Everything you need before you send that file.

When you're brought in to produce a record — whether it's a one-off or an ongoing relationship — this agreement locks in the terms upfront. It covers your producer credit (so your name is on the record), your flat fee or points, your ownership of the beat if the project doesn't move forward, and what happens if the artist blows up. This is the document most producers wish they had before their first placement.

Non-exclusive licenses let you sell the same beat to multiple buyers at a lower price point — common on BeatStars. Exclusive licenses transfer full rights to one buyer. Both versions are included here, covering usage rights, distribution rights, streaming, sync, and what happens if the buyer exceeds the agreed terms. Without this, a buyer can do anything with your beat and you have no legal recourse.

A split sheet records who contributed what to a song — melody, lyrics, arrangement, production — and what percentage of ownership each person holds. It's signed before or immediately after the session, while everyone still agrees. This is the single most important document for producers working in collaborative environments. When a song blows up six months later and someone's memory gets convenient, this is what protects you.

Sometimes a producer is paid a flat fee to create music and doesn't retain ownership — this is a work-for-hire arrangement. This agreement defines exactly what's being paid for, what rights transfer to the buyer, and critically, what you still retain (like your producer credit and any backend royalties you negotiate). Without it, you may unknowingly sign away more than you intended — or less than the other party expects.

Publishing is where the long-term money lives — sync licensing, streaming royalties, radio play. This agreement establishes your share of the publishing rights for a composition, separate from the master recording. Many producers give this away without realizing it. If your beat contains a sample, an interpolation, or a melodic idea you originated, you have a publishing stake. This document is how you document and protect it.