Songwriters Collaboration Contract

Songwriters Collaboration Contract: Page 1 of 5

The purpose of this contract is to give maximum flexibility to the original songwriters to generate revenue from a song. Any amendments to this contract must be signed by all of the original songwriters.

The following _______ (number) songwriters are referred to as the original songwriters for the song titled
________________________________________________________________________ (Title)
List of original songwriters: (Include full name, date, email, and other desired contact information.)

#1: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

#1: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

#2: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

#3: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

#4: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

#5: Last:	First:	Middle:
Address:	City:	State, Zip:
SSN# *:	EMail:	Affiliation *:
Signature:	Date:	Phone:

*Affiliation - (eg: BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, PRS) or "NA" for none.
* SSN# - Recommended for BMI registration of the song. (Optional)

Songwriters Collaboration Contract: Page 2 of 5
Song Title: ______________________________________________________________________
Signature & Date of the Original Songwriters:

Signature & Date of the Recording Songwriter and/or Contributing Songwriter:

Terms:

Songwriter(s) - the author(s) of the song.
Original Songwriters - songwriters listed above who originated the song. An original songwriter can not be added to this contract unless all original songwriters agree and enter into a new contract.
Recording Songwriter(s) - a songwriter who signs a "Recording Songwriter Contract" with an original songwriter and is the singer/performer who records the song that generates revenue.
Contributing Songwriter(s) - any songwriter who has signed a "Contributing Songwriter Contract" with an original songwriter.
Share - percentage of moneys retained from the revenue of a song.
Recording Songwriter Contract (see page 3) - a contract between an original songwriter and another songwriter who is the artist who records the song that is distributed to the public and generates income.
Contributing Songwriter Contract (see page 3) - a contract between an original songwriter and another songwriter who contributes to the song.

Original Songwriters Rights:

The original songwriters each retain full administrative rights to the song within the guidelines listed below. They do not need any additional permission from a songwriter.
Any original songwriter may alter the words or melody of the song.
Any original songwriter may enter into a "Recording Songwriter Contract" with a recording songwriter.
Any original songwriter may enter into a "Contributing Songwriter Contract" with a contributing songwriter.
Any original songwriter may release any royalties from the revenue generated from the performance of the song in competition. They may also release the use of the song when related to a competition.
Any original songwriter may sell or give out free copies of the song on home created media without paying a songwriters share (or any monies) to any songwriter and without obtaining their permission.
Any original songwriter may produce or record the song without any of the other songwriters permission.
Any original songwriter may enter into a contract with any company regarding the song so long as the Songwriters Share is distributed as mentioned in the section titled "Songwriters Share" and the ownership of the song is retained by the original songwriters.

Songwriters Collaboration Contract: Page 3 of 5
Song Title: ______________________________________________________________________
Signature & Date of the Original Songwriters:

Signature & Date of the Recording Songwriter and/or Contributing Songwriter:

Songwriters share:

The original songwriter that was instrumental in generating revenue from the song will disperse the revenue and make records available to the other original songwriters and recording songwriter.
Among the original songwriters, the songwriters share from a song will be equally distributed.
If a recording songwriter(s) is added, any revenue generated by his recording will be equally distributed among the original songwriters and the one entity of a recording songwriter(s). Therefore if there are 2 original songwriters and 2 recording songwriters then the songwriters share distributed as follows: 33% to each original songwriter and 16.5% to each recording songwriter. 16.5% + 16.5% = 33% which is the one entity share of the recording songwriter(s). In this example there is 3 entities: the 2 songwriters and the 1 entity of a recording songwriter. Therefore, the songwriters share is divided into 3 equal parts of 33%. Among the 2 recording songwriters, there 33% share is equally distributed into 2 parts of 16.5%.
Among the recording songwriter(s), the one entity of there share will be equally distributed among the recording songwriter(s).
For a recording songwriter to receive a portion of the songwriters share, the recording songwriter(s) must be a key performer on the media that generates the revenue. Therefore the recording songwriter would receive no songwriters share if another performer records the song that generates the revenue.
The recording songwriter's contribution to the song becomes property of the original songwriter do leave in the song or remove from the song whether or not the song generates monies.
A contributing songwriter's share will be distributed by the original songwriter who entered into the "Contributing Songwriter Contract" and will paid by the original songwriter from his own share.
If any of the original songwriters or recording songwriters can not be located with reasonable attempts, the original songwriter making the deal that generates money will hold the moneys that should be distributed to the songwriters who can not be located and will make open to the songwriters who receive moneys the records showing the income.
Any of the original songwriters may allow a song to be sung by a performer in a contest and sign a contract that allows the organization/company holding the contest to retain all royalties from the competition and use the audio/video from the contest in any way they desire.

Publisher's Share:

Any original songwriter has the right to negotiate the publisher's share. The songwriter may also register the song with his own publishing company.
Any original songwriter has the right to enter into a contract with a publisher as long as the contract is not exclusive, therefore, other original songwriters may enter into contracts with other publishers simultaneously to try and get the song published.

Songwriters Collaboration Contract: Page 4 of 5
Song Title: ______________________________________________________________________
Signature & Date of the Original Songwriters:

Signature & Date of the Recording Songwriter and/or Contributing Songwriter:

Note to the Original Songwriter

Instructions to the Original Songwriter: Make a copy of the original "Songwriters Collaboration Contract". Next fill out the contract and have the recording songwriter or contributing songwriter sign the appropriate places on this page and the table at the top of each page (2, 3 & 4).

Recording Songwriter Contract:

On _________________________ (date) I, _______________________________ (Recording Songwriter), enter into this "Recording Songwriter Contract" with the original songwriter _________________________________ (original songwriter).

I have read a copy of the "Songwriters Collaboration Contract" that this contract is a part of and understand the conditions of this contract reside in that contract. I have also signed in the appropriate section of the table at the top of each page (2, 3 & 4). I understand that the contract states that I will receive no monies (songwriters share) unless I am the performer on the published song that generates revenue. I also understand that the contract states that the original songwriter that was instrumental in generating income from the song will disperse the songwriter's share according to the contract.

_______________________________	___________		_______________________________	___________
Recording Songwriter	Date		Original Songwriter	Date

Contributing Songwriter Contract:

On _________________________ (date) I, _______________________________ (Contributing Songwriter), enter into this "Contributing Songwriter Contract" with the original songwriter _________________________________ (original songwriter).

_______________________________	___________		_______________________________	___________
Contributing Songwriter	Date		Original Songwriter	Date

Amendments: Songwriters Collaboration Contract

Songwriters Collaboration Contract: Page 5 of 5
Song Title: ______________________________________________________________________

Note: Make sure that each amendment is numbered, and then signed and dated by each original songwriter or the amendment is void. The amendment may be hand written in the space below. If the amendment involves a recording songwriter or a contributing songwriter then have them sign and date each amendment.