How to Make Instrumental Cues More Licensable for TV & Film?

What makes one instrumental cue instantly more licensable than another? In this episode of TAXI TV, successful TAXI member, composer, and author Dean Krippaehne shares practical, real-world tips that can dramatically improve your chances of landing sync placements in TV, film, commercials, and production music libraries. Drawing from his book Cue Tips, Dean breaks down the small but critical details that music supervisors, editors, producers, and libraries listen for every day, and why those details often determine whether a cue gets licensed or passed over. This episode covers: How to make instrumental cues more sync-friendly Common mistakes that hurt licensing potential What production music libraries actually want Arrangement and structure tips for TV & film music Practical cue-writing advice you can apply immediately How experienced sync composers think differently Whether you're brand new to sync licensing or already building a catalog, this conversation is packed with actionable insight for composers, producers, and instrumental writers looking to create more usable, marketable music. If you write production music, trailer music, underscore, cinematic cues, or instrumental tracks for sync, this episode is a must-watch. Reference Book 📚: Cue Tips: 50 songwriting, composing, and music production hacks to speed up your sync journey by Dean Krippaehne: https://amzn.to/4nD3uYP About TAXI: TAXI is the world’s leading independent A&R company, helping songwriters, composers, artists, and producers connect with music libraries, music supervisors, publishers, and record industry decision-makers since 1992. ⏱️⏱️VIDEO CHAPTERS⏱️⏱️ 0:01 - Michael welcomes viewers and introduces guest Dean Krippaehne and his book, "Cue Tips." 3:41 - How long should a cue be? 5:34 - Is a 90-second cue okay? 6:21 - Don't pester music libraries. 10:34 - Support the mood of the scene. 14:48 - Dean discusses Road Rally mentor sessions. 19:11 - Success comes from understanding sync needs, not just talent. 20:14 - Why student films matter. 21:46 - Dean had a 15-year-old cue placed in K-Pop Demon Hunters. 25:08 - The sync industry is always evolving. 28:52 - Study how TV uses music to enhance scenes. 32:25 - Writing from a music supervisor's perspective. 34:20 - It's not the best song, it's the right song. 36:05 - Button and stinger endings explained. 44:24 - Learn the craft of production music. 45:43 - Write for sync, artists, and instrumental projects. 48:15 - Your first instinct is often right. 52:17 - Less is more—don't over-arrange. 57:03 - Cocktail Jazz is a versatile sync genre. 1:00:04 - The more obscure, the better. 1:05:32 - Hipsters vs. Oldsters in music creation. 1:13:42 - Dean shares Road Rally experiences and lessons learned. 1:15:07 - There are no shortcuts—Road Rally can be life-changing. 1:18:26 - Road Rally helps accelerate your learning. 1:21:23 - TAXI's supportive community feels like family. 1:22:46 - Be a great student—collaboration accelerates growth. 1:30:04 - Dean discusses feedback, rejection, and their role in success. 1:42:24 - How Dean approaches giving feedback. 🔥 See Requests for Your Music ➡️ https://www.taxi.com/industry 🔔 Subscribe for more tips just like this:    / @taxiindependentar   LINKS & RESOURCES =============================== LEARN MORE About TAXI Independent A&R: https://www.taxi.com/ NETWORK at Our FREE Convention: http://bit.ly/2a9mwlp OPPORTUNITIES in the Music Industry: http://bit.ly/28JPUyd COLLABORATE with Fellow Songwriters on the TAXI Forum: http://bit.ly/2DENChs FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA =============================== 👥 - FACEBOOK:   / taxiindependentar   🐦 - TWITTER:   / taximusic   📸 - IG:   / taximusic   ♪ - TIKTOK:   / taxiindependentaandr   We Want to Hear YOUR Thoughts. Leave Your Comments Below! #TAXIMusic #TAXITV #MusicLicensing #Music #TAXIIndependentA&R #IndependentArtist #RecordLabel #MusicLibrary #MusicIndustry #MusicBusiness #Songwriting #Musicians #SyncMusic #SyncLicensing #MusicforFilm #MusicforTV #TAXIMusic #Advertising #SongwritingTips #SyncPlacements #MusicProduction #MusicLicense #Songwriters