The Essential Guide to Song Splits: What Every Songwriter Must Know

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Understanding Song Splits and Registration: Protect Your Royalties Before You Release Anything

Collaboration is one of the best parts of creating music, but it also comes with responsibilities. When multiple writers, producers, or contributors work on a song, everyone involved needs to know exactly how the revenue will be divided. These agreements are known as song splits, and they are one of the most important steps in protecting your income as a creator.

Too many artists skip this step, release the song anyway, and only try to figure out the business later. That almost always leads to confusion, disputes, missing royalties, and damaged relationships. Clear splits protect the music and the people who made it.

This article breaks down why song splits matter, how to register music correctly, and the most common mistakes to avoid.

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Why Song Splits Matter

Every song generates several types of income, including mechanical royalties, performance royalties, and sync fees. Song splits determine exactly how those earnings are divided between collaborators.

If the splits are unclear or never formally agreed upon, royalty payments can be delayed, misdirected, or never paid at all. Even worse, collaborators may disagree on who deserves what, which can shut the whole process down.

Splits are typically expressed in percentages. For example:

• Writer A: 40%

• Writer B: 40%

• Writer C: 20%

  
  

Whatever the numbers, the group must agree before anything is registered or released.

A simple rule:Always put splits in writing.Even an email thread stating the agreed percentages is better than nothing, and it serves as a record if questions come up later.

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How to Register Your Works Properly

Once the collaborators have agreed on splits, the next step is proper registration. Accurate registration ensures that every writer receives the royalties they are entitled to.

Follow this checklist:

1. List All Songwriters

Include:

• Full legal names

• PRO affiliations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc.)

• Publisher information, if applicable

This information ensures that royalty organizations know exactly who contributed to the composition.

2. Assign Song Splits

Record the percentages clearly and confirm that every registration system reflects those same numbers. Consistency across platforms is essential.

3. Register With Your Performing Rights Organization (PRO)

In the United States, this means ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC.Be sure to register both the writer share and publisher share if you have one.

4. Register Mechanical Rights

Sign up with The MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective) to collect mechanical royalties from streaming and digital downloads.

5. Use Administration Services (Optional)

Publishing admin companies can help ensure your music is properly registered around the world. Popular options include:

• Songtrust

• CD Baby Pro

• TuneCore Publishing

These services can help track international royalties and ensure splits are recognized globally.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even experienced creators run into problems when registration is rushed or incomplete. Avoid these pitfalls:

1. Not Agreeing on Splits Beforehand

This is the number one cause of disputes and lost income. Never skip the conversation.

2. Forgetting to Register Co-Writers

If a collaborator is not registered, they may not receive their share of royalties, and the payment system may hold money indefinitely.

3. Incorrect PRO or Publisher Information

A small mistake, like a misspelled name or wrong affiliation, can prevent royalty payments from being processed correctly.

4. Changing Splits Without Updating Registrations

If the split agreement changes, you must update the information everywhere the song is registered.

5. Assuming Self-Publishing Handles Everything Automatically

Even if you release music independently, you still must register compositions and enter splits manually.

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Final Thoughts

Song splits and proper registration are not paperwork to deal with later; they are essential steps that protect your work and ensure everyone is paid fairly. Taking the time to establish clear percentages and register your music correctly strengthens your professionalism, preserves your relationships, and keeps your royalties flowing where they belong.