What happens when I lock a composition?
Locking finalizes the confirmed rights information and generates your MRP Split Sheet.
Last updated August 22, 2026
What locking does
Locking finalizes the rights information currently recorded in your passport. Once locked, the confirmed writer and publisher details — names, IPI numbers, PRO affiliations, shares, publishers, and publisher shares — are preserved exactly as they were at the moment of locking. No further changes can be made to the composition's confirmed rights data without requesting an amendment.
Before you can lock
MRP runs the current Passport readiness checks before locking. The exact prompts are shown on the composition so you can resolve the right missing item without guessing. Common checks include:
- All writer shares total exactly 100%
- Every invited co-writer has confirmed their claim
- A publishing disposition is set for each writer (self-published, has a publisher, or unpublished)
- Any required publisher allocation is valid and not over-allocated
- The required Guided Song Setup information is complete
What happens when you lock
When a composition is successfully locked, MRP captures the current eligible ownership evidence and:
- Sets the composition status to Locked
- Preserves the confirmed writer and publishing information as of that exact moment
- Automatically generates an MRP Split Sheet documenting the rights at the time of locking
- Stores the Split Sheet permanently in the composition's Files & Documents section
- Emails the Split Sheet to all collaborators who have an email address on file
- Makes the composition eligible to proceed through the applicable registration workflow
Your MRP Split Sheet
The MRP Split Sheet is a formal document that captures the confirmed rights information at the moment of locking. It records every writer's legal name, IPI number, PRO affiliation, and percentage share, as well as each publisher's name, IPI, and share allocation. The Split Sheet is stored permanently in Files & Documents and can be downloaded or shared at any time. All collaborators with a valid email address on file receive a copy automatically when the composition is locked. If a collaborator's email is added later, or if a delivery failed, you can resend the Split Sheet from the Files & Documents section.
Review before you lock
Once a composition is locked, confirmed ownership is not silently rewritten. A rights change requires an amendment and a new review/lock cycle. Before locking, verify the items MRP displays, especially:
- Writer legal names — exactly as they appear on PRO registrations
- IPI numbers — correct and complete for each writer
- PRO affiliations — each writer's current performing rights organisation
- Writer shares — percentages for each collaborator, totalling exactly 100%
- Publishers — name and IPI for each writer's publishing company (if applicable)
- Publisher shares — appropriate for the actual company relationships on the song
After locking
A locked composition can proceed to Register Composition and, where applicable, Authorize Registration. MRP keeps registration authorization and processing status separate from the lock itself. You can continue adding recording, master-rights, document, and discussion information where the composition permits it, but ownership changes require the controlled amendment flow.