How this tool works
A split is simply an agreement about what percentage of a song each person owns. This calculator adds up the percentages you enter, compares the total with 100%, and tells you what is left to allocate or by how much you are over. Totals are added in hundredths of a percent, so shares such as 33.33% add up exactly without rounding surprises.
Split equally divides 100% between everyone you have entered, to two decimal places. When 100 does not divide neatly, the leftover hundredths go to the first people on the list — three writers become 33.34%, 33.33% and 33.33% — so the total is always exactly 100%.
The summary lists each person, their role and their share, plus the song title and split type if you entered them, in plain text that pastes cleanly anywhere.
Master splits versus publishing splits
Every released song has two separate copyrights, and each can be split differently:
- Publishing (the composition) — the melody, lyrics and musical elements written by the songwriters. Publishing splits decide how songwriter income, such as performance and mechanical royalties, is divided. They are registered with collecting societies and publishers.
- Master (the recording) — the specific recorded version. Master ownership decides who receives the recording’s share of streaming, sales and licensing income. If a label funds the recording, it often owns or controls the master; independent artists may share it with producers or featured artists.
It is common to agree a publishing split among the writers and a separate master split among the people who own the recording. Use the “What is being split?” selector so your summary makes clear which one you are describing.
How to use this tool
- Optionally add the song title and choose whether you are splitting publishing, the master or a single income pot.
- For each collaborator, enter a name, choose a role and type their percentage. Use + Add collaborator for more people and Remove to delete someone.
- Check the Allocated and Remaining figures. A written warning appears if the total is over 100% or if part of the song is still unallocated.
- Press Split equally if everyone has agreed an equal share.
- Press Copy summary and paste it wherever you are agreeing the split. Then record it properly on a signed split sheet.
Rows with no name and no percentage are ignored, so spare rows will not affect the result.
Example calculation
Four people worked on a song. The writers agree the publishing split like this:
| Collaborator | Role | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Ada | Artist (topline and lyrics) | 35% |
| Kwame | Producer (beat and chords) | 30% |
| Thandi | Songwriter | 25% |
| Leo | Featured Artist (wrote his verse) | 10% |
35 + 30 + 25 + 10 = 100%, so nothing is left over. If Leo’s share had been entered as 15%, the total would be 105% and the calculator would warn that the split is 5% over — someone would need to give up 5%.
The master might be split quite differently — for example, if Ada paid for the session and owns the recording with Kwame, it could be 70/30 between just the two of them.
What does this result mean?
A total of exactly 100% means every part of the song has an owner. Remaining above zero means part of the song is unassigned; that is sometimes deliberate (a sample clearance still being negotiated, for example) but it should never be forgotten. An over-allocation means you have promised more than the whole song and must reduce at least one share.
What is a split sheet?
A split sheet is a short written agreement, signed by everyone involved, that records the song title, each contributor’s legal name, role, contact details, collecting-society or publisher details where relevant, and their agreed percentage. It is ideally completed on the day the song is written, while everyone remembers who did what. Distributors, publishers and collecting societies rely on accurate splits to pay the right people, and disputes are far easier to avoid than to resolve.
Tip: agree splits before the song is released — ideally before it leaves the studio. Our guides to how to split song ownership and how songwriting splits work cover the conversation and the paperwork.
Important limitations
- Not a contract: the summary is a note of what you entered, not a signed agreement. Use a proper split sheet and get legal advice where the stakes are high.
- One split at a time: publishing and master splits are usually different. Calculate each separately.
- No money involved: the tool works in percentages. To turn a split into amounts, use the music royalty calculator.
- Existing deals come first: if a collaborator has a publishing or label deal, part of their share may be administered or owned by that company.
- Percentages are limited to two decimal places.
Frequently asked questions
How do you split a song between collaborators?
Agree what percentage of the song each person owns, make sure the shares add up to exactly 100%, and record it on a split sheet signed by everyone. Many writers start from an equal split and adjust only if everyone agrees; others divide by contribution. What matters most is that everyone agrees in writing.
What is the difference between a master split and a publishing split?
A publishing split divides ownership of the composition — the melody and lyrics — among the songwriters. A master split divides ownership of the specific recording. They are separate rights, often owned by different people, and can have different percentages.
What happens if the splits add up to more than 100%?
The calculator shows a written warning with the amount you are over. A song cannot be more than 100% owned, so at least one share must be reduced before anyone registers or signs the split.
How does “Split equally” handle uneven numbers?
It divides 100% to two decimal places and gives any leftover hundredths to the first collaborators on the list. For three people that is 33.34%, 33.33% and 33.33%, which adds up to exactly 100%.
Does a producer get a publishing split?
Only if they contributed to writing the song, such as the music, melody or chords — which many producers do. Producers who only recorded or mixed usually earn from the master side through a fee and points instead. See how producers get paid.
Is my data saved or shared?
No. Everything runs in your browser. Names and percentages are not sent anywhere, and they are cleared when you leave or reset the page — so copy your summary before you go.
