Cue Sheet
A document that logs all music used in a film, TV show, or other audiovisual production for royalty tracking.
What it means
A cue sheet is a detailed document that catalogs every piece of music used in a television program, film, advertisement, video game, or other audiovisual production. It serves as the primary mechanism by which performance royalties are tracked and paid for music used in visual media. The cue sheet lists each musical cue (instance of music use) along with critical information: the title of the composition, the composer(s) and publisher(s), their PRO affiliations, the duration of the cue, the type of use (background, feature, theme, etc.), and the timing within the program. Cue sheets are typically prepared by the production company and submitted to the relevant PROs after the production airs or is distributed. The PROs then use this information to calculate and distribute performance royalties to the listed writers and publishers. For ambient and meditation music composers who work in sync licensing, cue sheets are critically important. If your music is placed in a TV show, film, or advertisement, the cue sheet ensures you receive performance royalties every time that program airs — domestically and internationally, for years or even decades. A single placement in a successful TV series can generate ongoing performance royalties through reruns, international broadcasts, and streaming platform availability.
Technical details
Cue sheets follow standardized formats established by PROs and include: production title, episode title/number, production company, air date, duration of program, and for each cue: cue number, song title, use type code (BI = background instrumental, BV = background vocal, VF = visual feature, MT = main title, ET = end title), duration of cue, composer(s) with percentage shares, publisher(s) with percentage shares, and PRO affiliation of each party. PROs have different weight systems for different use types — a featured use pays more than a background use. Cue sheets are submitted electronically through PRO portals (ASCAP's ACE system, BMI's repertoire system) or via standardized electronic file formats (CWR - Common Works Registration format). The timely and accurate filing of cue sheets is the responsibility of the production company, but composers should verify that cue sheets have been filed for any production featuring their music.
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