co-writes are great for creativity, terrible for admin. here's how to track splits properly and get paid correctly.
song splits define who owns what percentage of a song. they determine how royalties are divided between writers, producers, and publishers. getting them right is crucial. disputes over splits are one of the most common problems in the music industry.
every co-write needs a split sheet documenting: song title, date written, all contributors and their roles, ownership percentages (must total 100%), PRO affiliations, and signatures. do this in the room, before anyone leaves.
waiting too long to document splits, assuming equal splits without discussing, forgetting producers or sample clearances, not updating splits when the song changes, and storing split sheets where you can't find them.
one co-write is manageable. fifty co-writes with different collaborators? that's where most musicians lose track. you need a system that connects splits to works, people, and payments automatically.
pica connects splits to works, tracks who owes what, and generates payment reports automatically.
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