BMI acquires Soundmouse

BMI said on May 19 that it had agreed to acquire Soundmouse, a company that supplies cue-sheet reporting and music-monitoring tools for broadcasters and entertainment producers. The deal adds a specialist in audiovisual music data to the U.S. performing rights organization’s distribution and reporting stack, at a time when music-rights groups are under pressure to improve tracking across television, streaming and other screen-based uses. BMI said the combination would join its domestic and international cue-sheet capabilities with Soundmouse’s platform. Soundmouse had been owned by Orfium before the transaction was announced. ### What exactly did BMI say it is buying? BMI described Soundmouse as “a global leader in music cue sheet reporting and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production industries” in its announcement on May 19. Cue sheets are the production records that identify what music was used in a program, when it appeared and who owns it — data that feeds royalty processing for screen uses. BMI said the acquisition would let the two companies combine their expertise in domestic and international cue-sheet generation. (bmi.com) Music Business Worldwide reported that BMI said the combined operation is intended to create “the largest and most comprehensive cue sheet database in the global audiovisual marketplace.” Musically separately reported that BMI was buying Soundmouse from Orfium, confirming the seller and the focus on cue-sheet management rather than a broader catalog acquisition. (bmi.com) ### Why does Soundmouse matter inside music-rights plumbing? Soundmouse’s own materials describe the platform as a place for users to upload recordings and manage metadata tied to compositions and recordings, including identifiers such as ISRC, ISWC and society work codes. A BBC-facing Soundmouse information document says the service is used by broadcasters and media companies to create, manage and report cue sheets and other music reports for television, radio and video-on-demand uses. (musicbusinessworldwide.com) BMI tied the acquisition directly to royalty administration. In its May 2026 distribution letter, BMI told affiliates that it was acquiring Soundmouse as part of efforts to enhance service, describing the company as a leader in cue-sheet management and monitoring for broadcast and entertainment production. ### Who will run it after the deal closes? MusicRow reported on May 21 that BMI plans to operate Soundmouse as an independent company after closing and remain one of its biggest clients. (soundmouse.com) The publication also said Todd Horvath, BMI’s president and chief operating officer, will oversee the company’s operations. BMI’s announcement named Horvath and Chief Executive Mike O’Neill among executives attached to the transaction. (bmi.com) BMI did not disclose a purchase price in the materials surfaced publicly. The company’s announcement framed the transaction around data scale and reporting coverage rather than financial terms. ### What have executives said about the purpose of the deal? Todd Horvath said in BMI’s announcement that the companies would combine “best-in-class capabilities” to improve cue-sheet management and royalty processing. (musicrow.com) Music Business Worldwide reported that BMI Chief Executive Mike O’Neill said the transaction would help the organization deliver better service to songwriters, composers and publishers by strengthening data and distribution infrastructure. (bmi.com) Rob Wells, Orfium’s chief executive, said in coverage of the announcement that Soundmouse had been developed into a global cue-sheet and reporting business under Orfium’s ownership. His comments, as reported by Music Business Worldwide, positioned the sale as a step that would place Soundmouse with a buyer focused on rights administration and royalty distribution. (bmi.com) ### When does the acquisition take effect? MusicRow reported that the transaction is expected to close in mid-2026. BMI’s public announcement called it an agreement to acquire Soundmouse, indicating the deal had been signed but not yet completed as of May 19. BMI’s next public milestone is the closing itself, which trade coverage places in mid-2026. Until then, BMI has said Soundmouse will continue as an independent company, and BMI affiliates can already access Soundmouse onboarding materials through a dedicated BMI page on the Soundmouse site. (musicbusinessworldwide.com) (musicrow.com)