Royalty Split
The agreed division of royalty income among multiple rights holders or collaborators on a musical work.
What it means
A royalty split is the predetermined agreement on how revenue from a musical work or recording will be divided among the various parties who contributed to its creation. Any time multiple people contribute to a song — whether as co-writers, co-producers, featured artists, or other collaborators — a royalty split determines what percentage of income each person receives. Royalty splits are typically documented in a split sheet, which is a simple agreement signed by all collaborators before or shortly after the work is completed. Getting splits agreed upon early is one of the most important business practices in the music industry, as disputes over ownership and revenue shares are among the most common legal issues musicians face. The split can be equal (each contributor gets the same share) or weighted based on contribution (a producer who created the beat might get a different share than a vocalist who added a melody). For ambient and meditation music, royalty splits are relevant when collaborating with sound designers, field recording artists, vocalists, or other instrumentalists. The splits apply to all revenue generated by the work — streaming royalties, sync fees, performance royalties, and any other income. It is essential to document splits in writing, register them correctly with PROs and distributors, and ensure all parties have matching records to avoid disputes down the line.
Technical details
Royalty splits must be registered separately with different organizations for different revenue streams. Publishing splits are registered with PROs (for performance royalties) and the MLC (for streaming mechanical royalties). Master recording splits are documented with the distributor or label. Each organization has its own registration process and may require separate documentation. In the US, copyright law defaults to equal ownership when no written agreement exists, which can create complications if collaborators had different intentions. The split sheet should specify: the percentage split, whether it applies to the master, the composition, or both, how decisions about licensing and administration will be made, and how disputes will be resolved. Some platforms like Splice and BeatStars now include built-in split management tools. For international royalty collection, splits must be registered in each territory where the work generates revenue.
Frequently asked questions
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