A ready-to-use template for documenting ownership splits, licensing terms, and contributor agreements for music assets.
This template provides a structured starting point for documenting the ownership, licensing terms, and royalty collection arrangements for a musical work and its associated recordings. It's designed to be used between co-writers, co-producers, or any combination of parties who have contributed to a track and need to formalize their respective interests before or alongside distribution.
When to use this template:
When not to use this template alone: This template covers the core elements of a rights agreement but is not a substitute for a full publishing agreement, recording agreement, or music services agreement. If any party is assigning (rather than retaining) their rights, or if significant advances or royalty minimums are involved, engage a music solicitor or entertainment attorney to draft or review the full agreement.
Copy the content below the line and fill in all bracketed fields. Delete any sections that don't apply to your situation.
Date: [DD Month YYYY]
This Agreement is entered into between the following parties (collectively, "the Parties"):
Party 1 Full Legal Name: ______________________________ Trading / Artist Name (if different): ________________ Address: ______________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ PRO Affiliation: _______________ IPI Number: ______
Party 2 Full Legal Name: ______________________________ Trading / Artist Name (if different): ________________ Address: ______________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ PRO Affiliation: _______________ IPI Number: ______
Party 3 (add or remove party blocks as needed) Full Legal Name: ______________________________ Trading / Artist Name (if different): ________________ Address: ______________________________________ Email: ________________________________________ PRO Affiliation: _______________ IPI Number: ______
Track Title: _________________________________ Alternative / Working Titles: ____________________
ISRC (master recording): _______________________ ISWC (composition, if assigned): ________________
Recording Date(s): ____________________________ Recording Location(s): _________________________ Anticipated Release Date: ______________________
Description of the work (optional — note any samples cleared, interpolations, or other pre-existing material incorporated into this recording):
__________________________________________________
The Parties agree that ownership of the rights in the Track is apportioned as set out below. Composition ownership covers the melody, harmony, and lyrics (the "musical work"). Master ownership covers the specific recording listed in Section 2.
All percentages within each rights type must total 100%.
| Party | Role(s) | Composition % | Master % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Party 1 name] | [Songwriter / Producer / Performer / etc.] | [e.g. 50%] | [e.g. 50%] | [e.g. Publishing admin via XYZ Music] |
| [Party 2 name] | [Songwriter / Producer / Performer / etc.] | [e.g. 50%] | [e.g. 50%] | |
| [Party 3 name] | [e.g. Producer only — no composition share] | [e.g. 0%] | [e.g. 0%] | [Compensated via flat fee — see Section 5] |
| Total | 100% | 100% |
Controlled vs. uncontrolled composition shares: Where a Party's composition share is administered by a publisher or sub-publisher, that Party is responsible for ensuring their publisher's details are correctly registered with the relevant collection societies. The shares listed above represent each Party's total beneficial interest; publisher splits within a Party's share are an internal matter for that Party.
Exclusivity: This Agreement (select one)
Territory: (select one)
Duration: This Agreement has (select one)
Rights covered: Unless otherwise agreed in writing, this Agreement covers all uses of the Track including but not limited to: streaming, digital download, physical release, synchronization (film, TV, advertising, games), broadcast, public performance, and print.
Synchronization approvals: (select one)
Each Party is responsible for collecting their own royalties through their applicable PRO, collection society, and/or distributor, in accordance with the ownership splits set out in Section 3.
Master royalties (streaming, neighboring rights) will be collected via: Distributor / Label: ____________________________ Neighboring rights collection society: ______________
Composition performance royalties will be collected directly by each Party through their respective PRO:
Mechanical royalties (digital and physical reproductions) will be collected via:
One-off payments (if applicable — list any flat fees paid for contributions not covered by an ongoing royalty share, e.g. session musicians, buy-out producers):
| Recipient | Amount | Payment Date | Description | |-----------|--------|--------------|-------------| | [Name] | [Amount + currency] | [Date] | [e.g. session performance fee — no ongoing royalty share] |
The Parties agree that the Track will be credited as follows:
Release artist name: ___________________________ Songwriter credits (for publishing / PRO registration): ____________________________ Production credits (liner notes / metadata): ________
Each Party warrants that they have the right to be credited as described and that no credits conflict with any exclusive agreement they hold with a third party.
This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument signed by all Parties. No oral amendment, course of dealing, or conduct shall constitute a variation of this Agreement.
Any Party wishing to propose an amendment must circulate the proposed changes in writing to all other Parties, allowing a minimum of [14] calendar days for review and response before the amendment is considered agreed.
Each Party represents and warrants that:
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Country / State]. Any disputes arising from this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of [Country / State], except where the Parties agree to resolve a dispute through a nominated mediator as a first step.
By signing below, each Party agrees to the terms set out in this Agreement.
Party 1 Signature: __________________________ Printed name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________
Party 2 Signature: __________________________ Printed name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________
Party 3 Signature: __________________________ Printed name: _______________________ Date: ______________________________
End of Template
This template is provided as a practical starting point, not as legal advice. For straightforward arrangements between trusted collaborators — especially for independent releases without significant commercial value at stake — this template should serve you well as a clear record of your agreement.
For releases involving:
...we strongly recommend having the final agreement reviewed by a music solicitor or entertainment attorney qualified in the relevant jurisdiction. A short legal review typically costs far less than resolving a dispute later.
Once your agreement is signed, you can attach it to the corresponding asset in Resolut for a complete audit trail:
The document will be stored securely and associated with the asset's rights profile. It will be accessible to all team members with at least Viewer access to the asset, and will be included in any rights audit exports.
Resolut also allows you to enter the ownership splits from Section 3 directly into the rights profile, where they'll be validated for completeness (shares must total 100% per rights type) and carried through to CWR exports, distribution metadata, and royalty reporting. Keep your entered splits in Resolut in sync with your signed agreement — if you amend the agreement, update Resolut to match.
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