Streaming Royalty Split Calculator
Calculate how streaming royalties get split between artists, labels, distributors, and collaborators.
1Monthly Streams
2Streaming Platform
3Deductions
DistroKid: 0%, TuneCore: 0%, CD Baby: 9%
Major labels: 50-85%, Indies: 20-50%
4Royalty Splits
5Revenue Breakdown
6Platform Comparison
| Platform | Rate | Gross | Net |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🎵 Spotify | $0.0030 | $300.00 | $255.00 |
| 🍎 Apple Music | $0.0100 | $1,000.00 | $850.00 |
| 📦 Amazon Music | $0.0040 | $400.00 | $340.00 |
| ▶️ YouTube Music | $0.0020 | $200.00 | $170.00 |
| 🌊 Tidal | $0.0130 | $1,300.00 | $1,105.00 |
| 🎧 Deezer | $0.0064 | $640.00 | $544.00 |
💰 Royalty Tips
- • Rates vary by listener location, subscription type, and time of year
- • Publishing royalties (songwriting) are separate from master royalties
- • Always document split agreements before release
- • Consider using a split sheet service like Splitify or TuneRegistry
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your streaming numbers or projections
Configure distributor, label, and producer splits
Add collaborator percentages (writers, featured artists)
Review your actual take-home per stream and totals
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do streaming platforms pay per stream?
Rates vary: Spotify pays $0.003-0.005, Apple Music $0.007-0.01, and YouTube $0.0007-0.002 per stream. The calculator uses current average rates by platform.
What does a distributor typically take?
Digital distributors typically take 10-20% of streaming revenue. Some charge flat annual fees instead. The calculator lets you model different distributor arrangements.
How should I split royalties with collaborators?
Common splits give producers 20-25% of master royalties and songwriters share publishing 50/50. The calculator helps you model different split scenarios.
What's the difference between master and publishing?
Master royalties come from the recording itself, while publishing royalties come from the underlying song composition. Both are paid separately on streaming platforms.
Why is my actual payout lower than expected?
Multiple deductions compound: distributor fee, label share, producer points, and collaborator splits can reduce your take-home to 15-40% of the gross streaming revenue.
Why Use This Calculator
- Understand the full royalty distribution chain
- Calculate your actual per-stream earnings
- Model different deal structures
- Plan collaborator splits fairly
- Negotiate better terms with data
Embed This Calculator
Add this calculator to your website for free.
"The royalty calculator helped me understand what I actually take home from streaming. Eye-opening for negotiating my next deal."
Independent Artist, Music Production