[Fmpro] Online Cue Sheet Registration with RapidCue (coming soon!)

[Mark Northam]

Hi All -

Years ago, ASCAP and BMI spent the money to create online song registration
capabilities for the songwriters, their "premier" members. That's great for
songs on the radio, but as we all know, TV uses cue sheets. Now, finally, it
appears they're getting around to live online cue sheet entry to benefit
composers and others who write the majority of music on their primary
revenue source, Television.

Check out:

http://www.rapidcue.com
http://www.rapidcue.com/Desktop.htm
http://www.rapidcue.com/Requirements.htm

And here's an intro from one of their technical documents:

" The purpose of the MusicCue system is to provide a web enabled tool to
create Cue sheets in a standard format, which can be communicated
electronically by the user to Performing Rights Organizations (PRO¹s).  The
format created by this system should be available for other Cue sheet
providers to submit data from their proprietary systems.  A Cue sheet lists
all of the music used within a show. An individual piece of music within a
Cue sheet is referred to as a ³Cue² and has attributes such as timing,usage,
writers and publishers. Users will submit completed Cue sheets, in XML
format, to a central location where multiple users within an organization
can share their data.  This system will resolve current data integrity
issues such as duplicate and revised Cue sheets.  This ³clearinghouse²
function will enable accurate receipt and tracking capability to ensure
that all Cue sheets reach their intended destination. The MusicCue system
employs certain data standards that have been developed for the
CIS project.  Using existing standards for codes will eliminate confusion. "


This unannounced system appears to be available to a select "few" at this
point, but "the rest of us" can at least have hope that maybe sometime in
the future we'll be included. I've seen a demo of this system and it looks
good, however ASCAP and BMI are tight-lipped on their rollout plans,
refusing to comment as usual.

Given the months of delay and no confirmation process for sending in cue
sheets now, either by email (spreadsheets, etc) or snail mail, it's a great
thing that ASCAP and BMI are finally extending the benefits of online
registration to composers. We can only hope that they will finish this
project and include not just composers with big catalogs, but regular
working composers as well.

An interesting additional note - you'll notice on the RapidCue site that
there's no mention of SESAC - my sources at SESAC have confirmed that they
were shut out of the original design process and only now are being given an
opportunity to consider getting on board.

Hey Shawn LeMone from ASCAP - if you're back from your trip, maybe you could
enlighten the 600+ composers on this list about what is in store with
RapidCue and when we can expect to be able to use this system -  a little
info on this would be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Mark Northam

On 1/21/07 6:17 AM, "scott at szabosoundandmusic.com"
<scott at szabosoundandmusic.com> wrote:

> My recommendation is that you submit your cue sheet electronically (email).
> call your PRO and ask them how to send it and to whom. Sending by paper means
> that your PRO has to re enter the data y hand adding months to you getting a
> paycheck. When sending your cue sheets by email, have the computer get an
> electronic receipt from the person receiving the email and keep a copy of the
> email you sent as well for your records.

---------------------------------
Mark Northam - Publisher
Film Music Magazine
The Professional Voice of Music for Film & TV
http://www.filmmusicmag.com
1-800-774-3700 x702 / (310) 645-9000 x702