In the intricate world of audio visual (AV) music licensing and royalties, cue sheets are the backbone, connecting music creators to their rightful income. Think of them as the detailed logs of every music usage in films, TV shows, and even online videos. Cue sheets are the vital document that ensure composers, artists, and musicians receive the royalties they deserve, based on how and where their music is played.
In the words of Cathy Meranda of Sony Music Publishing, no cue sheet = no money.
đź’ˇ What is a cue sheet?
A cue sheet is a document that lists all the music used in a film, television program, or other audiovisual production.
Performing Rights Organizations use them to track the use of music in films and TV. Without cue sheets, it is nearly impossible for composers and publishers to be paid for their work.
Historically, it was a sheet of paper, a ledger of sorts. Today, it is usually a spreadsheet, but newer cue sheets make use of technology to host them in the cloud.
Their vital nature means that cue sheets shouldn’t be viewed as just paperwork – they’re directly tied to revenue. Inaccurate or missing cue sheets translate to lost income, legal headaches, and damaged relationships with composers and rights organizations.Â
Cue sheets are a composer’s lifeline to getting paid. Just ask Ginia Eady-Marshall at Disney. By ensuring Disney’s cue sheets were accurately processed, she ran the numbers and boosted music royalty income by 12% in 2018. That’s a significant pay raise for triple-checking every field of each cue sheet for minor inconsistencies or gaps in information.
As music usage explodes and diversifies across platforms, cue sheets become essential for tracking its increasingly complex journey.This blog post, draws on the expertise from Orfium’s panel at the 2024 Production Music Conference, Your Music, Your Money: Cue Sheet 101 to Maximize Music Royalties, with insights, advice and knowledge from:
- Ginia Eady-Marshall, The Walt Disney Company
- Jacob Yoffee, Composer
- Cathy Merenda, Sony Music Publishing
- Mark Vermaat, Orfium
Top 10 Cue Sheet Tips and Best Practices
1. Prioritize Cue Sheet Precision: Accuracy is King
Inaccurate cue sheets directly result in lost revenue for everyone involved. Think of it as money left on the table, plus the potential for legal issues and strained relationships.
“Cue sheets are a legal document in the music ecosystem, so it’s vital that they’re right the first time round.” – Cathy Merenda, Sony Music Publishing
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Make quality control a religion. Double-check every cue sheet before it’s submitted, focusing on timings, usage descriptions, and composer/publisher details (including minute details such as capitalization, spelling and capitalization). At a bare minimum, double and triple check:
- Entitled/Interested Parties
- Composers
- Publishers
- Song Writers
- Cue name
- How the music was used (Is it a visual, vocal, maintitle, background instrumental etc.)
With so many fields and such a high level of detail required, you may want to consider software tools to automate parts of this process and reduce human error.
Top Tip for Composers
Ditch the poetic track titles when it comes to cue sheets. Instead, opt for clear, descriptive titles that include the production name and episode or scene information.
Why? It makes it easier for everyone involved to identify your music and ensure you get paid accurately, especially when working internationally or with production companies dealing with high volumes of creations and music.
Save the creativity for your music, not your cue sheet titles!
“Avoid overly poetic titles on your cue sheets. Production music libraries handle tons of tracks, so make it easy for them to identify yours with clear, concise titles. Think ‘Main Title – Episode 3: The Heist’ instead of ‘Cosmic Dance.’ It helps them when they’re cross-checking the finer details.” – Jacob Yoffee, Composer
2. Use new technology to make cue sheet creation and management easy and accurate for yourself
Staying current with technology and training your team is key to efficient and accurate cue sheet creation.
Top Tip
Explore cue sheet management platforms like Soundmouse by Orfium. Offer regular training for your staff on best practices, metadata handling, and any new tech developments.
3. Foster Open Dialogue Internally and with Third Parties: Communication is Key
Clear communication between all relevant parties, from Production Music Company composers, editors, and production teams ensures everyone’s on the same page about music usage.
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Establish easy communication channels for feedback throughout production. Encourage composers to be proactive about their music’s usage tracking by highlighting the importance of cue sheets. Provide user-friendly templates for cue sheet submission, tailored to the specific PRO they need to be delivered to.
Top Tip for Composers
Don’t be afraid to get in contact and chase down your cue sheets as well as all your other paperwork. Even if your music is under a blanket license through a Production Music Company.
“If you license your music into a production, you should receive a full copy of the license, your payment and your cue sheet. If you don’t get all three, you need to chase.” – Ginia Eady-Marshall, The Walt Disney Company
4. Triple Check Identifiers: The Music Industry’s Social Security Numbers
Correct identifiers (IPI/ISWC) ensure the right people get paid, especially internationally where names can get lost in translation.
đź’ˇ What is an ISWC?
An ISWC (International Standard Musical Work Code) is an internationally recognised reference number for the identification of musical works.
“Every country has different requirements for cue sheets… You will however have to translate it between different countries, which may or may not have the same requirements on the cue sheet” – Mark Vermatt, Orfium
Without a clear identifier like the ISWC, your royalties could easily get lost in transit.
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Make IPI/ISWC fields mandatory in your templates. Educate composers and clients on their importance. Consider platforms with automated identifier checks.
Top Tip for Composers:
“If you work with an independent or smaller production company… I would recommend you fill out the cue sheet yourself.” – Jacob Yoffee, Composer
When Composers take ownership of their cue sheets, not only can they ensure accuracy but also strengthen their relationships with production companies. It shows proactivity and attention to detail, which can lead to more opportunities down the line.
5. Automate Cue Sheet Creation With Audio Recognition: Your New Best Friend
For production music libraries, trailers, etc., audio recognition can drastically speed up and improve cue sheet accuracy.
đź’ˇWhat is Audio Recognition for Cue Sheets?
Audio recognition is technology that automatically identifies and lists the music used in videos (TV, Ads, Films, Online etc), making it easier to create accurate records of the songs and their details.
“Your music being used in a YouTube video or an ad halfway around the world is easy to miss. By registering your compositions in a database with audio recognition, you automatically get credited on cue sheets and receive royalties for uses you might never know about. It’s effortless income for the work you’ve already done.” – Mark Vermaat, Orfium
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Partner with a company offering this service. Make sure your music library is in their recognition database. Consider a hybrid approach, combining manual and automated cue sheet creation. If you’d like to learn more about how Soundmouse at Orfium can help you manage your cue sheet processes, and create cue sheets with Audio Recognition Technology, reach out to our team here.
Top Tip for Composers
Uploading your compositions and tracks to a service with these services can save you the mental and time load of scanning the internet constantly for new usages of your works. If you’d like to upload your music to Soundmouse for Orfium, which can fully automate that for you, get in touch with our team here.
6. Metadata: The Backbone of Royalties
Accurate and complete metadata is crucial. Inaccurate info can lead to “unclaimed” royalties, meaning money that’s rightfully owed is floating in limbo.
đź’ˇWhat is Music Metadata?
Music metadata is like a digital label on a song, containing details like title, artist, and genre. It helps organize music, and makes sure everyone involved gets the right credit.
“Metadata might seem boring, but it can unlock hidden revenue you never expected to get. My music for the Jungle Book trailer unexpectedly took off in Brazil, and I’m still receiving royalties thanks to accurate metadata. Never underestimate its power.” – Jacob Yoffee, Composer
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Set up a system to collect and verify metadata for every track. Consider AI tools to help with matching and improving metadata quality. Regularly update your metadata to reflect any ownership changes.
7. Stay Sharp: Keep Up with Industry Changes
The AV music industry is constantly evolving. Staying informed helps you avoid legal pitfalls and ensures you’re using best practices. Regulations sometimes change, so cue sheet requirements may as well.
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Attend industry events, join relevant organizations such as the PMA, sign up to your Collecting Society’s email newsletter, and don’t hesitate to consult legal experts when needed.
8. Empower Your Clients: Rights Holder and Composer Education is Key
If you’re a Production Music Company, making sure your composers are educated on the value and impact of cue sheets on their royalties will encourage them to submit accurate and timely information for their cue sheets, making your life easier.
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Provide crystal-clear guidelines on cue sheets and metadata. Highlight the importance and impact of accurate and timely cue sheets on their revenues. Consider sharing this article with your rights holders and composers. Be available to answer their questions. If there are any you struggle with, we’re here to help! Reach out to us at hello@orfium.com.
9. Don’t Neglect Online Short-Form
While big productions are important, the countless trailers, promos, and countless shorter online videos and snippets also generate revenue that shouldn’t be ignored.
Top Tip for Production Music Companies
Explore automation (like audio recognition) to handle cue sheets for this content. Work with clients to set clear rules for music use and reporting in short-form projects.
10. Be An Advocate: Fight For Fair Play
Production music companies have a responsibility to ensure their composers get paid fairly. By advocating for transparency and best practices, you help the whole industry thrive.
Top Tip
Get involved in industry discussions on improving cue sheets and royalty distribution. Support organizations protecting music creators’ rights. Encourage open communication between everyone involved in music licensing.
Remember, cue sheets are the lifeblood of the music industry when it comes to all audio-visual content. By taking these steps, you not only protect your revenue but also contribute to a healthier and fairer music ecosystem.If you’re ready to improve your cue sheet management and learn more about the technology mentioned in this article, and how it could help cue sheet processes, contact Orfium today.