This is the most important document for producers

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dwells

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Writer/Publishing Split Sheet ​


Date:______________________________________________________
Artist:_____________________________________________________
Song title:_________________________________________________
Record Label:_______________________________________________
Studio:____________________________________________________
Engineer:__________________________________________________

We hereby confirm that our percentage of contribution and our respective publishing company (s) for the above-mentioned composition are:

________________________________________________________________


Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________


Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________

Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________


Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________
 
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If this is you first time seeing a split sheet, don't worry. it's is a simple document. It is the document that shows how the writers decided to split up the publishing from a record.

There is no set way to split up the percentages, as long as all the writers feel that it is fair.

But there are 2 common ways, I often see.

1. the split up the song equally, everyone gets the same amount

2. based on what was done. ususlly the music gets 50% and vocals get 50%. with the vocals, usually 15-20% for the hook and 10% a verse, and 5% for a bridge. 15+10+10+10+5=50%. but these numbers are all negotiable, meaning there are no set numbers, and if you are working with people who carry more weight, expect them to get a larger percentage.
 
Thanks dwells, I have yet to get enough money involved to justify using something like this, but I should start.

Noob Q's Time:

1. Like any legal document this is likely to be a little different depending on what you're doing and who you're working with...is this a pretty standard layout and use of wording?

2. If any of the fields don't apply, say a label, publishing company or ASCAP/BMI/SEESACK, it is accepted to leave them blank or write "N/A"? I suppose label would be "Independant" if you aren't signed, Publishing Co. would be "None" and ASCAP would be "N/A" in my case...what would you put for 'Studio' if its at home? Your street address? Make up a name?

3. For name of writer, use legal name right, not stage name?

Are they picky about these things? Sounds dumb, but a legal document can be voided by some dumb sh*t if the right attorney looks at it.

I had a go at it, would this be cool?

Writer/Publishing Split Sheet


Date:_11-9-09______________________________________________
Artist:_Big Joe the Man Witta Plan______________________________
Song title:_Gurl U Gotta Purdy Mouf_____________________________
Record Label:_Independent____________________________________
Studio:_Jizle's Home Studio____________________________________
Engineer:_J 2 Tha Muthf*ckin 10th Letter Shwang Shwang__________

We hereby confirm that our percentage of contribution and our respective publishing company (s) for the above-mentioned composition are:

________________________________________________________________


Writer:_Big Joe the Man Witta Plan___ Split%:__50___________
Publishing Co.:_Daddy's Home Music___ Date:__11-09-09_______
ASCAP BMI SESAC:_N/A____________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:_Big Joe____________ Telephone(555) _555-5555__
Email:_bigjoedaddy@prison.gov________________________
Address:_1429 Corrections Ln. Stankonia, ND 88888_______


Writer:_Jay Jizle (My real name)_____ Split%:__50____________
Publishing Co.:_N/A______________ Date:__11-09-09_________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:_N/A____________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:_Jay Jizle___________ Telephone(555) _888-8888__
Email:_jayjizle@gmail.com____________________________
Address:_Nun ya bidness______________________________

I would probably delete these last two if there wasn't more than 2 ppl with credit due. Or should they just all be "N/A"?


Writer:_N/A________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________


Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________
 
jay_jizle said:
1. Like any legal document this is likely to be a little different depending on what you're doing and who you're working with...is this a pretty standard layout and use of wording?
Click to expand...

A split sheet is supposed to be simple, it's supposed to be very simple. it's something that is to help the lawyers. something that every writer/beatmaker has on them at all times in the studio. it's just a standard form that shows how the writers decided to split the song. for split sheets, a lawyer is not necessary. but I do recommend having your entertainment lawyer take a peek at it, to make sure it's good. but this is the form i use, and i had several lawyers look through it. actually I gave several lawyers this form so they can use it with their clients. AND SEND A COPY OF THIS AFTER SONG TO YOUR LAWYER!!!

This should be done with every song that you do with someone. like when ever you collaborate, you need to do a split sheet. A split sheet avoids problems when people forget what they agreed. Every song should have a split sheet.
 
dwells said:
Writer/Publishing Split Sheet ​


Date: THIS IS THE DATE THE SONG WAS DONE
Artist: THE ARTIST
Song title: SONG TITLE
Record Label: RECORD LABEL
Studio: WHERE WAS THE SONG RECORDED
Engineer: WHO IS THE ENGINEER

 We hereby confirm that our percentage of contribution and our respective publishing company (s) for the above-mentioned composition are:

________________________________________________________________


Writer: NAME OF WRITER Split%:THE SPLIT AGREED UPON
Publishing Co.:THE WRITERS PUB COMPANY, IF NOT SIGNED THN IT IS THE WRITERS PUB COMPANY
 Date: THE DATE
ASCAP BMI SESAC: WHAT PRO THE WRITER IS WITH
WORDS MUSIC BOTH DID THE WRITER WRITE LYRICS OR THE BEAT
Signature: SINGATURE Telephone(___) __________
Email:_______________________________
Address:_________________________________
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be exactly like this, but must have the date, song title, writers, writers pub company, pro, lyrics or music, singature, and contact info.
 
jay_jizle said:
2. If any of the fields don't apply, say a label, publishing company or ASCAP/BMI/SEESACK, it is accepted to leave them blank or write "N/A"? I suppose label would be "Independant" if you aren't signed, Publishing Co. would be "None" and ASCAP would be "N/A" in my case...what would you put for 'Studio' if its at home? Your street address? Make up a name?
Click to expand...

LABEL: doesn't need to be in, but if the artist is on a label it should be there.

PUBLISHING COMPANY: yes, you need a publishing company if you are not signed.

ASCAP/BMI/SESAC: yes, it needs to be here. you need to be with a pro to get publishing (backend money) PRO=performing rights organization. call your local office for more details, also talk to the about a publishing company.

Studio: doesn't need to be put in, hell put home if that is the case.

Address: just contact info

Make up a name? seriously when do you make up stuff on forms?
 
jay_jizle said:
Date:_11-9-09______________________________________________
Artist:_Big Joe the Man Witta Plan______________________________
Song title:_Gurl U Gotta Purdy Mouf_____________________________
Record Label:_Independent_THE NAME OF THE LABEL NOT IF IT'S A INDIE OR MAJOR. IF NOT ON A LABEL, DON'T MARK IT. PUT NA OR SOMETHING__________________
Studio:_Jizle's Home JUST PUT NA, OR HOME RECORDING
Studio____________________________________
Engineer:_J 2 Tha Muthf*ckin 10th Letter Shwang LEGAL NAME AND PKA (IF YOU WANT)
Shwang__________

We hereby confirm that our percentage of contribution and our respective publishing company (s) for the above-mentioned composition are:

________________________________________________________________


Writer:_Big Joe the Man Witta Plan LEGAL NAME AND PKA (IF YOU WANT)Split%:__50___________
Publishing Co.:_Daddy's Home Music___ Date:__11-09-09_______
ASCAP BMI SESAC:_N/A____________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:_Big Joe____________ Telephone(555) _555-5555__
Email:_bigjoedaddy@prison.gov________________________
Address:_1429 Corrections Ln. Stankonia, ND 88888_______


Writer:_Jay Jizle (My real name)_____ Split%:__50____________
Publishing Co.:_N/A______________ Date:__11-09-09_________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:_N/A____________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:_Jay Jizle___________ Telephone(555) _888-8888__
Email:_jayjizle@gmail.com____________________________
Address:_Nun ya bidness______________________________

I would probably delete these last two if there wasn't more than 2 ppl with credit due. Or should they just all be "N/A"?


Writer:_N/A________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________


Writer:_________________ Split%:________________
Publishing Co.:__________________ Date:__________________
ASCAP BMI SESAC:________________ WORDS MUSIC BOTH
Signature:____________________________ Telephone(___) __________
Email;_______________________________
Address:_________________________________
Click to expand...




But over all that looks good, keep in mind this is a legal document, so you want to use your legal name. I suggest have an entertainment lawyer review until you are used to it. but always send a copy to your lawyer.
 
good lookin dwells and thanks madt becuz i was gonna ask what pka was !
:cheers:
 
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if you plan on collecting 'backend' money you REALLY need to talk to a PRO (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC). also talk to them about setting up a publishing company, and also talk to them about finding an entertainment lawyer to help you do it.
 
For sure, anytime you're collaborating on songs with other people you want an agreement in writing in place before hand like this. I personally know someone who just recently had Universal Records interested in a song, but it fell apart when her and the writers couldn't agree on a split. A simple split sheet could have avoided this problem.
 
I had to post it. I realized the majority of people here have no idea what a split sheet is. and that is very, very shameful on our community. We need to focus on proper business as well as any other aspect of producing. The reason why many talented people don't make it in this business, is because they don't know the business of it.
 
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