# Payment Setup Guide for Contributors **50 Ways to Leave Another — Loptr Lab / Dominique Devereaux** > This guide walks you through everything you need to set up before your first royalty payment can be made. Complete all applicable steps before the track's distribution date. If you have questions, contact Loptr Lab directly — do not wait until after release. --- ## Overview of How You Get Paid The proposed payment route depends on the signed role and agreement. This guide does not show a working payment integration: | If you are a… | You are paid via… | |---|---| | Master royalty split holder | **Proposed: Stem or another agreed distributor/accounting system**; verify current terms before contracting | | Session contributor (flat fee) | An agreed payment method with receipt evidence | | Both | Both systems | Your role and split percentage are documented in the Split Sheet for each track you contributed to. You must countersign the split sheet before any payment can be processed. --- ## Step 1 — Sign Your Split Sheet You will receive a split sheet for each track you contributed to. Read it carefully. It documents: - Your percentage of songwriter income (publishing) - Your percentage of master income (streaming/downloads/sync) - Any flat session fee and its payment trigger - The recoupment terms, if any apply **Do not skip this step.** No payments are initiated until a fully signed split sheet is on file. Return your signed copy to Dominique Devereaux / Loptr Lab before the distribution date listed on the sheet. --- ## Step 2 — Confirm the Master-Royalty System (Royalty Split Holders) Stem is the project’s current proposed master-royalty routing platform. Its availability, eligibility, fees, payout timing, thresholds, tax requirements, and collaboration workflow must be verified from Stem’s current written terms before the agreement names it. If another system is selected, replace this section with that provider’s verified instructions. ### Confirm setup with the selected provider After the parties choose a provider in writing: 1. Use its official account-opening instructions and confirm eligibility and current fees. 2. Confirm the required contributor identifier and accepted payout methods directly with the provider. Keep bank, identity and tax records out of the public learning package. 3. Confirm whether contributor invitations are supported, who sends them and how acceptance is recorded. 4. Keep the agreement, account confirmation and payout evidence in protected storage. **Verification gap — 29 October 2026:** the public [Stem homepage](https://stem.is/) did not expose usable account or payout terms to this review, and the attempted `/splits/` page could not be retrieved. Free account creation, ACH/PayPal support, identity requirements and invitation behavior are unverified here. Use current provider instructions rather than the earlier assumed click-by-click steps. ### Payment-timing boundary No first-payment date is promised by this guide. Receipt depends on release timing, DSP and distributor reporting, matching, account and tax completion, thresholds, holds, chargebacks, currency conversion, and the signed accounting period. The contract must identify the selected provider, statement frequency, payment threshold, permitted deductions, reserve policy, audit rights, and a conservative planning date. Do not budget personal or project obligations against expected royalties until cash is received. Use `docs/financial-waterfall-and-cash-timing.md` for the committed / receivable / reported / contingent distinction. --- ## Step 3 — Register with a PRO (Songwriters and Composers) If you have a songwriter or composer percentage on your split sheet, you must register the song with your **Performing Rights Organization (PRO)** to collect the performance royalties it administers. A U.S. PRO does not replace mechanical registration or other collection systems. The MLC administers qualifying U.S. digital audio mechanical royalties; other uses and territories may require different registrations. Loptr Lab does not collect or distribute publishing royalties on your behalf unless a later signed agreement expressly says so. ### If you are already PRO-affiliated Register this song with your PRO as soon as the final title and ISRC are confirmed. You will need: - Song title - Your co-writers' names and their PRO affiliations and IPI/CAE numbers (these are on the split sheet) - Your ownership percentage - The ISRC (Loptr Lab will provide this at distribution) ### If you are not yet PRO-affiliated Register before this split sheet is countersigned. - **ASCAP** — [ascap.com/register](https://www.ascap.com/music-creators/register) · Check current eligibility and fees - **BMI** — [bmi.com/join](https://www.bmi.com/join) · Check current eligibility and fees - **SESAC** — invitation-based; contact SESAC directly if you are already established Once registered, you will receive an **IPI/CAE number** — a unique identifier tied to your publishing rights. Add it to your split sheet row before signing. > International contributors: register with your country's PRO equivalent (PRS, SOCAN, APRA, etc.). --- ## Step 4 — Confirm Receipt Details for Session Fees (Flat Fee Contributors) The proposed flat-fee term is payment within **14 days of final approved delivery**, subject to the signed agreement. Record the payer, recipient, amount, method, approval trigger and due date before work starts. An invoice or payment link requesting money is not proof that a contributor has been paid. Confirm the chosen provider's current receiving-funds instructions. Keep payment details private and retain a receipt; do not ask learners to open real financial accounts for the fictional exercise. --- ## Step 5 — Confirm Your Setup Before the Distribution Date Before the track goes live, confirm you have completed: - [ ] Split sheet countersigned and returned - [ ] Selected provider, eligibility and current terms confirmed in writing - [ ] Provider-required identity and payout setup completed privately - [ ] Any required contributor invitation accepted and recorded (check email) - [ ] PRO registration completed and IPI/CAE number on file (if songwriter) - [ ] Agreed receiving-payment method and due date recorded (if session fee applies) If setup is incomplete, record the issue and resolve it with the payer/provider. Any reserve or hold must follow the signed agreement and applicable provider terms; this guide does not establish a right to withhold payment. --- ## Contacts and Resources | Resource | URL | |---|---| | Proposed master accounting/routing provider | stem.is — verify current terms before use | | The MLC | themlc.com | | ASCAP | ascap.com | | BMI | bmi.com | | Project repository | github.com/ibloud/50-ways-to-leave-another | | Split sheet template | templates/split-sheet.md | | Rights and clearance | RIGHTS-AND-CLEARANCE.md | | Financial waterfall | docs/financial-waterfall-and-cash-timing.md | | Career capital worksheet | templates/career-capital-allocation-model.md | | Contributor policy | CONTRIBUTOR-POLICY.md | For questions specific to this project, contact: **Dominique Devereaux / Loptr Lab** --- *This guide is part of the 50 Ways to Leave Another project infrastructure. It is not legal advice. Contributors with complex tax situations or international residency should consult a music industry accountant or attorney.*