---
title: "Check cue sheets"
description: "Check your sync placements against PRS's list of productions it has no cue sheet for, read how sure each match is, and know what to do next."
image: "https://trackforge.studio/docs/img/trackforge-social-card.png"
---

> Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://trackforge.studio/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Check cue sheets

PRS collects for the music used in films, programmes and adverts, and pays it out from cue sheets: the list of music used in each production. Where PRS holds no cue sheet, it cannot pay the music out. PRS publishes lists of the productions and adverts it has collected for but holds no cue sheet for. **Check cue sheets** checks your sync placements against those lists and shows you the ones that are on them.

The lists are PRS's UK lists. We read them again every week, and the card shows the date of each list it used.

## Before you start

You need a spreadsheet of your placements, in CSV, TSV or Excel, up to 5 MB and 2,000 rows. Use one row for each use of a recording. Only the production title column is required. The more each row says, the surer a match:

| Column | Also read under these names |
|---|---|
| Production title (required) | Production, Programme, Program, Show, Film, Movie, Series title, Project |
| Type: TV, film, advert or game | Production type, Media type, Format, Category |
| Season | Season number, Series number |
| Episode number | Episode no, Ep. `S01E04` and `1x04` are read as season and episode. |
| Episode title | Episode, Episode name |
| Year | Production year, Release year, Air year |
| Broadcaster | Network, Channel, Platform, Supplier, Distributor |
| Clock number, for an advert | Clock, Clock no, Clearcast clock |
| Your recording's title, artist and ISRC | Song, Cue title, Music title; Performer |

Column names are read in any case, with or without spaces and punctuation. Do not head a column "Title" or "Series" on its own: they could mean the recording or the production, and "Series" often means the season number.

## Check your placements

1. Go to **Catalogue** and press **Check cue sheets**.
2. Under **Placements spreadsheet**, choose your file. The check starts at once.
3. Read the leads, or press **Download CSV** to keep them.

Your file is checked and then discarded. Nothing in it is saved, and leaving the page stops the check.

![The Check cue sheets card before a file is chosen, with its tip on what makes a match surer, the How this check works link and the Placements spreadsheet box.](/docs/img/workspace/cue-sheet-card.png)

## What you will see

A line says how many rows were checked and how many leads were found. A row with no production title or clock number is skipped and counted. If your file has columns the check does not read, **Columns not read** names them, so you can spot a misspelt heading.

Each lead shows the **Production** as PRS lists it and the broadcaster PRS collected from, the **Episode** or advert, **Your recording**, **How sure** the match is with the reasons, and **What to do**.

![The Check cue sheets card after a check: six rows checked, five leads, each with its production, episode, recording, how sure and what to do.](/docs/img/workspace/cue-sheet-leads.png)

If no placement is on the list, the card says **Nothing matched.**

## How sure

- **Strong**: the same production on firm facts: a film's title and year, a series with its season and episode, or an advert's clock number.
- **Likely**: very probably the same production, with one fact unconfirmed. For example, a film's year is missing on one side, or a series and season agree but your row has no episode.
- **Possible**: a lead to check. For example, the series title matches but a season is missing, or an advert matched by its title without a clock number.

A match is one step less sure when your row gives no type, or when the title is short, common, or shared by several productions. When a year, season or episode is on both sides and they differ, there is no lead at all.

## What to do with a lead

1. Check your music was used in that production, and in that episode, from your licence or the producer's records. Check a **Possible** lead with special care.
2. Send PRS a cue sheet for the production, or ask the producer or broadcaster to send one. The downloaded CSV gives each lead's PRS production id, the broadcaster and the dates PRS holds, which help identify it.
3. Check again after new placements are broadcast, because PRS's list changes.

## If something goes wrong

- **The file is refused for its columns.** It needs a production title column under one of the names above.
- **"The file exceeds the 5 MiB limit."** Split the file, or remove columns the check does not read.
- **PRS's list could not be read.** Nothing was checked. Try again in a few minutes.

## Related

- [Find a work](/docs/workspace/catalogue/find)
- [Recordings](/docs/workspace/catalogue/recordings)
- [Additional details](/docs/workspace/catalogue/additional-details)

Source: https://trackforge.studio/docs/workspace/catalogue/cue-sheets/index.mdx