Songwriting Split Agreement Generator

Lock in songwriting splits with a clear co-writing agreement before you release. By Music Manager Resource.

Songwriting Split Agreement is part of the Agreements section of Music Manager Resource.

Why you should agree songwriting splits early

A split is each writer's share of a song. If you co-write, the time to agree the shares is right after the session, while everyone remembers who did what, and long before the song earns anything. Arguments about splits are one of the most common reasons writing partnerships break down, and they usually start when a song is suddenly worth something.

How splits work in practice

Writers can split a song equally, or by contribution, for example one share for the lyrics and another for the music. There is no fixed rule, it is whatever the writers agree. When you register a song with PRS for Music you enter each writer and their percentage, and the shares must add up to exactly 100 percent. The writer share and the publisher share are dealt with separately, so also say who owns the publishing.

Agree the split in writing before you register the song. Changing it afterwards needs the writers to agree, so it is far easier to get it right first time.

What this generator covers

The agreement is an editable sheet covering the split breakdown, how revenue is distributed, moral rights and recognition, how the agreement is managed and registration with collecting societies. You can add each contributor and their share, edit any clause, add your own terms and export a PDF for everyone to sign.

What about producers and session players?

A producer or musician who only played on the recording is not automatically a writer. If someone contributed to the melody, lyrics or structure of the song itself, they may have a claim to a share, so talk about it before the song is released. Their fee or a producer royalty on the recording is a separate matter from the songwriting split.

Tips for a clean split

Write the split down the same day. Keep a note of who wrote what, including lyrics, melody and any sample or interpolation. Make sure every writer has the details they need to join PRS and MCPS. And register the song with the same split everywhere, so the money is paid correctly.

This is a starting template and general information, not legal advice. For a valuable song or a publishing deal, ask a music solicitor to review it.