A split sheet is a simple document that records who created a song and what percentage each person owns — and it's the single most important piece of paper in any collaboration. Made in the heat of a session and signed before anyone leaves, it prevents the disputes that destroy friendships and tie up royalties for years. Here's what a split sheet is, why you need one every time, and a template you can copy. This is practical guidance, not legal advice — for high-stakes deals, have a music lawyer review your agreement.
Why every collaboration needs one
Memories fade and stories diverge. Six months after a song blows up, "I wrote most of the hook" becomes a real fight if nothing was written down. A split sheet, agreed when everyone is happy and in the room, is what your distributor and any PRO or publisher rely on to pay each person correctly. Without it, royalties can be frozen, and re-negotiating after success is far harder than agreeing up front.
Two kinds of splits — don't confuse them
A song actually has two sets of rights, and splits can differ between them:
- The composition (the songwriting — melody, lyrics, chords). This is publishing; see publishing royalties.
- The recording (the actual master you distribute). This is where streaming royalties flow.
Often the same people share both, but not always — a session musician might share the recording but not the songwriting. A good split sheet captures both. For how the recording side is paid out, see royalty splits in India.
What to put on a split sheet
- Song title (and working title), and the date.
- Each contributor's legal name, stage name, and contact.
- What each person contributed (lyrics, melody, production, vocals, etc.).
- The songwriting/composition split percentages (must total 100%).
- The recording/master split percentages, if different (must total 100%).
- Each person's PRO affiliation, if any — see what a PRO is.
- Signatures of everyone involved.
A simple split-sheet template
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Song title | "Late Night Drive" |
| Date | 9 June 2026 |
| Contributor 1 | Legal name / stage name / email |
| — Contribution | Lyrics + topline melody |
| — Composition split | 50% |
| — Recording split | 40% |
| — PRO | e.g. IPRS |
| Contributor 2 | Legal name / stage name / email |
| — Contribution | Production + instrumentation |
| — Composition split | 50% |
| — Recording split | 60% |
| — PRO | e.g. IPRS |
| Totals | Composition 100% · Recording 100% |
| Signatures | All contributors sign + date |
Copy this into a document, fill it in during or right after the session, and have everyone sign — a photo of a signed sheet is far better than nothing.
From split sheet to getting paid
When you distribute, enter the recording splits so your distributor pays each collaborator automatically at the source — no chasing anyone for their share later. Register the composition with your PRO and/or publisher so the publishing side is collected too. The split sheet is the source of truth both systems rely on.
When to involve a lawyer
A split sheet covers ownership percentages. For bigger questions — ongoing band agreements, who controls licensing decisions, what happens if someone leaves — a short written collaboration agreement reviewed by a music lawyer is worth it. Understanding your underlying rights first helps; see music copyright in India and, if you're weighing it, whether you need a music publisher.
Made the song with others? Grootin pays every collaborator their share automatically when you set splits at release. See the plans.