Why are cue sheets important?

Cue sheets are essential for ensuring that every piece of music used in a production—whether it's a film, TV show, web series, advertisement, or video game—is accurately logged and reported to performing rights organisations (PROs), music publishers, and other collection societies. Their importance lies in the following key areas:

1. Royalty Collection: Cue sheets are the official documents used by PROs to track when and how your music is performed or broadcast. Without them, your music usage might not be reported, leading to missed royalty payments. Properly filed cue sheets ensure that composers, songwriters, and other rights holders receive the royalties they’re owed.

2. Comprehensive Coverage: Cue sheets not only track the music used but also specify how it was used (e.g., background, theme, or featured music). This is important because different uses of music often generate different royalty rates. By specifying these details, cue sheets ensure that you are paid correctly based on the type and extent of the usage.

3. Global Reach: Music used in productions can be broadcast or streamed worldwide. A well-prepared cue sheet ensures that your music is recognized and paid for no matter where in the world the production airs, capturing royalties from international territories as well.

4. Accurate Reporting Across Multiple Platforms: In today's media landscape, productions are distributed across many platforms—broadcast TV, streaming services, social media, and more. Cue sheets ensure your music is tracked on all these platforms, from traditional to digital media, maximising your revenue streams.

In short, cue sheets are vital in protecting your rights and ensuring that you’re properly compensated whenever your music is used in any form of media