Songwriting Is All About Ownership
When two songwriters go into the studio and complete a song, it is imperative that both parties agree to their share of the song (ownership split) in that new body of work. Songwriting can be compared to ownership of a property. Each song encompasses a total ownership percentage of 100%. The music (or track) is considered 50% ownership, and the melody and lyrics embody the other 50% ownership. If you are a music producer and you complete the track yourself, then you own 50% of the song.

However, if you work with another producer on the track, then you must split that 50% up amongst the people claiming ownership or co-production on the music. Therefore, you would have 25% ownership, and your partner or co-producer owns 25%, as long as you two do an equal amount of work on the track, and I will further explain that later. The melody and lyrics of the song are broken down in the same manner, with respect to the remaining 50%. If you write and there are two other writers working on a song with you, yet, you come up with the majority of the song (i.e. the melody, hook and lyrics for the bridge) then you actually own more of that song then the other two helping you to complete it.

It is then up to the songwriters’ involved on how the percentages should be broken up. With all this said, it is extremely important that everyone claiming ownership on the song complete a document with the writer’s splits on the song (i.e. split sheet) and sign it at the end of each session when the demo or song is completed. The longer it takes for a songwriter to sign off on the split sheet, the more unclear / controversial becomes the agreed upon ownership percentages. Finally, once the song is complete a songwriter needs to get their song copyrighted to protect their rights.