What is the default rule for co-writing song splits?

What is the default rule for co-writing song splits?

• A. The default is that the largest contributor receives the largest share.
• B. All contributors share equally by default, regardless of the size of their contribution.
• C. Splits are determined strictly by a written agreement, with no default.
• D. Writers must always split 50/50.

Answer: (B)

When multiple writers collaborate on a song and there isn’t a contract specifying otherwise, the baseline assumption is equal ownership among all writers. This means each co-writer is treated as owning an equal share of the song and, correspondingly, receiving an equal portion of writer’s income and publishing royalties unless there’s a later agreement stating a different split. The practical reason is to keep things simple and fair when there’s no clear, agreed-upon contribution-based division, and to avoid disputes over who contributed more. Of course, if there is evidence of unequal contributions and the parties reach a written agreement, the splits can (and often should) reflect that; but without such an agreement, equal shares are the default.

When multiple writers collaborate on a song and there isn’t a contract specifying otherwise, the baseline assumption is equal ownership among all writers. This means each co-writer is treated as owning an equal share of the song and, correspondingly, receiving an equal portion of writer’s income and publishing royalties unless there’s a later agreement stating a different split. The practical reason is to keep things simple and fair when there’s no clear, agreed-upon contribution-based division, and to avoid disputes over who contributed more. Of course, if there is evidence of unequal contributions and the parties reach a written agreement, the splits can (and often should) reflect that; but without such an agreement, equal shares are the default.