Free tool
Royalty Split Calculator
Add everyone who contributed to the song, choose an equal or contribution-weighted split, and the calculator turns it into percentages that total exactly 100. Equal splits are the simplest default when contributions are comparable; weighted splits fit when they clearly differ. Whatever you choose, agree before the first take and write it down.
- Contributor 150%
- Contributor 250%
Not legal advice — a starting point for the conversation. Put the splits everyone agrees on into a written split sheet.
How splits usually work
Equal splits are the default for a reason. When two or three people each carry a real part of the song, splitting evenly keeps the collab about the music instead of the math — and most professional co-writes work exactly this way.
Weighted splits fit when contributions clearly differ: a topliner writing melody and lyrics over a finished beat, or a fourth collaborator adding one part late. Use the sliders to reflect that honestly, and say the percentages out loud before anyone records a take — the full etiquette is in our guide to crediting collaborators on a song.
Whatever you agree, write it down as a split sheet with everyone's name, role, and share. And if you're still looking for the other half of the song, that's the part Muselink.app is built for — matching producers, vocalists, and songwriters by sound, not by bio.
Royalty split questions
How should we split royalties on a music collab?
There is no single rule. An equal split is the simplest default when contributions are comparable — it keeps the collab moving and avoids awkward math. A weighted split fits when contributions clearly differ, like one person writing the whole topline over a finished beat. What matters most is agreeing before the work starts and writing the agreement down.
What is the difference between songwriting and master royalties?
Songwriting (publishing) royalties pay the people who wrote the composition — the melody, chords, and lyrics. Master royalties pay whoever owns the specific recording of that composition. A collaborator can be on one, the other, or both: a topliner usually has a songwriting share, while a mixing engineer's share, if any, is typically on the master side.
When should collaborators agree on splits?
Before the first take. Splits get harder to talk about after the song exists, because everyone's sense of their own contribution grows with the track. Agreeing up front — even a rough handshake number — keeps the collab friendly and makes the final split sheet a formality instead of a negotiation.
Is this calculator legal advice?
No. It is a starting point for the conversation, not a contract. Put the splits you agree on into a written split sheet signed by everyone involved, and check how royalty collection works with your local collecting society or distributor.