Split sheets: What they are and how to use them
Learn what a split sheet is, why every co-written song needs one, and how to get yours signed before royalties become a dispute.
Key Takeaways
A split sheet records each contributor's share of a song — master recording and publishing can be split separately
Ownership conversations are easier before the money arrives
You need one for every track where more than one person contributed creatively or financially
The platform detects lyric contributions from multiple collaborators and prompts you to establish splits
Unsigned agreements are not binding — save and share as soon as the work is done, not after it blows up
A split sheet is a simple legal document that records who wrote what percentage of a song — and it may be the most overlooked piece of paperwork in music. Without one, co-writers and producers have no formal agreement to fall back on when royalties start flowing or disputes arise. Getting it signed before you leave the studio is standard practice for any professional songwriter.
What a split sheet actually covers
A split sheet documents two things: who contributed to a song, and what percentage of ownership each person holds.
Ownership in music has two layers. The master recording is the actual audio file — the recorded version of the song. Publishing relates to the underlying composition — the melody and lyrics. These can be split differently and often are. A producer who contributed the beat but not the lyrics might hold a share of the master and none of the publishing, or a negotiated share of both.
Your split sheet should record: contributor name, their role (Producer, Co-Writer, Featuring Artist), their share of the master, their share of the publishing, and the date the agreement was made.
Why you need one before the work is finished
The most common mistake is treating the split sheet as admin to deal with later. Later is when people's memories of what was agreed start to differ. Later is when a sync licence inquiry arrives and nobody can confirm who needs to sign off. Later is when a streaming royalty payment lands and the calculation is disputed.
The conversation is always easier before the song is finished and before anyone has formed an emotional attachment to a particular outcome.
How to create a split sheet on Music Artist Manager
Inside your project, open the Splits section. If the platform has detected multiple contributors working on a track — for example, lyric notes or collaborative edits — it will have already prompted you to create a split sheet for that track.
Click Create Split Sheet for the relevant track. Add each contributor by email address. Assign their role. Set their percentage. The platform calculates whether your splits total 100% and flags any discrepancy before you save.
Once saved, the split sheet is attached to the track and visible to all contributors with project access. Collaborators and Viewers cannot see financial data by default, but the split sheet is a separate record — its visibility follows the access settings you configure.
What happens to the split sheet
The split sheet inside Music Artist Manager is a record for your project. It is not filed with a performing rights organisation or a distributor automatically. For formal registration — with PRS, PPL, or your distributor — you will need to take the agreed figures and register them separately.
Think of the platform record as the agreed source of truth that everyone signs off on, which you then use as the basis for any formal registration. Having a timestamped, agreed record makes that process significantly more straightforward.
The Smart Split Analytics feature
The platform monitors your project for situations where splits should be established. When it detects significant lyrical input from more than one collaborator, it surfaces a nudge to create or update a split sheet. This is particularly useful on projects with multiple contributors where the creative process is ongoing — you do not have to remember to come back and formalise things. The platform flags it for you.
Start the conversation early. Set the split before the song leaves the project. It is a five-minute task that prevents problems that take significantly longer to resolve.
