Agree, then write it
To divide royalties for a song, talk before the song is released and decide each person’s share. Then type the shares into a split sheet so everyone has the same record. If you need a starting point, see our split sheet template and our guide to split sheets.
The statute does not pick a number
Under US copyright law, the authors of a joint work are coowners of the copyright. The statute does not set a percentage split, so the number comes from the agreement the songwriters make with each other, not from the law. For related questions, visit our FAQ or read about producer shares.
Works made for hire are different
If the song is a work made for hire, the employer is considered the author unless the parties signed a written agreement that says otherwise. That is a different setup from coauthors deciding their own split, so the paperwork matters.
Put it on a sheet
Write the agreed split on a sheet and keep it with the song records. A clear template can help later when questions come up, and the app will also support reminders, records, and a PDF report. More notes about the app will come later.
Not legal advice. Splitline does not grant a license, clear a sample, or pay royalties.