Before a session gets emotional, get the split down in writing. At minimum, capture: every contributor's legal name and role, the percentage each person is claiming, publishing info (PRO + IPI/CAE number), and everyone's signature. Do this the same day the record is made.
SURFSUP / MAKE
The Producer
OS.
Create, organize and grow — the working documents and small frameworks for the parts of production that aren't the beat itself.
CREATE
The paperwork and prep that protects a session before it starts.
Name files consistently (e.g. ARTIST_TITLE_BPM_KEY_STEM.wav), export at the session's native sample rate/bit depth, include a rough mix reference bounce, zero out unused automation, and bounce from the same start point so everything lines up.
Have ready before release: full credit list, ISRC code, PRO affiliations, and sample clearance status. Missing metadata is the #1 reason producer credits get dropped on DSPs.
ORGANIZE
Turn scattered sessions, DMs and follow-ups into something you can actually run.
When everything feels urgent, sort what's actually in front of you into four buckets before you touch a DAW.
1. Finish, don't start. Anything 80%+ done goes first — unfinished sessions are dead weight until they're closed out.
2. Deadline-bound. Anything with an actual date attached goes next.
3. Momentum work. New ideas, loops, one-shots — the creative refill.
4. Admin. Splits, metadata, file organization, invoices — batch it, don't let it interrupt sessions.
Your phone and DMs aren't a relationship database. Track every contact against three groups of fields:
PERSON
- Artist
- Producer
- Engineer
- Manager
- A&R
- Label
- Publisher
- Sync supervisor
RELATIONSHIP
- How you met
- Last contact
- What you've worked on
- Mutual connections
- Location
- Socials / contact info
- Notes
OPPORTUNITY
- Beats sent
- Songs sent
- Studio session
- Placement opportunity
- Sync pitch
- Follow-up date
- Status
Example entry
Kodak Black — Artist
Last contact: Sept 12
Sent: 4 beats
Response: 2 played
Next action: Follow up Sept 26
Kodak Black — Artist
Last contact: Sept 12
Sent: 4 beats
Response: 2 played
Next action: Follow up Sept 26
Keep one row per contact in a spreadsheet with these columns. It turns scattered DMs into something you can actually act on.
Fill this out right after every session while it's fresh — it's what separates one-off sessions from a real working relationship.
WHAT HAPPENED
- What did the artist respond to?
- What did they ask for?
- What should you send them next?
- Who else should you contact?
- What was discussed?
FOLLOW-UP
- Send beats
- Send stems
- Get vocals
- Get splits
- Register song
- Follow up with artist
- Follow up with manager
- Schedule another session
GROW
What happens after the record leaves your hands.
Have ready: an instrumental, a "clean" version, stems, and a one-sheet with BPM, key, mood tags, and instrumentation — all in one folder per song.
Track every record after it leaves your hands, so nothing falls through the cracks:
| Field | Field |
|---|---|
| Song title | Producer credit |
| Artist | Publishing split |
| Producer(s) | Master points |
| Engineer | PRO registration |
| Release status | Distributor |
| Release date | DSP links |
| Label | Royalty status |
| ISRC / UPC | Missing paperwork / follow-up date |
The killer feature: "Missing From My Credits"
- ⚠️ Song released
- ❌ BMI registration
- ❌ Split sheet
- ✅ Producer credit
- ❌ Publishing registration
- ❌ Master royalty agreement
Producers lose real money by making the record, then losing track of what happens after. This checklist catches it before it becomes a problem.
09
Placement tools — coming soon
A dedicated board for tracking active pitches, supervisor contacts and placement status end-to-end. In the meantime, the Credit / Placement Checker above and the Archive's record log cover the essentials.