August 14, 2007

BMI and ASCAP Announce Launch of Online Music Cue Sheet Technology RapidCue

Press Release

August 14, 2007 – NEW YORK – ASCAP and BMI, the leading U.S. performing rights organizations (PROs), have announced RapidCue, a state-of-the-art cue sheet technology for the use of music in the film, TV and cable industries. RapidCue is a secured website that allows users to enter, manage and electronically submit music cue sheet data for television, cable and film productions to BMI and ASCAP. A cue sheet is a document that lists data on all the music performed in a particular film or television 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 and setting an industry standard, RapidCue allows users to electronically and securely submit cue sheets to the PROs and provide electronic notification and acknowledgement of receipt. Developed with the participation of the film, television production and television network communities, the program 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, Performing Rights, BMI. “This secure, automated system will help ensure timely receipt to BMI and ASCAP so our composers, songwriter and publisher affiliates can be fairly compensated.”

“RapidCue provides a cost-effective, streamlined cue sheet process for film, television production companies and television networks,” said Al Wallace, Executive Vice President/COO, ASCAP. “At the same time, ASCAP members and BMI affiliates will benefit from the accuracy, timeliness and broader tracking of their music.  We’re happy to be able to begin rolling this out to the community.”

Contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

About BMI
Now marking over 65 years in business, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI), is an American performing right organization that represents a repertoire of more than 6.5 million musical works including the music of thousands of the world’s most successful international composers. Representing more than 300,000 songwriters, composers and publishers in all genres of music, the non-profit-making corporation collects license fees from businesses that use music, which it then distributes as royalties to the musical creators and copyright owners it represents.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) is the first and largest U.S. Performing Rights Organization representing a repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 300,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members.  ASCAP also represents the repertories created by the international affiliates of 90 foreign performing rights organizations. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing and distributing royalties for the public performances of their copyrighted works.  ASCAP is the only American Performing Rights Organization owned and governed by its writer and publisher members.

Contacts:

For BMI: For ASCAP:
Hanna Pantle, BMI Pauline Stack, ASCAP
310-289-6328; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)           212-621-6278; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Jerry Bailey, BMI Meredith Topalanchik, CooperKatz for ASCAP
615-401-2825; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)                       212-455-8018; .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)