The ToolkitGet paid for your songs
Split sheet maker
A split sheet records who wrote a song and how much each writer owns. Fill it in before anyone leaves, then print it, sign it and give everyone a copy.
What printsThe song only, not the recording
We check whether your songs are paying you.
Start with a free royalty scan, where we look up your songs in public registries. The paid Royalty & Revenue Review looks inside your own accounts and ends in a written plan.
- Royalty & Revenue Review $297
We go through your accounts, find what isn't set up to pay you, and give you the fixes in order. Not accounting, and not collecting money for you. We never promise a dollar amount.
See what's in it
Not sure what you need? A 30-minute call (opens in a new tab) costs $49, and the fee comes off any project you book within 30 days. Flat fees, never a percentage of what you earn.
What a split sheet is
A split sheet is a one-page agreement between everyone who wrote a song. It records each writer's legal name, their share of the song, and the details their royalties are paid against: their performing rights organization (PRO), their IPI number, and their publisher if they have one. Everyone signs it.
It matters because nothing else records it. Without a written agreement, US copyright law generally treats co-writers as equal owners, whatever you meant at the time. And every registration that follows (your PRO, The MLC, your distributor's split tool, any publishing admin) needs the same percentages.
Fill it in the day the song is finished, before anyone leaves. People remember splits differently later, especially once a song starts earning.
What goes on a split sheet
- The song title, exactly as it will be released.
- The date and place it was written.
- Every writer's legal name, not their artist name.
- Each writer's share. The shares add up to exactly 100%.
- Each writer's PRO and IPI number.
- Each writer's publisher, if they have one.
- What each person contributed: lyrics, music, or both.
- Everyone's signature and the date.
How to decide the percentages
There's no legal formula. The split is whatever the writers agree to, so agree to it out loud. Three common approaches:
- Even split. Everyone who wrote gets an equal share. Simple, and common for bands and two-person sessions.
- By contribution. Some writers split lyrics and music down the middle, then divide each half among the people who wrote it.
- One policy for the band. Pick a rule once, write it down, and use it for every song in the catalog.
A producer who wrote part of the melody or lyrics is a writer and belongs on the sheet. In hip-hop and pop, the person who made the beat is usually treated as a writer too, because the beat is part of the composition. A producer who only produced the recording usually isn't on the split sheet; they're paid through a production fee and a percentage of the recording's earnings (called points), in a separate agreement.
The song and the recording are separate
A split sheet covers the composition: the words and music you could play on one guitar. The master recording is a separate thing, usually owned by whoever paid for it when the paperwork says so, and anything a producer, label or featured artist earns from the master is a separate agreement. Keep the two conversations separate, and tell everyone at the session that you are doing so.
Questions
Is a split sheet legally binding?
It's a written agreement signed by the writers, and it's the best evidence of what you agreed. For a song with real money or a deal attached, have a lawyer look at it. In Texas, Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (opens in a new tab) helps artists find affordable legal help. In other states, look for a Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts group near you in this national directory (opens in a new tab).
What if we never did a split sheet?
Do one now. A split sheet signed after the fact still records what you agreed, and it's far better than nothing. Without a written agreement, co-writers are generally treated as equal owners.
What is an IPI number?
An IPI (also called CAE) number is the ID your PRO gives you when you join. It's how royalties find you, and it's in your PRO account. If a writer isn't with a PRO yet, leave it blank and fill it in when they join.
Do I need a publisher to fill out a split sheet?
No. Leave the publisher blank if you don't have one.
Does every writer need to be with the same PRO?
No. Each writer registers their own share with their own PRO. The percentages just need to match everywhere.
Where is what I type stored?
Only in your browser, on this device. Nothing you type is sent to Well Made Plays or anyone else. Clear it any time with "Clear this sheet".
Last reviewed October 8, 2026