Music Collaboration Agreement
Before the feature drops, agree on ownership, credit, and release.
A music collaboration agreement is the contract between two or more artists working together on a track — a feature, a remix, a joint single, a co-release. Unlike a split sheet, which focuses narrowly on songwriting percentages, a collaboration agreement covers the whole picture: who owns the master, whose artist name leads the credit, which platforms it goes on, when it drops, and what each side can do with it afterwards.
Most fallouts between collaborators come from assumptions that never got written down. One artist assumes the feature is exclusive to their next project; the other drops it on a mixtape the following week. One expects top billing; the other posts the artwork with their own name first. A signed agreement settles all of that before the session ends.
MUSILOCK generates a music collaboration agreement that covers the essentials: artist names and roles on the track, master ownership split, publishing split, artist credit order, release platforms, release window, exclusivity terms, promotional responsibilities, and a sign-off block for each party. Every field is explained in plain language inside the wizard.
This is the template to use when you are a vocalist featured on someone else's song, a producer releasing jointly with an artist, two artists trading remixes, or a group putting together a collab EP. If the relationship is deeper than a one-song feature — long-term, royalties-based, label-like — you probably want a different template (producer agreement, recording contract). The MUSILOCK contract picker points you to the right one.
Electronic signatures via SignWell are valid worldwide under the US ESIGN Act and the EU eIDAS Regulation. Once every party signs, the completed PDF is stored in your MUSILOCK account. The document is bilingual, which matters because Latin-and-English features are now the default in urban, reggaeton, and global pop.
Lock the collab in before the release.
All parties. All terms. All signed, online.
Create this contractFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between a split sheet and a collaboration agreement?
A split sheet focuses narrowly on songwriting ownership percentages — who wrote what share of the composition. A collaboration agreement is broader: it covers the master, the release strategy, credit order, exclusivity, and promotion. For most features and co-releases, you want both (or a collaboration agreement that absorbs the split).
Who owns the master recording of a feature?
Whatever the agreement says. Default practice varies: sometimes the host artist owns 100% of the master and the featured artist gets a royalty share; sometimes it is split 50/50. The MUSILOCK template has you fill in the split explicitly so nobody has to guess later.
Does a featured artist have to approve how the song is promoted?
Only if the contract says so. The MUSILOCK template includes an approval clause for artwork, music videos, and press use of each artist's name or likeness. Enabling it means the host artist needs written sign-off before using the featured artist in promo.
Can I put the same feature on two different releases?
Only if the collaboration agreement allows it. The exclusivity clause defines whether the track is exclusive to a specific project or free to appear on mixtapes, compilations, or streaming playlists elsewhere. Skip that clause and you are inviting a dispute.
What if the other artist goes silent before we release?
The contract is your leverage. A signed collaboration agreement with a release window clause means either party can push for the release on schedule — and sets out a process if one side wants to back out. Without a signed agreement, an uncooperative collaborator can sit on the track indefinitely.