A week ago, the news broke that Nigerian gospel singer Sinach was being sued for ₦5 billion over her globally acclaimed song, ‘Way Maker.’ The suit was instigated by music producer Michael Oluwole, also known as Maye who alleges that he worked as a studio engineer on the track in contention. Maye also said he contributed to the recording, mixing, mastering, and creating instrumental accompaniments such as piano, strings, and synthesizers. Thus, he asked that he be declared a track co-owner and author by the courts and should receive royalties due.

But this incident is not new. We've seen the recurrence of such in the music industry. Examples are 2Baba and Black Face over "African Queen," Carter Efe and Berri Tiga over "Machala," and many others.

Another interesting twist to Maye and Sinach's case is that the former says they only have a gentleman's agreement. Based on that, the courts should decide. Whether word of mouth suffices, it may be hard to tell but rather let the court decide.

Well, all this contention could have been avoided by using a split sheet.

According to SongTrust, it is a written agreement that defines who contributed to a song and how much credit and compensation each person is entitled to. It's a legally binding document that's crucial to have before releasing a song or using it commercially.

Furthermore, a split sheet contains important information regarding a song and its contributors. The key elements included are ownership percentages, song details, contributor information, creators' roles, and royalty splits.

Ownership Percentages: This section indicates the percentage of the song owned by each contributor.

Song Information: This includes the song title, details about the songwriters, and the date the song was written.

Contributor Information: This part captures the legal names and contact information of all contributors of those involved in the creative process.

Creators' Role: This section captures the role of each contributor such as producer, songwriter, performer, record label, and others.

Royalty Splits: This section outlines the formula for sharing royalties among the contributors.

By including these details, a split sheet helps clarify the rights and compensation for everyone involved in a song.

And because the split sheet is legally binding, controversies about who owns and does what can be avoided. Likewise, everyone gets due compensation for their work, today and years later.

The next question is how do I get a split sheet? There are several online platforms, such as the SPLITS app from Create Music Group, where you can download a free template. Alternatively, you can create your own template. If you choose to go this route, make sure you have all the necessary data collected and filled in.

Another pressing question is how one determines the sharing formula. The easy route is equal sharing. However, if the creative contributions are not balanced, it's advisable to reconsider and discuss it with each contributor to prevent any animosity.

A good understanding of publishing and master rights is also essential for completing a split sheet. Publishing Rights are about the rights of the actual owner of the composition —the composer or songwriter. These rights can be transferred to a record label or other parties through an agreement. On the other hand, the master rights are those for the actual sound recording.

One more thing, make sure you register with a Performing Rights Organization (PRO). This organization will ensure you get your due royalties.

So, next time before that release hits the market or advisably at the beginning of the creative process at the studio, ensure you and all creative persons involved in that project fill in the split sheet.

Split Sheet is a written agreement that defines who contributed to a song and how much credit and compensation each person is entitled to

Split Sheets: The Legal Lifeline of Music Creation

Split Sheet is a written agreement that defines who contributed to a song and how much credit and compensation each person is entitled to

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