What is a cuesheet?

In the context of the music industry, a “cuesheet” refers to a document that details specific information about the music used in an audiovisual production, such as movies, TV shows, commercials, or video games. This document is essential for the management of copyrights and royalties, as it records which songs were used, when, and in what context within the production.

A cuesheet typically includes details such as:

• Song Title: The name of the song used in the production.
• Artist/Composer: The person or entity responsible for creating the music.
• IPI: A unique code that represents the author (IPI) worldwide.
• ISWC: A unique code that represents the musical work worldwide.
• Duration of Use: The specific duration during which the song is played in the production.
• Percentages/Shares: Allocation of the percentages in the musical work (Public Performance and Mechanical Reproduction).
• Type of Use: Details about how the music is used in the production, such as whether it is part of a specific scene, a montage, etc.
• Production Details: Information about the production in which the music is used, such as the title of the show, movie, or commercial.

Cuesheets are crucial for ensuring that rights holders receive the appropriate royalties for the use of their music in audiovisual productions. These documents are shared among content creators, production companies, record labels, and collective management organizations to facilitate accurate and transparent tracking of music usage across different media.