What Are Cue Sheets and Why Do They Matter?
Cue sheets are the music industry's way of tracking what music was used so composers and publishers get paid.
What You'll Learn Here
- What a cue sheet is and what it contains
- How this works at Soundstripe
A cue sheet is a detailed log of every piece of music used in a film, TV show, advertisement, or other audiovisual production. Here's how the process works:
What's on a cue sheet:
- Track title
- Writer(s) and publisher(s) information
- PRO affiliation (which Performing Rights Organization each party is registered with)
- Type Usage (Background Instrumental, Theme, Visual Vocal, etc.)
- Actual Use Time (how long the cue runs in the production)
Where Soundstripe’s music fits in:
- When music from our library is used in broadcast, such as network television, cable television, OTT, or streaming broadcast platforms, the artist and publisher needs to be listed on the cue sheet
- This is how artists and publishers receive broadcast royalties
Tips & Tricks
- Verify timing accuracy for each cue sheet
- Please submit your completed cue sheet to broadcast@soundstripe.com within 30 days of airing
Still have questions about cue sheets or how your music usage is being tracked? Our support team is happy to help!