Songwriters Co-Writing and Collaboration 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a 'co-publishing' deal in the context of collaborative songwriting?
- An arrangement where a writer shares the publisher's share with a publishing company (Correct answer)
- A deal between two record labels
- A split of merchandise income
- An agreement to co-write a fixed number of songs
Correct answer: An arrangement where a writer shares the publisher's share with a publishing company
In co-publishing, the writer retains part of the publisher's share rather than assigning it all away.
Question 2: A song's royalties are generally divided into which two main shares?
- The writer's share and the publisher's share (Correct answer)
- The radio share and the streaming share
- The melody share and the lyric share
- The artist share and the label share
Correct answer: The writer's share and the publisher's share
Publishing income is split into the writer's share and the publisher's share.
Question 3: What is the best practice when a collaborator contributes only a small lyric tweak to a finished song?
- Discuss and agree on a fair small percentage or no split before continuing (Correct answer)
- Automatically give them 50%
- Remove them from all credits
- Wait until the song earns money to decide
Correct answer: Discuss and agree on a fair small percentage or no split before continuing
Minor contributions should be negotiated openly, ideally before the work is registered.
Question 4: In a writing camp, multiple writers rotate between rooms. Why are split sheets especially critical here?
- Many writers may touch a song, making contributions hard to track later (Correct answer)
- Camps don't pay royalties at all
- Only one writer is ever credited
- Splits are illegal at camps
Correct answer: Many writers may touch a song, making contributions hard to track later
With many rotating contributors, written splits prevent confusion over who wrote what.
Question 5: If co-writers disagree about whether to license their song for a commercial, what usually governs the decision?
- Each co-writer typically can license their own share, but joint approval is often required by agreement (Correct answer)
- The oldest writer always decides
- The decision is made by the record label only
- Licensing is automatic and needs no approval
Correct answer: Each co-writer typically can license their own share, but joint approval is often required by agreement
Co-ownership rules and any written agreement determine whether one writer can license unilaterally.
Question 6: What is a non-performing songwriter sometimes called when they write without performing?
- A 'behind-the-scenes' or staff/freelance songwriter (Correct answer)
- A session vocalist
- A mastering engineer
- A tour manager
Correct answer: A 'behind-the-scenes' or staff/freelance songwriter
Writers who supply songs for others without performing are often staff or freelance songwriters.
Question 7: Why should co-writers register their splits with their PRO (e.g., ASCAP, BMI)?
- So performance royalties are paid out according to the agreed shares (Correct answer)
- To copyright the lyrics
- To get a record deal
- To avoid paying taxes
Correct answer: So performance royalties are paid out according to the agreed shares
Registering splits with a PRO ensures each writer is paid their correct share of performance royalties.
Songwriters Co-Writing and Collaboration 3
What is a 'co-publishing' deal in the context of collaborative songwriting?