ALL THE WAYS SPLITS
CAN GO WRONG

The reason you are not listed as a writer is most likely due to your co-writer registering that song with their publisher, so they can begin collecting their share. In order for you to begin collecting your share of the royalties for that same song, you also need to register this song with your own publisher.

Once you register a song into your Songtrust account, we will make sure that you get listed as a co-writer for this song at your Performing Rights Organization (PRO) and receive the royalties that you are due. Most societies will payout retroactive royalties for up to three years, so even though you may not have been collecting royalties for this work when your co-writer first registered it, this does not mean you cannot still get these royalties!

Please note that the process to register songs within your Songtrust account that have previously been registered with your PRO already by other writers is exactly the same as if you were registering a new song. All you need to do is enter in the song title, the co-writers and correct splits as well as any ISRC information.

If you aren’t the sole writer of all the songs you register with us, you’ll need to register two types of writers to ensure we’re able to register and collect on your songs with all our sources.

The first — and most important — is the client writer, or “Songtrust Writer” in your account. This will be you, or any other writers whose rights you are employed to administer via your Songtrust account. We use this songwriter information to register and collect for the compositions you register with us.

The second type of writer you will register is an uncontrolled, or “Outside Writer.” These writers are any co-writers whose publishing you are not administering via your own Songtrust account. We do not register these songwriters’ shares of the songs or collect for them, but we need this information to confirm ownership with our collection partners.

Please note: if you have co-writers who are also Songtrust clients, but who have separate accounts - that is, you aren’t also administering their shares through your own account - you will enter them as an “Outside Writer.” In this case, you should also reach out to us via our support form so that we can expedite registering the shares in both of your accounts.

While Songtrust operates on a 100% scale for song splits, BMI follows a 200% formula. This is because BMI allocates 100% each for the writer’s and publisher’s share. 

Songtrust asks that you register only the writer’s share - with splits adding up to only 100% -  because a songwriter is automatically entitled to an equal publisher’s share unless the writers agree upon a different arrangement, which is rare. Read more in our Help Center here.

We charge $100 upfront per writer to cover our complex onboarding process, including setup and administrative costs. We take a 15% commission on any performance royalties and 20% commission on any non-performance (world-wide mechanical) royalties Songtrust collects on your behalf. Please note: We only collect your publisher's share. Your writer’s share comes directly from your Performing Rights Organization (PRO).