FAQS

How is TuneSat’s technology unique?

TuneSat is the leading independent audio monitoring service. Our technology offers the forensic ability to detect your music within seconds, capturing full duration even in the noisiest of environments such as voice—overs, sound effects, or crowd noise. Tunesat also provides members with an audio recording of each detection.

How much music has to play before it can be identified?

TuneSat reports detections as short as three seconds.

If my music is edited, can you still detect it?

TuneSat can detect your music or audio regardless of what part of your track is being played or if your music has been edited for TV or use on the web. Even a clip lifted from the middle of a track.

Are there any changes to the original audio that would cause TuneSat to miss detections, such as compression, EQ, reverb or other effects?

In some instances, changes to the original audio can be problematic in identifying your music. Often times, broadcasters manipulate the recordings to suit their needs. These manipulations can include extreme changes to the tempo, pitch shifting, time stretching, and heavy editing of the recording. There are many steps we can take in working with you to meet this challenge.

What if I re—title my tracks?

TuneSat creates fingerprints using the master recordings of your tracks, regardless of how the tracks might be titled. TuneSat data does not differentiate between the same recordings with different titles.

Is’ve heard of watermarking. Is fingerprinting the same as watermarking?

No. Audio watermarking is the process of embedding new information (a watermark) into an audio file so that it can be identified, much like a tattoo. Audio watermarking requires a file to be put into circulation only after it has been watermarked. Existing files already being broadcast would not be detected using watermarking technology.

Audio fingerprinting, on the other hand, is a passive technology, which means it does not embed anything into the audio file, nor interfere with the broadcast. Much like a fingerprint scanner, TuneSat’s proprietary technology analyzes the unique characteristics of each music file and compares it to other content such as broadcast TV and multimedia files from the Internet for the purpose of detecting a match.

What audio file formats are required for TuneSat’s fingerprinting process

Our service can fingerprint virtually any audio file provided. However, it is always best to provide the highest quality audio such as .AIFF, .WAV, or high quality .MP3.

How can TuneSat help my business?

TuneSat subscribers benefit in three main ways:

• Maximize Your Royalties: Recover lost income from non-reported performances.
• Detect Copyright Infringement: Provides the proof you need for unauthorized use.
• Gain Business Intelligence: Members access key analytics from their database.

How does TuneSat help maximize my royalties?

There are several ways you can use TuneSat data to help maximize your royalties:

• Send TuneSat reports to the broadcasters and production companies using your music to help ensure accurate and timely royalty payments.
• Review cue sheets against TuneSat data prior to royalty distributions from your PRO.

While each of the performing rights organizations have different processes for claiming unpaid royalties, TuneSat delivers all of the required data for all of them. With TuneSat reports in hand, you can contact your PRO and work with them to get paid what you’re due.

How does TuneSat help fight copyright infringement?

Most TuneSat clients immediately discover infringements using TuneSat’s powerful monitoring tools.

Subscribers compare their TuneSat data to licenses that they have issued helping them to identify copyright infringement. TuneSat provides a recording of each detection, giving subscribers irrefutable proof to resolve instances of copyright infringement — putting the money back in their pockets.

Contact us if you’d like to learn how we can help you pursue your copyright infringement claim.

How does TuneSat increase business intelligence?

Knowledge is power. By reviewing and analyzing TuneSat’s data, subscribers can learn about key ways their businesses function, such as:

• Gauge revenue patterns or assist in future business decisions.
• Check how much a broadcaster uses your catalog.
• Learn what aspects of your catalogs are being used the most (useful for labels and publishers to make strategic choices with future acquisitions).
• Monitor how new releases are being promoted.
• Determine what composers/artists have the highest usage rates.
• Track airings of commercials.

How do I compare TuneSat data to royalty statements?

While each of the performing rights organizations have different processes for claiming unpaid royalties, TuneSat provides all the data you need to submit these claims. With these reports in hand, you can contact your PRO and work with them to get paid what you’re due.

How is TuneSat’s service different from cue sheet reporting?

A music cue sheet, created by a licensed broadcaster or production company, is a document that reports the music used within a production. The broadcaster or production company then submits this document to the PROs, which in turn distribute royalties accordingly to their members.

TuneSat’s data can be used to verify the accuracy of your writer/publisher royalty distributions by comparing your TuneSat detections to the quarterly royalty distribution statements issued by your PRO..

We’re a broadcaster. Do you offer automated cue sheet reporting services?

Yes, we do. Please see information on our Enterprise Services below.

What is TuneSat’s TV monitoring service?

TuneSat offers a subscription service that quickly detects performance data from hundreds of TV channels globally to all rightsholders. Subscribers are provided with valuable information that is used to maximize royalty payments, fight copyright infringement and gain unrivaled business intelligence.

What is TuneSat’s TV monitoring service work?

• TuneSat’s subscribers submit high-quality recordings of their music.
• TuneSat fingerprints these recordings. Think of fingerprinting as taking a digital snapshot, or deciphering and recording the unique DNA of the file.
• These fingerprinted recordings are then compared to complete live broadcasts from the top national network and cable broadcasters around the globe all of which TuneSat monitors 24/7. For more information, see TuneSat’s Channels page.
• When a match is found between TuneSat’s fingerprint database and a TV broadcast, TuneSat records in-context audio of that broadcast for proof of performance and verification purposes.
• Clients can sign into TuneSat’s secure subscriber portal anytime through a web browser on a Mac or PC to view detections of their fingerprinted music, or export music usage reports.

Can TuneSat’s TV monitoring service provide historical detection data?

Yes. TuneSat’s TV monitoring service can identify performances on certain stations for up to the last 18 months. Please contact info@tunesat.com for fees and more information regarding adding historical data to your account.

Is it possible to differentiate between shows, commercials, promos, etc.?

Yes. TuneSat’s platform automatically groups identical detections of performance together. The platform’s unique features also allow you to tag these detections by performance type (i.e., commercials, promos, shows, trailers, etc.). As a result, you can easily organize, filter and sort by whatever types of detections you would like to see.

What countries and channels are included in TuneSat’s TV monitoring service?

We monitor hundreds of television broadcasts around the globe. Subscription service for these countries can be bundled together at a discounted rate or purchased a la carte, depending on your needs.

See what channels we monitor.
See our TV monitoring rates.

What information is provided in a TuneSat TV account?

Detection data can be viewed through our secure online subscriber portal, or exported in a *Microsoft Excel-friendly .TXT or .CSV file. TuneSat data includes:

• Channel
• Country
• Show/Episode (Subject to availability)
• Date/Time
• Link to the downloadable audio recording of the entire captured detection
• Song Title, Album, Artist, Composer, Publisher, PRO, and other metadata as provided by client
• Custom tagging
• Automated grouping of identical performances

How long does it take to set up a TV monitoring account?

Signing up for a TuneSat TV account is easy. New subscribers with 1,000 tracks or under can sign up online within minutes. After registration is complete, subscribers can upload their music via drag and drop and fingerprint music through their TuneSat account. Files will be active in the account and will be used to accrue detections within 48 hours.
Find out more about setting up your account.
Accounts with more than 1,000 tracks generally take 7–—10 business days to set up. New subscribers with 1000+ tracks should contact TuneSat directly regarding account setup.

How much does the TuneSat TV service cost?

For detailed monthly pricing information, please see our pricing page

How do you charge for TuneSat’s TV monitoring service?

• Monthly Fee : This fee gives you access to your detection data during the term of the agreement. The type of music and number of tracks you have uploaded determines your monthly fee.
• A la carte purchases : You have the option to purchase individual detections should they exist outside of your monthly plan

What methods of payment does TuneSat accept?

TuneSat accepts major credit cards.

I know my music is being played on local TV. Why is it not showing up in my detections?

TuneSat monitors national broadcasts, we do not monitor local or regional broadcast feeds. As our datacenter is located in New York we will pick up some local / regional NY feeds when switched over to local affiliates.

How does TuneSat deal with incorrect show data from the TV stations?

We receive our show data from a third-party provider, Tribune, every two weeks which also includes any corrections to show data received in the two weeks prior. We suggest that you check back in two weeks to see if the data has been updated.

How does the service work?

• Our subscribers provide us with high–quality recordings of their music, which we fingerprint.
• When a match is found, the URLs where the content was identified and the TuneSat team vets the detections to see if they are viable infringement
• The TuneSat team will reach out to its users if there are any valid claims of unauthorized of their music

How much does the administration service cost?

For more information on TuneSat’s rights management, please email us

This service sounds invaluable. How do I subscribe?

Sign up for our TV and monitoring services by clicking the “sign up” button on TuneSat’s website. If you have more than 1,000 tracks, please contact us directly.

What if I want to fingerprint more tracks than in my original plan?

Upgrading your account is easy. You can upgrade by clicking “Plan” in the “My Account” tab after logging into the portal. There are options to upgrade the number of allowed tracks as well as ability to add more countries.

What happens if I try to fingerprint more tracks than my account allows?

When you try to fingerprint more tracks than your current account allows, you will automatically be prompted to upgrade your account.

How do I input identifying information about my music (metadata) into my TuneSat account?

This metadata such as song title, album, artist can be added to your account by editing within the dashboard.
Metadata can be added or edited by clicking on the pencil icon. It can also be edited while you are uploading your tracks.. Please note – anytime you add or change metadata, it will be updated for all detections in your account, so the new information will be seamlessly integrated with any past detection data.

Can I use TuneSat’’s technology to automate music reporting?

Yes. If you’’re interested in automated cue sheet reporting, please contact us.

Can I license TuneSat’’s Technology?

Yes. If you’’re interested in licensing TuneSat’s technology for enterprise use, please contact us.

Can TuneSat be used in Mobile devices for applications such as Second Screen?

Yes. If you’re interested in learning more about this, please contact us.

Have a question we haven’t answered? Please feel free to contact us directly.