How this tool works
This is a straightforward percentage split. Each party’s amount is their percentage of the revenue you enter. The calculator adds up all the percentages, shows how much of the pot has been allocated, and tells you what is left — or by how much you have over-allocated.
Unallocated = revenue × (100 − total %) ÷ 100
The currency selector only changes the symbol shown. It does not convert between currencies, so enter the revenue in the currency you actually received.
A simplified model of a more complex system
In the real music business, money from a song does not usually land in one pot to be split like this. It travels through two largely separate streams:
- Master (recording) royalties — earned by the owner of the sound recording, usually a label or a self-releasing artist, and paid via distributors. Artists and producers on a deal are then paid their royalty share from this side.
- Publishing (composition) royalties — earned by the songwriters and their publishers from the song itself, via performance and mechanical royalties collected by societies and publishers.
Use this tool when a single amount genuinely needs dividing — a one-off fee, a joint show payment, an independent team sharing a distributor payout — or to sketch “what if” scenarios. For how the two streams really work, read how music royalties work.
How to use this tool
- Enter the revenue to split and choose the currency symbol you want displayed.
- Enter a percentage for each party. Leave any you do not need blank or at 0.
- Watch the total allocated figure. Aim for exactly 100% unless you are deliberately leaving some unassigned (for example, a share still being negotiated).
- If you see an over-allocation warning, reduce one or more shares until the total is 100% or less.
- Use the table for the amount each party receives.
Tip: if you are splitting ownership of a song rather than a one-off payment, the music split calculator lets you add named collaborators and copy a summary to share.
Example calculation
An independent team receives ₦2,400,000 from a release and agrees: artist 45%, producer 20%, songwriters 25%, manager (other) 10%.
| Party | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artist | 45% | ₦1,080,000 |
| Producer | 20% | ₦480,000 |
| Songwriters | 25% | ₦600,000 |
| Other (manager) | 10% | ₦240,000 |
| Total | 100% | ₦2,400,000 |
If someone had typed the producer as 30% by mistake, the total would be 110% and the calculator would show a visible warning that the shares exceed the revenue by ₦240,000.
What does this result mean?
Total allocated should normally be exactly 100%. Less than 100% leaves money unassigned — fine if that is deliberate, but it is a common source of arguments later if nobody knows who the remainder belongs to. More than 100% is impossible to pay out: somebody’s share would have to be cut.
The coloured bar gives a quick visual of who holds the biggest slices. The table is the accurate record.
Typical ranges are not rules
People often ask what a “normal” split is. There is no standard answer: it depends on who owns the master, who wrote the song, who funded the recording, and what each person negotiated. A producer might take a fee and a few points on the master plus a share of publishing if they co-wrote; a label might take the majority of master income in exchange for funding and marketing. Our guides to how producers get paid and how songwriting splits work explain the common arrangements.
Important limitations
- One pot, one split: real royalties are usually split separately for the master and for the publishing, often with different people and percentages on each side.
- No recoupment: the tool does not deduct advances or costs before paying out. For deals with advances, use the record deal calculator or the producer royalty calculator.
- No fees or tax: distributor fees, collecting-society commissions, bank charges and tax are not included.
- No currency conversion: the symbol is cosmetic.
- Not a contract: the result is a calculation, not an agreement. Put splits in writing and get legal advice for significant sums.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate royalty splits?
Multiply the revenue by each person’s percentage and divide by 100. For example, 20% of $10,000 is $2,000. Make sure all the percentages add up to 100% so the whole amount is accounted for.
What happens if the percentages add up to more than 100%?
The calculator shows a written warning and tells you by how much you are over. You cannot pay out more than the revenue received, so at least one share needs to come down.
Does the currency selector convert money?
No. It only changes the symbol shown next to the amounts — US dollar, pound, euro, naira, cedi, rand or Canadian dollar. Enter the revenue in the currency you actually received.
Is this how Spotify or my distributor splits money?
Not exactly. Platforms and distributors pay the owner of the recording, and songwriters are paid separately through publishing channels. This tool is for dividing a single sum between people once it has been received, or for exploring scenarios.
What is a fair split between artist and producer?
There is no universal answer. It depends on who owns the recording, who paid for it, who wrote the song and what was negotiated. Our guide to how producers get paid explains fees, points and publishing shares.
Should songwriters be included in the same split as the artist and label?
In a formal setup, songwriters are usually paid from publishing income, which is separate from master income. Including them in one pot is a simplification that can be useful for small independent teams, provided everyone understands and agrees to it in writing.
