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This week, Splits - what are they and how do they work? Let’s go -  

So you wrote the hook and your partner wrote the lyrics and the beat came from another source? Well, how do you all get paid if the song blows up?? I’ve told you on several blog posts that the way to get money in this business you must first be registered with a  PRO like ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC. Record labels, publishers, and film projects that may sync your music will not Pay Out if you got issues with who wrote what and where the money should go. Trust me, those people will look at you and say YOU MISSED IT!!!  

If you write with another writer and/or producer, you each have a stake in the song’s success and should determine what percentage each of you owns. So how do you do that? Well first you need to determine how much of the song you came up with? Trust me, many a fight have taken place over this. So let’s keep down the confusion, and keep everything orderly and professionally. You do this with a split sheet. A split sheet is an agreement that identifies who wrote what percentage of the song such as the producer(s) and songwriter(s). Each creator has to agree about how the percentages are defined. Some artists will divide it evenly based on who is in the room writing and producing the song. Some will base the percentages on the person’s specific contribution such as the lyrics, hook, melody, and beats. It is beneficial to understand the Artists position on splits so no hands will be thrown or lawsuits filed when the song is completed.  

So in simple terms if a producer and a songwriter/artist create a song then 50% goes to the producer and 50% goes to the songwriter/artist. If there are two writers then the producer still gets his 50% and the two writers get 25% apiece, make since? If you look at some of your bigger songs you will see as many as 13 people are listed as songwriters. Yes everyone of them will get a piece of that pie. And please take split sheets into the studio with you, fill them out right after the session while everything is fresh and everyone agrees on what was done. 

This week's #IAOTW - Independent Artists Of The Week is Latin Jones, a singer/songwriter and worship leader from Birmingham, AL. 

For more information or to hire Unda The Hat as your brand or label consultant send a message via undathehat.com. See you next Tuesday.