You made the beat. You spent hours on the sample chops, the 808 pattern, the mix. An artist comes in, writes a hook in 20 minutes, drops the vocal, and suddenly the song is doing numbers.
Who owns what? What do you get paid when it gets synced? Who collects the SoundExchange royalties?
If you didn't document anything before the session, these questions get very complicated very fast. Here's the complete producer protection checklist.
Before the Session
1. Decide on Your Standard Terms
Before you work with anyone, know what you're bringing to the table and what you want in return. Standard starting points for producers:
- Master ownership: 50% is common for an equal collaboration, but producers often take 20-30% if the artist is well-established or if it's a work-for-hire situation
- Publishing ownership: If you write no topline (melody/lyrics), you typically take 0% publishing. If you co-write the topline or create a sample-based beat, you may have a publishing stake.
- Royalty split: For SoundExchange, decide whether you want a Letter of Direction (LOD) filed to split digital performance royalties directly to your account
- Beat placement exclusivity: Are you selling the beat exclusively, leasing it non-exclusively, or collaborating on an original?
2. Register With a PRO
If you haven't yet, join ASCAP or BMI (or your country's equivalent). Get your IPI/CAE number. You need this to collect performance royalties, register works, and be listed correctly on split sheets.
- ASCAP: ascap.com, $50 one-time songwriter fee
- BMI: bmi.com, free for songwriters
This takes 10 minutes and pays you for the rest of your career. Do it now if you haven't.
During the Session
3. Discuss Splits Before You Start
The best time to have the ownership conversation is at the start of a session, not the end. After the song is done and everyone is excited, people's memories of "who contributed what" tend to drift in their favor. Set expectations upfront: "I'm bringing the beat, I'm thinking 50/50 master, 50% publishing to you since you're writing the topline — sound good?"
4. Record the Session (With Permission)
Voice memos, a camera rolling, a voice note at the end of the session confirming what was agreed. You don't need a formal legal recording — you just want something that captures the agreement in the moment, in case there's ever a dispute later.
After the Session
5. Fill Out a Split Sheet Immediately
Same day, if possible. A split sheet documents:
- Song title and creation date
- Every party's legal name, PRO, and IPI number
- Publishing (composition) % for each party
- Master recording % for each party
- ISRC and ISWC when available
- Signatures from all parties
Get it signed before the song leaves the session. If the artist takes a rough mix home, they can distribute it before you've locked down the paperwork. The split sheet is what proves your ownership if that happens.
You can generate a complete, custom split sheet PDF in 2 minutes at musicsplitsheets.com for $3 — no blank templates to fill out wrong, no missing fields.
6. File a Letter of Direction With SoundExchange
SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties from Pandora, SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, and similar services. They collect one check for the "featured artist" and one for the "sound recording copyright owner" (often the label or the artist on indie releases).
The problem: there's no automatic mechanism to split the master owner's check between you (the producer) and the artist. Unless you file a Letter of Direction with SoundExchange, all of that money goes to one party — and they're supposed to pay you out. Trust, but verify.
An LOD tells SoundExchange exactly how to split the master royalties — for example, 50% to the artist's SoundExchange account and 50% to yours. Once it's on file, you collect directly.
The Split Sheet + LOD bundle at musicsplitsheets.com generates both documents for $5 with your song's information already filled in.
7. Register the Work With Your PRO
Log into your ASCAP or BMI account and register the song. Include your co-writer's information (name, IPI, PRO affiliation), the split percentages, and the ISRC if you have it. This is what ensures you get paid when the song gets radio play, TV placement, or live performances.
8. Keep a Paper Trail
After the split sheet is signed:
- Email everyone a PDF copy
- Store it in a dedicated folder (Google Drive, Dropbox) for that song
- Keep your own copy in a master producer contracts folder
You want to be able to produce this document instantly if a distributor, sync licensor, or label asks for proof of ownership. Chasing down signatures from a collaborator 2 years later is painful.
When the Song Gets Placed or Blown Up
9. Know What Paperwork a Sync Deal Requires
If the song gets placed in a TV show, film, ad, or video game, the licensor will need chain of title documentation — proof that every person who owns the song has signed off on the license. This is your signed split sheet, plus any additional agreements.
Deals fall through because producers and artists can't produce clean paperwork quickly. Be the person who can.
10. Register the ISRC and Claim Your SoundExchange Profile
If the song is distributed, your distributor assigns an ISRC. Claim or update your SoundExchange profile to make sure your name is on the correct master-side account, and submit any LODs for songs where you have a master stake.
The Bottom Line
Protection isn't about being paranoid or adversarial — it's about being professional. A signed split sheet is standard practice in the music industry at every level. Artists and producers who document ownership upfront close sync deals faster, collect royalties more reliably, and avoid the disputes that derail careers.
Start with a split sheet for every collaboration. It takes 2 minutes at musicsplitsheets.com.