The Handshake Agreement Nightmare

“We agreed to split the song 50/50 in the studio, so we’re good.”

You’re not. Verbal agreements mean almost nothing once royalty checks start moving. Collection societies and streaming platforms do not honor a handshake. If there is ever a dispute, they freeze the money. Worse, whoever registers the work first can accidentally (or on purpose) claim 100% of the composition.

Get it in writing before it drops

Figure out the splits before release day, put them on a split sheet, and register those exact percentages with a publishing administrator. RightsTune routes each writer’s share automatically so you are not chasing friends when the statement finally lands.

Not sure what the percentages should be? Use the Publishing Split Guide.