A split sheet is a one-page document listing every writer on a song, their percentage of ownership, and their PRO affiliation. It takes five minutes to fill out and prevents the disputes that have destroyed friendships and cost artists millions. Every co-write — every session, every beat purchase, every topline — needs one, signed the same day the song is created.
Splits don’t have to be equal, but they must be agreed on while everyone is still in the room. The person who wrote the hook, the producer who made the beat, the writer who did the verses — hash it out honestly and write it down. Include full legal names, contact info, PRO and IPI/CAE numbers, and the date. Verbal agreements about splits are worthless when money shows up.
Make It a Habit
Keep blank split sheets on your phone or printed in your session bag. Fill one out before anyone leaves the studio — momentum kills paperwork. Store signed copies in a dedicated folder with the song title and date. When you register the song with your PRO, the splits on the sheet are what you enter. No sheet, no proof, no leverage later.
What happens without one? The ugly version: a song blows up, everyone suddenly remembers contributing more than they did, and the release gets frozen while lawyers argue — or worse, someone registers 100% with their PRO and collects your money for years. Trying to get a retroactive split agreement signed after a hit is ten times harder than doing it in the room. The split sheet isn’t about distrust; it’s about respecting everyone’s contribution enough to write it down. Professionals do paperwork. Amateurs do drama.
About the Author – Ruben Burgos: Ruben Burgos brings over 25 years of music expertise and more than 15 years of model guidance to the table. He is the indie major pinnacle to retaining credits for musicians and helping them navigate this wicked industry without the fuckery.