Free song catalog template: what every songwriter should track
A free song catalog spreadsheet for songwriters. Track every song's writers, splits, IPI numbers, registrations, and demos in one place so nothing slips.
Quick answer
A song catalog is a single list of every song you've written, with the business details attached: co-writers, percentages, PRO and IPI numbers, publisher, registration status, lyrics, and demos. Start with the free template below and add a row the day you finish each song, so you're ready when someone wants to hear your songs.
On this page
I have hundreds of songs that are technically my catalog. For years they were scattered across Google Docs, Dropbox, text threads, and emails.
I knew that wasn't great. What actually made it click was when artists started looking through my songs for things they wanted to record. I had a lot of demos of songs I'd started, and artists were interested in some of them. But I had no other information. Who was on the song, what the split was, where the lyrics were. So a lot of those songs just never got used.
That's what a catalog is for. It's how your songs are ready when someone wants them.
Free song catalog template (Excel, works in Google Sheets)
What is a song catalog? #
A song catalog is a running list of every song you've written, with the details attached that you need to get paid and pitch it: who wrote it, who owns what, where it's registered, and where the lyrics and demos live.
It's different from a discography. Most songwriters have way more songs than releases. The unreleased ones still have co-writers, splits, and demos, and they're the ones most likely to get lost.
What publishers and artists actually need #
If anyone's interested in using your songs, or buying your catalog, they're going to need the basics:
- Who wrote the song
- Each writer's information, and their publisher's information
- Who owns what percentage
- The song title and lyrics
- A demo
If you can't pull that up quickly, the song gets passed over. That's what happened to a lot of mine.
What to track for every song #
The template has these columns. You don't need them all filled on day one. Start with the first six and add the rest as the song moves.
| Column | What goes there |
|---|---|
| Song title | The official title |
| Alternate / working titles | Anything else it's been called |
| Date written | The day of the write |
| Writers | Legal names of everyone on the song |
| Splits | Each writer's percentage, adding to 100% |
| Writer PROs and IPIs | For every co-writer |
| Publisher(s) | Who handles each writer's publishing |
| Split sheet signed? | Yes / No, plus where the signed copy lives |
| PRO registered? | Yes / No and the date |
| MLC registered? | Yes / No and the date |
| ISWC | The song's ID, once assigned |
| Status | Idea, written, demo, pitched, cut, released |
| Recordings / ISRC | Each recording and its ISRC |
| Files | Link to the demo, lyric sheet, and work tape |
| Notes | Pitches, holds, feedback, anything else |
Why a spreadsheet usually isn't enough #
I tried the spreadsheet route. The problem wasn't the spreadsheet. It was me. It only stayed current if I was constantly thinking about it, and if I didn't think about it, I didn't do it.
If you're disciplined about it, a spreadsheet is a great free start, and the template above is built to make that as easy as possible. Set a reminder once a month to filter for anything marked "No" under split sheet signed or PRO registered. That's your to-do list.
How to start (without rebuilding your whole history) #
Here's what I've learned trying to recapture years of old songs: you can't get all of it back. A lot of mine is lost forever. I wrote so much that I realized I needed a tool right now to capture everything new, and then add the old stuff as it comes up.
- Start capturing everything new today. Add a row the day you finish a song. This is the habit that makes the whole thing work.
- Add anything released or pitched. Those are the songs most likely to need their info quickly.
- Fill the gaps in order. Writers and splits first, then IPIs, then registrations. Text co-writers for anything you're missing.
- Add old songs as they come up. When you stumble on an old demo or someone asks about a song, put it in then.
- Let go of what's gone. Some old songs won't come back with full info. That's okay.
Why this matters more than it seems #
- Songs get cut years later. When an artist wants a song you wrote three years ago, you need the split and the co-writers' info right then.
- Publishers ask for it. Having it ready tells them you're serious.
- Unregistered songs don't get paid. A catalog shows you which songs slipped through. Here's how to register with BMI or ASCAP.
Or let it keep itself #
With Songstage, keeping a catalog is automatic instead of one more thing to remember. The Catalog page is where all your songs live, with each song's information listed out. You can start a new song or schedule a write from there, and export everything into one document with all your songs' information. If you already have a catalog somewhere else, Pro members can import it.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between a song catalog and a discography?
A discography lists releases. A catalog lists songs, including the ones that were never released. Most of your catalog probably hasn't been cut yet, and those songs still need their splits and info tracked.
What do publishers and artists need to see in a catalog?
Who wrote each song, each writer's info and publisher, who owns what percentage, the lyrics, the title, and a demo. If you can't produce that quickly, songs get passed over.
Should I track unfinished songs?
Track them once there's a real co-write or a demo. If an artist gets interested in a half-finished song, you still need to know who's on it.
How do I rebuild years of old songs?
Don't try to do it all at once. Start capturing everything new today, then add old songs as they come up. Some of the old stuff may be gone for good, and that's okay.