listings on file to substantiate them as real. Check out our rating with the Better Business Bureau, and you will see that we typically have an "A" rating.

To see actual TAXI member success stories, click this link:
http://forums.taxi.com/taxi-success-stories-f7.html

To say that the industry people who come to our annual convention is patently false. Please click these links:
http://forums.taxi.com/topic10308.html

http://www.taxi.com/rally/

This post is likely a Sour Grapes person whose music wasn't as good as he or she thought it was and is using this public soap box to exact their revenge. TAXI cannot guarantee success, but you will find that the variables between those who use TAXI and GET deals VS those who don't are the music they pitch and their ability to pitch to the right opportunities. The people who GET deals and the people who don't are ALL using the same exact service. It's a shame that Ripoff Report doesn't research complaints before they allow them to be posted. ANYBODY can make a false accusation and post it. We often find that the false accusations are posted by competitors trying to knock down our service in order to help theirs get a leg up.