Guide

Split sheet for beat leases

Beat leases and split sheets serve different purposes. Here’s when you need one, the other, or both.

Create your split sheet

Beat lease vs. exclusive purchase

A beat lease is a license to use a beat under specific terms (stream limits, distribution limits, etc.). The beat maker retains ownership. An exclusive purchase means all rights transfer. These are fundamentally different arrangements.

When you need a split sheet

If the beat maker co-owns part of the composition (because they contributed to the melody or chords), you need a split sheet regardless of whether the beat was leased or purchased. The split sheet documents composition ownership, not master ownership.

Ready to create your split sheet?

Create split sheet

When you need a work-for-hire agreement

If you’re buying an exclusive beat with full ownership transfer, use a work-for-hire agreement. The beat maker is paid a fee and gives up all rights.

The common setup

Many artists lease a beat (master license) but the beat maker retains composition ownership at 50%. The artist writes lyrics and melody, owning the other 50%. This gets documented in a split sheet.

Document your beat arrangement

Create a split sheet or work-for-hire agreement for your beat deal.

Create split sheetCreate work-for-hire agreement

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Continue your workflow

Use these tools to put what you learned into practice.

Split Sheet Generator

Create a split sheet PDF with names, roles, and percentages.

Create split sheet

Work-for-Hire Agreement Generator

Create a work-for-hire agreement for creative contractors.

Create agreement

Producer Split Calculator

Estimate fair producer ownership based on role and contribution type.

Estimate producer split

Music Split Calculator

Calculate ownership splits using equal, manual, or weighted methods.

Calculate splits