Publishing Split Memorandum
Legal document detailing ownership percentages among songwriters and publishers for a composition.
Definition
A publishing split memorandum is a formal agreement establishing precise ownership percentages of a musical composition among all contributing parties, including songwriters, producers, and publishers. This document specifies who controls what portion of the copyright and how royalty payments will be divided.
Split sheets are typically executed before or immediately after a recording session to prevent disputes. They become essential when registering works with PROs and distributors, ensuring all contributors receive proper credit and compensation.
Why It Matters
Clear split agreements prevent costly legal disputes that can delay releases and damage professional relationships. As more collaborators work remotely across different countries, documented splits become essential for global rights administration.
Artists and songwriters who establish good split documentation practices build reputations as professional collaborators, attracting better co-writing opportunities and publishing deals.
Examples in Practice
Four songwriters complete a track together and immediately execute a split sheet dividing ownership 40-25-25-10 based on each person's contribution to lyrics, melody, and production.
A producer discovers that a hit song they contributed to was registered with incorrect splits, leading to months of unpaid royalties until documentation corrected the error.
A publishing administrator requires split memorandums for all catalog songs before taking on representation, using these documents to ensure accurate royalty distribution.