Royalty free music and cue sheets?
Question: If I’m using royalty free music, do I need to file a cue sheet?
Daniel Rudd from Stock20.com gives the answer: Filing a cue sheet supports independent artists, and is good for the industry you are a part of. It won’t cost you or your clients anything.
Here’s how it works:
Broadcasters (TV Stations, Radio, Cable Networks, etc..) pay dues every year to performance societies (like BMI and ASCAP). These dues are a set amount based on the size of the broadcast market. Throughout the year the broadcasters turn in cue sheets to let BMI and ASCAP know who’s music they are using.
Based on those reports (from the cue sheets that are filed), ASCAP and BMI divide up a portion of the dues paid by all the broadcasters. Big name artists get most of that money, because their music is used the most. But independent artists can have their share too, as long as their work is reported on cue sheets.
When the independent artists benefit, everybody gets better music. Your projects will sound better, and the world will be more beautiful. See more about cue sheets here
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