What is the Process for Sharing Payments?

[Stubee]

How do collaborators get paid? For example, if I record, produce and submit a song that was written and performed by a collaborator and we agree to split any proceeds 50/50,
Do I need to present the collaborator with a contract? Will the proceeds be split by the PRO? Would a music library be more willing to work with a single person over a
collaboration? Etc...

[Casey H]

There are 2 types of payments:
* Upfront sync fee (happens much less often these days)
* PRO "Back End" royalties (ASCAP, BMI, etc.)

If you make your collaborator a 50/50 co-writer, the PRO part runs on auto-pilot with the PRO payments split and paid individually. You let the music library, sync agent, or music sup (if direct) know who the writers are and contracts are sent to all writers. The library will register the song with PROs using the splits. In MOST cases, we are dealing with music libraries who do this all the time. If it's direct to sup, you do the registration yourself.

Regarding upfront sync fees, it varies. Some libraries will make split payments while others will pay you and you are responsible for paying your co-writers from your payment.

If your collaborator does not belong to a PRO, have them join one asap.

HTH
Casey

[Stubee]

There are 2 types of payments:
* Upfront sync fee (happens much less often these days)
* PRO "Back End" royalties (ASCAP, BMI, etc.)

If you make your collaborator a 50/50 co-writer, the PRO part runs on auto-pilot with the PRO payments split and paid individually. You let the music library, sync agent, or music sup (if direct) know who the writers are and contracts are sent to all writers. The library will register the song with PROs using the splits. In MOST cases, we are dealing with music libraries who do this all the time. If it's direct to sup, you do the registration yourself.

Regarding upfront sync fees, it varies, Some libraries will make split payments while others will pay you and you are responsible for paying your co-writers from your payment.

If your collaborator does not belong to a PRO, have them join one asap.

HTH
Casey

Thank you, Casey. I hope to meet yo at the RR this year.

-Stu