Songwriter Agreement Template - Co-Writer Publishing Split

Someone helped you write the song — and now they're entitled to a share of everything that song earns, for the rest of the copyright. This Songwriter Agreement Template is built for the most common co-writing situation: two or more people wrote the song together, the publishing splits need to be documented, and everyone needs clarity on what they own before the track goes anywhere near a distributor, publisher, or sync agent.

Drafted by an entertainment attorney who handles publishing splits and songwriting disputes for independent artists and producers.

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What's Included

Defining the Composition

• Song Identification — Title, alternative titles, and a description of the co-writers' respective contributions (melody, lyrics, chord structure, arrangement).
• Contribution Acknowledgment — Each co-writer confirms the nature and extent of their contribution, establishing the factual basis for the split.
• Date of Creation — Documents when the composition was created and completed, relevant to copyright registration and any prior claims.

Publishing Split

• Ownership Percentages — Each co-writer's share of the composition clearly stated as a percentage, totaling 100%. Fill in whatever you've negotiated — equal splits, contribution-based splits, or any other arrangement.
• Writer's Share vs. Publisher's Share — Clarifies how the total ownership percentage breaks down into writer's share (paid directly by PROs to songwriters) and publisher's share (paid to publishers).
• Publisher Identification — If one or more co-writers have a publishing company or administrator, their publishing entity is identified and their share flows accordingly.

PRO Registration

• Registration Obligations — Addresses which co-writer is responsible for registering the composition with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, and how each party registers their individual share.
• Conflicting Registration Prevention — Provisions designed to prevent co-writers from registering different (conflicting) splits with their respective PROs — one of the most common and damaging mistakes in independent music.
• Mechanical Licensing — Addresses how mechanical royalties are collected and distributed among co-writers, including the role of a mechanical rights administrator if applicable.

Administration Rights

• Independent Administration — Default provision allowing each co-writer to independently administer their share of the composition (license it for sync, etc.), subject to customary limitations.
• Joint Approval Option — Alternative provision requiring both/all co-writers to approve certain uses (e.g., sync placements, interpolations, commercial advertising) before the composition can be licensed.
• Accounting Between Co-Writers — If one co-writer collects income on behalf of all, the accounting and payment obligations to the other co-writers are defined.

Copyright Registration

• Copyright Office Registration — Addresses whether the co-writers will jointly register the composition with the U.S. Copyright Office and who bears the registration cost.
• Ownership of Copyright — Confirms the composition is jointly owned by the co-writers in their stated percentages, with no exclusive rights in any party to exclude the others from the composition.

Standard Legal Protections

• Warranties — Each co-writer confirms their contribution is original and doesn't infringe on any third-party copyrights or contain uncleared samples.
• Indemnification — Mutual protection if a co-writer's contribution turns out to infringe someone else's copyright.
• Governing Law — Your choice of state; enforceable in all U.S. jurisdictions.

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Common Mistakes This Template Helps You Avoid

❌ No written split agreement before the song is registered — Once a song is registered at a PRO with one split, correcting it after the fact is a bureaucratic nightmare and can delay or freeze royalty payments for months.

❌ Both co-writers register different splits at their PRO — ASCAP and BMI will hold all royalties in suspense until the conflict is resolved. This template creates a written record that governs what the split actually is.

❌ No clarity on sync approval rights — Without a joint approval clause, one co-writer could license the composition for an advertisement or video game you find objectionable, and you'd have no legal basis to stop it.

❌ Contribution isn't documented — Years later, when the song is worth something, anyone can claim they wrote more than they did. A written agreement signed at the time of creation is the only reliable documentation of who contributed what.

✅ This template locks in the split, prevents PRO conflicts, and documents each co-writer's contribution before the song leaves the studio.

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Who This Is For

• Songwriters who co-write with collaborators — whether in the studio, over email, or in a writing camp setting.
• Artists who write with their producers — where the producer contributes melody or musical elements that constitute a songwriting contribution (not just production).
• Producers who write toplines or melodies — who want their composition ownership documented separately from their producer agreement.
• Music publishers & administrators — onboarding new co-written works into their catalog and needing a clean split agreement before issuing licenses.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the Company & Songwriter version?
This Co-Writer Publishing Split template is for agreements between individual co-writers — people. The Company & Songwriter version is structured for situations where a company (a label, publishing house, or artist's entity) is entering into a songwriting agreement with an individual songwriter. If both parties are individuals, use this template. If one side is a business entity, use the Company & Songwriter version.

What's a standard co-writer split?
There's no universal standard. Equal splits (50/50 for two writers, 33/33/33 for three) are common in collaborative settings. Contribution-based splits that weight melody vs. lyrics vs. beat are also used. Some writing camps use predetermined split formulas. Whatever you agree on, this template documents it.

Does this cover the master recording?
No. This template covers only the composition (the underlying song). If you also need to address who owns the master recording of the song, you need a separate agreement — a Producer Agreement, Collaboration Agreement, or Recording Agreement depending on your situation.

What if the producer wrote the beat but says they're not a songwriter?
That's a factual and legal question that depends on the nature of their contribution. Under U.S. copyright law, musical contributions that are original and contain sufficient creativity — including musical arrangements and melodic elements — can constitute authorship of the composition. If you're uncertain, consult an entertainment attorney before finalizing the split.

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What Happens After Purchase

✅ Instant Download — Word (.docx) file delivered immediately after checkout.
✅ Fully Editable — Fill in co-writer names, contribution percentages, PRO affiliations, and publishing administrator information directly in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
✅ Attorney-Drafted — PRO registration provisions, joint approval clauses, and indemnification built in.
✅ Reusable — Use for every co-written song in your catalog.

Also available: Songwriter Agreement - Company & Songwriter if one of the parties is a business entity rather than an individual.

Need help structuring a complex multi-writer split? Email adam@acfreedmanlaw.com

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*DISCLAIMER: This template is provided as a starting point and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Publishing splits involving significant catalog value, existing publisher relationships, or international rights should be reviewed by a qualified entertainment attorney before the agreement is executed.