How to split royalties without starting fights
A simple approach to defining percentages before the song is even recorded.
Why it's worth settling before you record
Most royalty-split conflicts aren't about bad faith — they happen because nobody talked about it until real money was on the table, and by then each person remembers their own contribution as bigger than everyone else remembers it. Agreeing on it before stepping into the studio, even if it feels awkward, avoids that problem almost entirely.
A simple starting point
A common convention (not a fixed rule) is splitting composition (lyrics + melody + chords) and production/recording separately. Whoever wrote the lyrics and main melody usually takes the larger share of composition; whoever produced, recorded, or played significant instrumental parts splits that other share. There's no universal formula — what matters is that it's clear and written down.
Write it down, even informally
A text message where everyone confirms the percentages already beats nothing. Use the split calculator to make sure the final numbers are clear and add up to 100%, and save that screenshot or file alongside the song.