A music cue sheet documents every piece of music used in a film, television program, YouTube video, advertisement, or other audio-visual production. Cue sheets are submitted to performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, and SOCAN so composers and publishers receive performance royalties when a project is broadcast or distributed.
Without a cue sheet, music usage may not be properly reported, which can prevent composers and publishers from receiving their royalties.
The Custom Cue Sheet Builder below allows producers, editors, filmmakers, and music supervisors to generate a properly formatted cue sheet by entering the project and music details used in the production.
Once generated, the cue sheet can be copied, shared with production teams, or downloaded as a PDF for delivery to a network, distributor, or performing rights organization.
Generate Music Cue Sheet
Create a formatted cue sheet for reporting music usage in a production.
Cue Sheet Field Definitions
A cue sheet records how music is used in a production so performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, and SOCAN can identify compositions and distribute performance royalties accurately. The fields in this generator correspond to the information typically required when reporting music usage.
Project Title – The official name of the film, television program, YouTube video, advertisement, podcast, or other production where the music appears.
Production Company – The company responsible for producing or distributing the project.
Episode – If the production is part of a television series, web series, or episodic program, include the episode number or title.
Network / Platform – The television network, streaming platform, website, or distributor where the production will be broadcast or released.
Territory – The geographic region where the production is distributed, such as Worldwide, United States, or a specific territory.
Air Date – The first broadcast or release date of the production.
Track Title – The exact title of the musical composition used in the production.
Composer Name – The songwriter or composer who created the music.
Publisher Name – The publishing company that controls the composition rights. Independent composers often list their own publishing entity if they control their publishing.
Usage Code – Indicates how the music is used in the production. Cue sheets typically use standardized usage codes:
- BI – Background Instrumental (music playing underneath dialogue or action)
- FI – Feature Instrumental (music prominently featured in the foreground, usually without dialogue)
- TH – Theme (recurring theme music associated with the program)
- MT – Main Title (opening title sequence music)
- ET – End Title (closing credits music)
- VV – Visual Vocal (a vocal performance visible on screen)
Start Time – The timecode position in the program where the music cue begins, typically reported in HH:MM:SS format.
Duration – The exact length of time the cue is audible in the production.
Composer PRO – The performing rights organization representing the composer, such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, or SOCAN.
Publisher PRO – The performing rights organization representing the publisher.
Composer IPI / CAE – The unique identification number assigned to a songwriter by their performing rights organization to ensure royalties are correctly attributed.
Publisher IPI / CAE – The identification number assigned to the publisher for royalty tracking.
Writer Share – The percentage of the composition owned by the songwriter or composer.
Publisher Share – The percentage of the composition owned by the publisher. Together, writer and publisher shares normally total 100%.
Automate Your Music Licensing
The cue sheet generator above helps create individual sheets. But managing licensing deals manually can still become slow and difficult as your catalog grows.
License Pro lets producers automate the entire licensing process. Upload your catalog, configure licensing tiers, generate agreements and cue sheets automatically, and allow clients to license your music directly from your website or dedicated storefronts.
Build your catalog • Automate licenses • Get paid directlyWhat Is a Music Cue Sheet?
A cue sheet is a document used in film, television, and video production to report every piece of music used in a project. The cue sheet lists the composer, publisher, performing rights organization, duration of the music, and how it appears in the production.
Networks, distributors, and streaming platforms submit cue sheets to performing rights organizations such as ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, PRS, and SOCAN so performance royalties can be distributed to composers and publishers when the project is broadcast or distributed.
Without a cue sheet, music usage may not be tracked correctly, which can prevent composers and publishers from receiving their royalties.