Artist Royalty Split
Division of earnings between collaborators on a musical work or recording.
Definition
Artist royalty splits define how earnings from music are divided among the people who created it. Splits can apply to both the composition (songwriting) and the recording (master), potentially involving different percentages for each.
Factors influencing splits include creative contribution, relative bargaining power, and industry standards. Producers, featured artists, songwriters, and performing artists may all receive split percentages, making clear documentation essential before release.
Why It Matters
Unclear or undocumented splits create disputes that can freeze earnings, damage relationships, and derail careers. Establishing splits before release prevents conflicts and ensures all contributors are properly compensated.
Understanding split structures helps artists negotiate fair terms and recognize when deals are advantageous or exploitative compared to industry norms.
Examples in Practice
A producer who contributed significant creative direction negotiated a 20% master split instead of a flat fee, earning substantially more as the song became a streaming hit.
Collaborating songwriters documented their splits before shopping the song to labels, preventing disputes when a major artist later recorded their composition.
An independent artist discovered their distributor's standard agreement included hidden split percentages that reduced their earnings significantly below expectations.