Split Sheet Template: A Free Music Split Sheet You Can Copy
A split sheet is one page that says who wrote a song and who gets what share. You fill it in while everyone is still in the room. It takes ten minutes and it saves months of arguing later.
Copy the template below. Then read the section on mistakes, because that is where the money gets stuck.
What is a split sheet?
It is a signed record of who owns what in a song. Each person who helped write it is listed, with the share they own. The shares add up to 100%.
It matters because money cannot be paid out cleanly without it. If two people register the same song with different shares, the societies and platforms can hold the payment until it is sorted.
The template
Copy this into a document and fill it in.
Song title:
Date written:
Where it was written:
| Full legal name | Role | What they did | PRS or society | IPI number | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Songwriter | Lyrics and topline | % | |||
| Producer | Beat and arrangement | % | |||
| Songwriter | % | ||||
| Total | 100% |
Statement: We agree these shares are correct for this song and replace any earlier verbal agreement.
Signatures and dates: One line for every person on the list.
How to fill it in
1. Use legal names. Stage names are fine as well, but the society will want the name on your membership. 2. Add your IPI number. If you are a PRS member this is on your account. If you are not a member yet, leave it blank and add it when you join. 3. Make the shares add up to 100%. Check it twice. 4. Sign it the same day. Memory gets worse and sessions get busy. Do it before anyone leaves. 5. Everyone keeps a copy. A photo of the signed page counts.
Writing split or master split
There are two things in a song, and each has its own split.
- The writing. The words and the melody. Writers and sometimes producers share this. - The recording. The master. This usually belongs to the artist or whoever paid for the session.
A split sheet normally covers the writing. If the producer is also taking a share of the recording, write that down as well. Say which split you mean.
The mistakes that hold up payments
- Shares that do not add up. 50, 30 and 30 is 110. - Different numbers on different registrations. Each person registers the song. The numbers have to match. - Nothing signed. A verbal yes is a memory, not a record. - No date. If you do not know when it was written, you cannot say which agreement applied. - Samples left out. If you used someone else's music, that has its own permission.
How RAAYDR handles splits
On RAAYDR the split is built in. The artist credits you on the track and you accept it. When that track is played, you get your agreed share of what it earns. See how it works for producers and songwriters.
Nothing is paid yet. Payments start once paid listening opens, and we will tell you before they do. Join the waitlist if you want to know when.
FAQ
- Is a split sheet legally binding?
- A signed and dated split sheet is strong evidence of what everyone agreed. If a lot of money is involved, ask a music lawyer to look at it. This page is not legal advice.
- When should I fill in a split sheet?
- As soon as the song is written, before anyone leaves the session.
- Do producers go on a split sheet?
- If a producer helped write the song, such as the melody or arrangement, they can be listed as a writer. If they only produced the recording, their share is usually agreed separately.
- Do I need a split sheet if I wrote it alone?
- No. It still helps to date and keep a record of what you wrote.
- What if we cannot agree the split?
- Do not register the song until you do. Registering conflicting shares is what causes the delays.
This template is general information, not legal advice. Each song and each agreement is different. RAAYDR hasn't launched to listeners yet, so the section on how RAAYDR handles splits describes the published model, not observed payouts.
