BMI and ASCAP have announced RapidCue, a cue sheet technology for the use of music in the broadcast and cable television productions. The new secured Web site allows users to enter, manage and electronically submit music cue-sheet data for productions to BMI and ASCAP.
A cue sheet is a document that lists data on all the music performed in a particular media program and constitutes the basis of payment of royalties for performances of music in audio/visual programming.
Jointly developed by BMI and ASCAP over the past four years, RapidCue allows users to electronically and securely submit cue sheets and provide electronic notification and acknowledgement of receipt. It offers electronic or hard-copy versions of cue sheets, as well as the ability to revise data.
“This standard-setting system will cut down the submission and processing time for the film, TV and cable communities when submitting music data for their productions,” said Alison Smith, senior vice president for performing rights at BMI.
Previously, producers manually filled cue sheets and sent them to ASCAP or BMI, where the information was entered by hand into a database. The process was labor intensive, slow and error-prone.
The RapidCue system has been evolving for some time, with major networks and studio, including Paramount, Sony and CBS, already using it. Last week’s announcement extends its usage to smaller producers.
RapidCue works on both the Mac and Windows computer platforms. Free training aids are also available.