by Angela Guess
Brian Proffitt of ReadWriteWeb reports, “The same kind of digital fingerprinting that helps music lovers identify songs using apps such as Shazam and Soundhound is also being used to help artists, performers and rights holders identify who is using those songs – yet another way big data is changing the way we live and do business. TuneSat, a New York-based company with roots in the music and entertainment industry, has a very simple business model: Put information in the hands of music rights holders so they can obtain the royalties that are lawfully theirs.”
Proffitt continues, “Performing rights organizations (PROs), like ASCAP and BMI here in the U.S., are the organizations typically charged with gathering performance information about members’ musical works… On television, however, things get a bit more dicey. The performance of music in this medium is governed by synchronization rights, and is often self-reported. Whenever a TV show wraps up production, someone on the crew (usually a low-level production assistant or intern) is tasked with filling out a cue sheet that specifies what music was used in the show, for how long, and how it was used. Such reports often come in late and rife with errors. TuneSat, according to founder and COO Chris Woods, fits right inside this lengthy, centralized process.”
