Song Co-Writer Royalty Split Calculator

Mechanical · Performance · Sync — split across all co-writers with per-writer publisher deals

Song & Royalty Inputs
Used for statutory mechanical rate. ≤5 min = 9.1¢; >5 min = 1.75¢/min.
CDs, vinyl, permanent downloads. Statutory mechanical rate applies.
MLC/CRB blended estimate. Adjust to your distributor's actual rate.
Your PRO (ASCAP / BMI / SESAC) statement total for this song.
One-time sync fee (TV, film, ad, etc.) to be split among co-writers.
Co-Writers & Ownership
Total: 0% (must equal 100%)
Publisher deal: "Traditional" = writer keeps 50% of their royalty share; publisher keeps 50%. "Self-published (100%)" = writer keeps 100% of both shares. Performance royalties also split 50/50 writer/publisher at the PRO — enter the writer-side amount you actually received, or the gross amount and choose "traditional" to auto-halve it.
Royalty Breakdown by Writer
Mechanical (units)
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Mechanical (streams)
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Performance
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Sync
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Writer Own % Publisher Mech (units) Mech (streams) Performance Sync TOTAL
Enter co-writers above and results will appear here.

How to Use This Calculator

This tool calculates how publishing royalties divide among song co-writers across three income streams: mechanical royalties from physical/download sales, mechanical royalties from streaming, and performance royalties from PRO distributions. A sync licensing fee can also be included.

  1. Enter your song's duration, units sold, estimated streams, and received performance royalties.
  2. Add each co-writer, their ownership percentage (all must sum to 100%), and their publisher deal type.
  3. The calculator instantly shows each writer's per-stream, per-unit, and total royalty for every income type.
  4. Use "Equal split" to auto-distribute percentages evenly, or type custom percentages.
  5. Print, download as CSV, or share the breakdown with your co-writers.

Why This Matters for Co-Writers

When a song has multiple writers, the royalty math gets complex fast — especially when co-writers have different publishing deals. Writer A might be self-published (keeping 100% of their share), while Writer B is signed to a traditional deal (keeping only 50% of their share). Mixing those on a shared song means each writer's final payout isn't simply their ownership percentage of the total — the publisher deal layer multiplies each writer's share differently.

Forgetting the writer/publisher split is one of the most common accounting errors in co-writer settlements. This calculator separates the math clearly so all parties can verify the numbers independently.

Mechanical Royalties: Units vs. Streaming

The US Copyright Royalty Board sets a statutory mechanical rate for physical and permanent download sales: 9.1 cents per song for recordings 5 minutes or shorter, and 1.75 cents per minute for songs over 5 minutes. These rates have applied since 2006 under Phonorecords III. For streaming, the mechanical rate is calculated under the more complex CRB Phonorecords IV/V structure tied to platform revenue, but blended per-stream estimates commonly used by publishers and aggregators range from approximately $0.0004–$0.001 per stream — the default here is $0.0006, which you can adjust to your actual statement rate.

Performance Royalties & PROs

Performance royalties are collected by Performing Rights Organizations — ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC in the US (PRS in the UK, SOCAN in Canada). PROs pay the writer share directly to writers and the publisher share to publishers, so what you receive on your PRO statement is already your writer half only. Enter the amount you actually received from your PRO statement; if you're entering a gross estimate, choose "traditional" publishing to have the calculator halve it appropriately.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a writer share vs. publisher share?
Every song royalty dollar is split into two halves: the writer share (50%) and the publisher share (50%). If you self-publish, you keep both halves — 100%. If you're signed to a traditional publishing deal, you receive only the 50% writer share. Co-writers each receive a portion of the writer share proportional to their agreed ownership percentage, multiplied by their publisher deal factor.
What is the US statutory mechanical rate for physical sales?
The US Copyright Royalty Board sets the statutory mechanical rate at 9.1 cents per song for recordings 5 minutes or shorter, and 1.75 cents per minute (or fraction thereof) for songs over 5 minutes. For example, a 7-minute song earns 7 × 1.75¢ = 12.25¢ per unit. These rates apply to physical (CD/vinyl) and permanent digital downloads.
Do co-writer percentages have to add up to 100%?
Yes — all co-writers' ownership percentages must total exactly 100%. The calculator shows a live total bar so you can see immediately if you're over or under. Many co-writing agreements default to an equal split (two writers = 50% each, three = 33.33% each), but any negotiated split is valid as long as it sums to 100%.
What's the difference between mechanical and performance royalties?
Mechanical royalties are paid when a song is reproduced — on a CD, vinyl, permanent download, or on-demand stream. Performance royalties are paid when a song is publicly performed — on radio, TV, in live venues, or via streaming. Both are split 50/50 writer/publisher (unless self-published), and both flow through each writer's ownership percentage.
What is a sync licensing fee and how is it split?
A sync fee is a one-time payment for the right to pair your song with visual media — film, TV, commercials, video games, YouTube. The fee is typically split equally between the publisher(s) and songwriter(s), and then between co-writers according to their ownership percentages. Enter the total sync fee; the calculator applies each writer's ownership × their publisher deal factor to determine their share.
What sources does this calculator use?
Statutory mechanical rates come from the US Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) Phonorecords proceedings (loc.gov/crb). The writer/publisher 50/50 split is the standard structure used by all major US PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC) and most publishing contracts. Streaming mechanical rates are blended estimates — always verify with your Music Licensing Collective (MLC) or distributor statement.
Estimate for guidance only. This tool uses US CRB statutory rates and standard publishing conventions. Actual royalties depend on your specific publishing contracts, PRO agreements, and distributor terms. Not legal or financial advice — consult a music attorney or publishing administrator for contract review.