Approaching a Producer about Cue sheet info -

[Casey H]

Just a correction here...it's the *production company* which produces a show that has to generate and file the cue sheet. The tv network/station that airs it typically has nothing to do with that, although they are the ones paying the PRO (of course they don't pay per cue, they pay per program or on an annual blanket basis)

Thanks matto for the correction! Ooops! on my part.

Casey

[beachbum]

thanks Matto, and yes i'm impatient at times but I was so damn excited that I finally got a Tv placement I was beside myself - I've had several non broadcast type things come my way recently but yesterday was a landmark day for me and I felt I had to move quickly on it as not to seem unprofessional - After rereading the email from the company it seems they do take all the publishing for making sure the cue sheet is filed - time is something I have plenty of these days and my overhead is really low (I live cheap hoping to make music my living) and you know something...after about 5 years of hard work it's starting to happen

what you said about waiting to contact the production company (and yes i'm w/ASCAP) is the crucial info I needed -
I already googled the program but at this point all I got was the production companies website - maybe after a week or so something else will show up - I definitely don't want to pester these people - i'll keep an eye out in my ASCAP account -


thanks for all your help..bum

[Casey H]

Just to clarify, if it's not already clear, if this library acts as your publisher, they take 100% of the publisher's share which is 50% of the total PRO money. You would get 100% of the writer's share which is also 50% of the PRO pie.

Casey

[T&V Marino]

Hi Beachbum,

Congratulations on your placement! We think we know which company this is and we've gotten some great placements with them. However, they also lost a few hundred dollars for us (and themselves) because they did not follow up and make sure cue sheets were filed on a major placement.

So, there are two things you should know:

1) A production company has 9 months AFTER the show has aired to file the cue sheets. Some companies do it before, but it's rare. It's best to wait so you don't ruin any potential relationships. Your PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.) will pay you retroactively, but only within 24 months. That's why we lost money.

2) You are wise to look into getting the cue sheets. This is the role of the publisher, and the production company needs to cooperate, but sometimes cue sheets fall through the cracks. And this means you won't get paid!!! But the soonest you can reasonably act on the cue sheets is May 2012, assuming the show is aired this month.

3) The good news is: most production companies are REALLY good about filing cue sheets. If you have any problems, contact your ASCAP rep and they will help you with contacting the production company, even though the music library gave out all the information about getting the cue sheets.

Like Matto suggested, it's best to be patient -- it's very easy to burn someone or get burned because of overreacting or being impatient!!!

Good luck,

~ Tracey & Vance Marino

[beachbum]

Great info - thanks guys !