Writer Roles & IPI
When you’re registering works with performing rights organizations (PROs) like BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC, you need to tell them exactly what each person contributed to the song and who owns what. This is where Writer Roles and IPI numbers come in.
This page explains how to assign writer roles to your collaborators and manage their IPI (Interested Parties Information) details for accurate PRO registration and export.
What Is a Writer Role?
Section titled “What Is a Writer Role?”A writer role tells a PRO what a person contributed to a musical work. In the eyes of a PRO, you’re either the person who wrote the music, the person who wrote the lyrics, both, or someone who arranged an existing work.
When you open the Writer Roles panel, you’ll see four role options:
- Composer — The person who wrote the music. PRO code: C
- Lyricist — The person who wrote the lyrics. PRO code: A
- Composer/Author — Someone who did both. PRO code: CA
- Arranger — Someone who arranged an existing composition. PRO code: AR
Each collaborator on your track needs a role assigned before you can export split sheets or register works with PROs.
What Is an IPI Number?
Section titled “What Is an IPI Number?”An IPI (Interested Parties Information) number is a unique 9-to-11 digit identifier assigned to songwriters and music publishers by their PRO. Think of it like a tax ID for creative works — it helps PROs track who owns what and make sure royalties reach the right people.
Your IPI number is attached to your PRO membership. When you register a work, you provide each writer’s IPI so the PRO knows exactly who to credit and pay.
Assigning Writer Roles
Section titled “Assigning Writer Roles”To assign a writer role to a collaborator:
- Select the track in your grid
- Open the Collaborators section in the activity panel
- Find the collaborator you want to edit
- Click the role dropdown and select the appropriate role
The role you select determines how that person’s split appears on export documents. A lyricist gets credited as the lyricist (A), while a composer/author gets credited as both (CA).
Managing IPI Information
Section titled “Managing IPI Information”Each collaborator in your account can have their PRO information stored in their profile. When you add them to a track, this information flows through automatically.
For each collaborator, you can store:
- IPI Number — The collaborator’s 9-11 digit IPI/CAE number
- PRO Affiliation — Which PRO they belong to (BMI, ASCAP, SESAC, PRS, etc.)
When you export split sheets or PRO registration files, these details populate automatically. This saves you from manually entering the same information over and over.
Why This Matters for Split Sheets
Section titled “Why This Matters for Split Sheets”Split sheets are the backbone of proper royalty distribution. When you export a split sheet, the document needs to clearly show:
- Who wrote the work
- What they contributed (their role)
- How much they own (their percentage)
- Who gets paid and where (their PRO and IPI)
If any of this information is missing or incorrect, your collaborators might not get paid when the song earns money. PROs rely on these details to route royalties, and publishers use them to process claims.
Having writer roles and IPI numbers set up properly means your exports are accurate the first time, every time.
Writer Role Codes Reference
Section titled “Writer Role Codes Reference”Here’s a quick reference for how writer roles map to PRO codes:
| Role | PRO Code | Use When |
|---|---|---|
| Composer | C | Wrote the music only |
| Lyricist | A | Wrote the lyrics only |
| Composer/Author | CA | Wrote both music and lyrics |
| Arranger | AR | Arranged an existing composition |
Related
Section titled “Related”- Split Sheets — Export collaborative split sheets in multiple formats
- Track Metadata — Manage track details like ISWC, ISRC, duration, and language