Most songs today are made by more than one person: an artist, a producer, a co-writer and often a featured artist. Agreeing who gets what before the song is released protects friendships and makes sure everyone is paid. This guide explains the two sides of a song’s income, how splits usually work, and how to put everything in writing with a simple split sheet.
Quick answer
- Every song earns from two sides: the master recording and the composition (publishing). Splits are agreed separately for each.
- Agree splits in writing before release with a signed split sheet. Verbal deals cause most music disputes.
- Producers are often paid a fee, a share of the master, a share of the songwriting, or a mix. Featured artists usually get a share of the master and of the writing if they wrote their part.
- Your distributor pays streaming income for the master. Songwriter royalties from public performance are collected by your country’s collecting society.
The two sides of a song: master and composition
| Master recording | Composition (publishing) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | The actual recorded audio | The melody, lyrics and music as written |
| Usually owned by | The artist or label who paid for the recording | The songwriters, composers and their publishers |
| Earns from | Streams and downloads paid through your distributor, sync deals | Performance and mechanical royalties via collecting societies and publishers, sync deals |
| Who splits it | Main artist, label, sometimes producer and featured artist | Everyone who wrote words or music, including producers who co-wrote |
Keeping these two sides separate makes splits much easier to agree. A producer who made the beat might have a share of both. A featured artist who only performed someone else’s lyrics might only share in the master.
Common split arrangements
- Producer: a one-off beat fee, a share of master royalties (often called points), a share of the songwriting for the music they created, or a combination. Whatever you choose, write it down.
- Featured artist: often a share of master royalties for the song, plus a share of the writing for any verse they wrote themselves.
- Co-writers: the writing share is usually divided by contribution, or equally if everyone agrees. Lyrics and music both count.
- Beat leases: if you bought a lease online, read the licence. It may limit streams or require credit or a share of publishing.
There is no single correct split. What matters is that everyone agrees before release and that the agreement is signed.
How to make a split sheet
A split sheet is a one-page agreement listing everyone who worked on the song and their percentages. Fill one in at the end of each session while everyone is still in the room.
- Song title, date and the names of all contributors (legal names and artist names).
- Each person’s role: artist, producer, songwriter, featured artist.
- Master split percentages, adding up to 100%.
- Composition (writing) split percentages, adding up to 100%.
- Each writer’s collecting society membership and publisher, if any.
- Signatures and phone numbers or emails of everyone involved.
Keep a photo or PDF of every signed split sheet. If there is ever a disagreement, it is your best evidence.
How payments reach each person
When you release through a distributor such as Interfine Music, the streaming income for the master is paid to the account that uploaded the song. If you agreed to share the master with a producer or featured artist, you pay them their share from what you receive, based on your royalty reports. Keep records of each payment.
Songwriter royalties from radio, TV and public performance are collected separately by your country’s collecting society, so each writer should register the song and their share with their society. See our guides on music publishing royalties in Africa and registering songs for royalties in Kenya.
Tips to avoid royalty disputes
- Agree splits before the song is released, never after it blows up.
- Credit everyone correctly in your distributor upload: main artist, featured artist, producer and songwriters.
- Use the same ISRC for the song everywhere so stream data is not split.
- Share royalty statements with your collaborators regularly so they trust the numbers.
- If the deal is big, ask a music lawyer to review it.
Learn more about codes in what is an ISRC code.
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What is a fair royalty split with a producer?
There is no fixed rule. Producers may take a one-off fee, a share of master royalties, a share of the songwriting, or a mix. Agree it before release and record it on a signed split sheet.
Does a featured artist get royalties?
Usually yes, if agreed. Featured artists often receive a share of the master royalties and a share of the songwriting for any part they wrote. Put the agreement in writing.
What is a split sheet?
A split sheet is a short signed document listing everyone who worked on a song, their roles and their percentage of the master and the composition. It prevents disputes later.
Who pays the producer their share of streaming royalties?
Your distributor pays the account holder who uploaded the song. If you agreed to share master income, you pay the producer their share from your earnings, using your royalty reports.
Do songwriters get paid by the distributor?
No. Distributors pay master income from streams and downloads. Songwriters collect performance royalties through their collecting society and other publishing income through a publisher or publishing administrator.
