Collaborations create some of the biggest records in music — and some of the ugliest disputes. When two artists make a song together, questions of ownership, release control, and revenue split need answers before the release, not after it charts. Friendship does not replace paperwork.
What the Agreement Covers
Define who owns the master and in what percentages. Decide who controls release timing and on whose project the song lives. Split publishing by actual writing contribution with split sheets signed at the session. Clarify feature fees versus royalty participation, and set rules for remixes, videos, and live performances of the song.
Great collabs are built on clear terms. Handle the business in one conversation and the music gets to be the fun part.
The side artist agreement handles the modern reality of features. When a bigger artist jumps on your record, a simple feature agreement covers the fee or royalty split, credit requirements, and promotional obligations — like whether they post about it. Decide upfront who uploads to the distributor, because the uploader controls the release metadata, and get the Content ID and royalty splits configured correctly from day one to avoid frozen earnings. For joint singles where both artists promote equally, consider a joint venture split of all income rather than a flat feature fee. Remixes and alternate versions need their own terms, since a verse recorded for the original does not automatically cover the remix. Collaborations multiply reach, but only clean paperwork multiplies revenue.
Put the agreement before the announcement. Every great collaboration story starts with two artists and one clear contract.
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.