The Ultimate Guide to Split Sheets: What You Need to Know

Ally Munich published an excerpt that explains this in more detail:

Collaboration spurs creativity, but it can also stir up trouble if not properly managed. Co-creators often cringe at the thought of sitting down to discuss ownership and royalty splits; however, navigating this type of conversation is a necessary practice to ensure you are getting paid correctly for your work. More importantly, turning that conversation into a written document, like a split sheet, proactively protects your rights and can save you from a potential legal battle in the future.

What is a Split Sheet?

A split sheet is a written agreement between two or more music creators that identifies each contributor and establishes specific ownership percentages among them. These percentages are significant because they determine how much each contributor will receive when their music generates income. In general, every song published can be broken down into a writer’s share (lyrics) and a producer’s share (music). The shares can be broken down even further if there are additional contributors; however, the same creator can contribute to both shares. All parties involved must negotiate and agree upon the final percentages.

Why Split Sheets Are Necessary

Split sheets are an essential safeguard for creators to ensure that they are being properly compensated for the work they contribute to. They can save creators from a potential legal headache because they require them to come to an agreement and establish their ownership in writing, which can be referred back to or supplied to third parties if necessary.

Tips to Get Started

Split sheets are necessary for every song you write and should be completed immediately after a song is written, before any income or royalties start flowing in. Creators can find basic templates online, or they can design their own. Each split sheet should include:

• The name of the song

• The legal names of the contributing writers involved

• Their role in the song's creation (i.e. songwriter, producer)

• Share of songwriter percentage of song and/or share of producer percentage of song

• Performing rights organization affiliation (PRO) and publishing company (if available)

• Mailing address and contact information

• Signature of each writer or producer

To avoid future disputes, creators should fill out their split sheets together, making sure that everything is clearly stated, dated, signed, and timestamped. If creators are having trouble coming up with a fair agreement, get a lawyer involved.

As a creator, understanding the value of your work, especially before it is published, is vital to your overall success. Be proactive and take control of the conversation by using split sheets to secure your fair share of revenue.

• Make sure you are registered with a collecting society such as COSON, MCSN, ASCAP, BMI, and others.etc

• Get registered with a music publisher; they make sure your songs are heard.

• Invest in your social media brand