Free tool
Free Split Sheet Template
A split sheet records who owns what percentage of a song — and it's the document PROs, publishers, and courts rely on when royalties are on the line. Generate a professional one free: guided fields, automatic 100% validation, ownership pie charts, e-signatures, and a PDF ready to file.
What is a split sheet?
A split sheet is a short, signed agreement that lists every writer of a song and the percentage of the composition each one owns. It is created the day the song is written and signed by everyone in the room.
It matters because U.S. copyright law presumes co-writers own equal shares unless there is an agreement that says otherwise. If four people touched a song and nothing is in writing, each owns 25% — no matter who wrote the hook. Registrations at your PRO, releases through your distributor, and publishing deals all flow from the numbers on this one document.
What every split sheet must include
- Song title and any alternate titles
- Date the song was written and the session location
- Each writer's full legal name (as registered with their PRO)
- Each writer's PRO affiliation (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR) and IPI/CAE number
- Each writer's ownership percentage — the splits must total exactly 100%
- Each writer's publisher (or self-published designation) and publisher IPI
- What each person contributed (lyrics, melody, track/production)
- Signature and date for every writer on the song
Our generator walks you through every field above — and won't let a sheet save unless the splits total exactly 100%.
Common split scenarios
| Scenario | Typical split | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Two co-writers, equal work | 50% / 50% | The default assumption in most co-writing sessions — deviate only by agreement. |
| Writer + producer who made the beat | 50% / 50% | Producers who contribute the track typically take half the composition, but it is negotiable. |
| Topline duo over a producer's track | 25% / 25% / 50% | The topliners share the melody/lyric half; the producer keeps the track half. |
| Band of four, one primary writer | 40% / 20% / 20% / 20% | Whatever the band agrees — the split sheet is where the agreement becomes real. |
Want the full playbook — producer points, co-publishing, admin shares, and the agreements behind them? It's covered in Module 2: Splits, Shares & Songwriter Agreements.
Split sheet FAQ
What is a split sheet?
A split sheet is a signed document that records who wrote a song and what percentage of the composition each writer owns. PROs, publishers, and courts treat it as the primary evidence of songwriting ownership — without one, every collaborator is legally presumed to own an equal share.
Is a split sheet legally binding?
Yes. A split sheet signed by all writers is a written agreement about copyright ownership and is enforceable. It is the document a PRO, publisher, distributor, or court will ask for when ownership is disputed.
When should we fill out a split sheet?
In the session, the day the song is written — before anyone leaves the room. Memories diverge fast, and a split agreed while everyone is together avoids the disputes that stall releases and freeze royalties later.
What percentage should a producer get on a split sheet?
There is no legal rule — it is whatever the collaborators agree. A common starting point is 50% of the composition for the producer when they created the underlying track, with the topline writers sharing the other 50%.
What is an IPI/CAE number and where do I find it?
An IPI (also called CAE) is the international ID number your PRO assigns you as a songwriter or publisher. You'll find it in your ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, or GMR account dashboard — it is how collection societies worldwide identify you.
Do I need a publisher listed on my split sheet?
Only if you have one. If you're unpublished, list yourself as self-published — your writer's share and publisher's share both belong to you until you sign them away.
Make it official in five minutes
Create a free The Writers Share account, fill in the guided split sheet, collect e-signatures from your collaborators, and download a PRO-ready PDF — free.
Start your split sheet