FCP and Soundtrack Pro music licensing and music cue sheet procedures

Okay, so we made the movie, and we marketed it and it has been sold in several geographic territories. Now I have to make up a music cue sheet. What do I put on the cue sheet for Apple Loops and FCP and Soundtrack Pro files that I have used for music? I believe they are royalty free, which is great. But I'm supposed to identify the music cues with writer, publisher, and society (ASCAP, BMI, etc.) What does an entry for those resources look like? It's really hard to find this info in the documentation for FCP and SP. Thanks.

G5, Mac OS X (10.5.4)

Posted on Apr 8, 2010 1:56 PM

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5 replies

Apr 9, 2010 7:50 AM in response to NLEdit

Interesting question - We don't use attorneys - too expensive, and we never listen to 'em anyway, so the info didn't come from a lawyer, ha ha. But I've seen several examples of music cue sheets, and they all contain the same information, including composer, publisher, society, timing, etc. (After all, that's the purpose of the cue sheet - to see that the artists and producers get paid for their work). You can find one format at:

www.ascap.com/musicbiz/cue sheetcorner/pdf/SampleCue

Of course, if the example comes from ASCAP (as that one does) or another society (BMI, others), they are working to make their job easier, but they are the societies - they are the ones who can object if they don't like it. And they have substantial power to penalize a producer for not doing what they want. But here's the thing: there's huge tradition in Hollywood, and the rule is (and the contracts say) that if you don't provide everything on the distributor's list of deliverables, they hold your money until you do - and one of the things on the list of deliverables is a music cue sheet, and every example I've ever seen (and I've seen at least 20) asks for the same information. So that's the answer as to "who told you that?" Is is possible that I'm being led down the garden path by ASCAP and the movie industry in general? Sure, but every source I consult agrees that this is the reality. I wish I could avoid it, but as I understand the situation, I have to do it, and it has to contain the info, or we'll never see our dough, ha ha. But my question remains the same - how do I get that info for the "royalty-free" music library attached to FCP?

May 8, 2010 7:40 AM in response to NLEdit

Ron, if I am understanding NLEdit correctly, I would have to disagree.

ASCAP, BMI, SOCAN etc. deals with production music, television and film as well. Bars and sporting arenas pay a blanket license for music played during events.

If there is royalty-free music, or buy-out music, it means that you don't have to pay for each time the music is broadcast, performed, shown theatrically, etc. One has paid for the music when they buy the CDs, or the software package.

All distributors (TV broadcasters, film distributors...) require a cuesheet for every production they distribute. It is part of their deliverables contract.

You are correct in your endeavor to complete your cue sheet.

It seems Soundtrack Pro has been set up to give users the ability to create their own music given these loops. Given that, whomever put the cues in the soundtrack together should be put on the cue sheet as the composer, and join a Performing Rights Organization in their respective country. If you don't have a publishing company, you can be self-published and put your name down in the publisher column as well. Sometimes the production company will insist, thru contract, that their publishing company be listed.

Good luck,

Kevin

May 8, 2010 11:02 AM in response to sndtracks

Good luck trying to find the references.
Apple lists none for loops of any kind, neither in their pro apps or consumer. And nothing in their copyright information as to the creators of the loops nor anything about their use. And when you create actual "music" using the loops, well, you're now the creator of an original piece.
So look forward to a lot of time on the phone.

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FCP and Soundtrack Pro music licensing and music cue sheet procedures

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