Deals & Your Rights
Royalty Splits & Split Sheets
Royalty splits set each contributor’s ownership percentage of a song. A split sheet locks them in before release, the simplest way to avoid the most common income disputes.
Where this sits
Royalty Splits & Split Sheets
- Distribution
- Broadcast
- Publishing
- Performance
Royalty splits are the agreed ownership percentages for each songwriter, producer, and rights holder on a song, and they exist on both the composition and the recording sides, which can have different splits. A split sheet records them at the session, before anything is released.
Good to know
Royalty Splits & Split Sheets: common questions
- What is a split sheet?
- A simple document, ideally signed at the writing session, that records what percentage of a song each contributor owns. It prevents disputes and makes royalties payable to the right people.
- What happens if splits aren't documented?
- Royalties can go unmatched or unclaimed, and disputes are hard to resolve later. Documenting splits up front, with your credits and ISWC, keeps the money flowing correctly.