Understanding Royalty Splits
Royalty splits determine how streaming revenue is divided among collaborators. This guide explains how the system works and how to manage your splits effectively.
How Royalty Splits Work
The Revenue Flow
Streaming Revenue (100%)
↓
Platform Fee (AVL Distribution)
↓
Artist Share (Your portion)
↓
Collaborator Splits (Divided among team)
Example:
Streaming platforms generate $100 in revenue
AVL takes platform fee (e.g., 20%) = $20
Artist share remaining = $80
Artist divides their $80 among collaborators based on splits
Who Sets What
Platform Admin sets the initial split between AVL and Artist during approval
Artist (track owner) divides their share among collaborators
Collaborators accept or decline their invitations
Types of Splits
Admin Splits (Set by Platform)
Set during release approval:
Distributor percentage (AVL's share)
Artist percentage (your share to distribute)
Applied at the release or track level
Cannot be changed by artists (dispute process available)
Example Admin Split:
Distributor: 20%
Artist: 80%
Artist Splits (Set by Track Owner)
You control:
How your artist share is divided
Who receives each portion
Percentage for each collaborator
Whether recipients need platform access
Creating Splits for Your Tracks
Step 1: Access Royalty Splits
From your release:
Navigate to Royalties tab
View admin-configured splits
See your available share to distribute
Step 2: Add Collaborators
Option A: Existing Team Members
Select from your account's team
Their email and name auto-fill
Faster setup for frequent collaborators
Option B: Enter Manually
Add name and email
For external collaborators
They'll receive an invitation
Step 3: Configure Split Details
For each collaborator:
Name: Their full name
Email: Where they'll receive invitation
Percentage: Their share of YOUR portion
Royalty Only: Toggle on if they should only receive payments (no platform access)
Important: Your splits must not exceed 100% of your share.
Step 4: Review and Save
Confirm percentages add up correctly
Review collaborator details
Save as draft (can edit before sending)
Step 5: Send Invitations
Once you're satisfied:
Click "Send Invitations"
Collaborators receive email invitations
They must accept to receive royalties
Track invitation status in dashboard
Split Invitations (For Recipients)
Receiving an Invitation
When someone invites you to receive royalties:
Email notification with details:
Track name and release
Percentage share
Inviter name
Custom message (if included)
Magic link to accept:
Log in or sign up
Review invitation details
Accept or decline
Viewing Pending Invitations
Access your Royalties → Invitations page:
You'll see:
Pending invitations count
Total percentage available
Unique tracks involved
Invitation cards with:
Release artwork
Track title
Your percentage
Who invited you
How long ago
Accepting an Invitation
To accept:
Review the split details
Understand your percentage
Click "Accept Split"
Confirmation message appears
You'll start receiving royalties once the release is live
What happens next:
You're added to the split
Royalties flow to you automatically
You can view earnings in your dashboard
Payment processed according to platform schedule
Declining an Invitation
To decline:
Click "Decline" on the invitation
Optionally provide a reason
Confirm decline
Important: Declining cannot be undone. The inviter must send a new invitation if you change your mind.
Common reasons to decline:
Percentage is incorrect
Already have other agreement in place
Don't want platform account
Dispute over contributions
Royalty-Only Mode
What is Royalty-Only?
A special invitation type where recipients:
✅ Receive royalty payments
✅ See their earnings
❌ Cannot edit releases
❌ Cannot access full dashboard
❌ Cannot upload or submit releases
When to Use Royalty-Only
Best for:
Session musicians receiving one-time fees
Producers with simple split agreements
External collaborators who don't need platform access
Contributors who prefer minimal involvement
Not recommended for:
Ongoing creative partners
Co-writers who want to manage their work
Artists managing multiple projects
How to Send Royalty-Only Invitations
When adding a collaborator:
Enter their details
Toggle "Royalty Only" to ON
Set their percentage
Send invitation
Recipients will see "Royalty Only" badge on their invitation.
Managing Your Splits
Editing Splits (Before Finalization)
While splits are in draft or pending acceptance:
You can:
Change percentages
Add new collaborators
Remove collaborators
Resend invitations
Delete the entire split configuration
You cannot edit:
Accepted splits (use dispute process)
Finalized splits (admin intervention required)
Viewing Active Splits
Your Dashboard shows:
All releases with splits
Collaborators per track
Status: Pending, Accepted, Disputed
Your share after splits
Copying Splits from Previous Releases
Save time by reusing configurations:
Click "Copy from Track"
Select a previous release/track with splits
System copies:
All collaborators
Their percentages
Royalty-only settings
Review and adjust as needed
Send invitations
Great for:
Recurring collaborators
Album series
Consistent team compositions
Split Disputes
When Can You Dispute?
Artists can dispute admin-set splits within 7 days of approval.
After 7 days, splits are locked and require admin intervention to change.
How to File a Dispute
Navigate to your release Royalties tab
View the admin-configured split
See deadline countdown
Click "Dispute Split"
Provide detailed reason (minimum 20 characters)
Submit for review
Required information:
Why you're disputing
What you believe the correct split should be
Any supporting evidence or agreements
Dispute Review Process
Admin notification: Platform team receives your dispute
Review period: 3-5 business days typically
Investigation: Admin reviews contracts, agreements, evidence
Decision: Dispute resolved or split adjusted
Notification: You're notified via email
Dispute Outcomes
Approved:
Split adjusted to your request
May require re-approval process
Notification sent to all parties
Denied:
Original split remains
Explanation provided
Options for further recourse
Split Scenarios & Examples
Scenario 1: Solo Artist, Simple Split
Setup:
Admin split: 80% artist, 20% platform
Artist keeps 100% of their 80%
No collaborators
Result:
You receive 80% of all streaming revenue
No invitations needed
Simplest configuration
Scenario 2: Artist + Producer
Setup:
Admin split: 80% artist, 20% platform
Artist splits their 80%: 60% artist, 40% producer
Producer invited via email
Result:
Artist receives 48% (60% of 80%)
Producer receives 32% (40% of 80%)
Platform receives 20%
Scenario 3: Band with Multiple Members
Setup:
Admin split: 85% artist, 15% platform
Band divides 85% evenly among 4 members
Artist split configuration:
Member 1: 25% (21.25% of total)
Member 2: 25% (21.25% of total)
Member 3: 25% (21.25% of total)
Member 4: 25% (21.25% of total)
Result:
Each member receives 21.25% of streaming revenue
Platform receives 15%
Scenario 4: Complex Collaboration
Setup:
Admin split: 80% artist, 20% platform
Lead artist: 50% of artist share
Featured artist: 30% of artist share
Producer: 15% of artist share
Engineer: 5% of artist share (royalty-only)
Result:
Lead artist: 40% of total revenue
Featured artist: 24% of total revenue
Producer: 12% of total revenue
Engineer: 4% of total revenue
Platform: 20% of total revenue
Best Practices
Before Creating Splits
Discuss with collaborators before submitting releases
Document agreements in writing
Clarify percentages upfront
Consider all contributors (don't forget engineers, session musicians)
Factor in platform fee when negotiating (e.g., "80% of net" vs "80% of gross")
When Configuring Splits
Double-check percentages add up to 100%
Verify email addresses to ensure invitations reach recipients
Use royalty-only for simple payment arrangements
Add notes or context when sending invitations
Keep records of agreements for dispute resolution
After Splits Are Active
Monitor acceptance status - follow up with collaborators
Check earnings regularly to ensure proper distribution
Communicate with team about payment schedules
Update splits when team composition changes
Document any special arrangements
Common Questions
When do split recipients get paid?
Recipients receive payments according to the platform's payment schedule, typically monthly or quarterly once minimum thresholds are met.
Can I change splits after a release is live?
Splits are locked once finalized. You must file a dispute or contact support for changes to live releases.
What if a collaborator doesn't accept their invitation?
They won't receive royalties until they accept. Follow up to ensure they saw the email. You can resend the invitation.
Can I remove someone from a split?
Yes, before finalization. After finalization, requires admin intervention.
Do splits affect publishing royalties?
No. These are master recording (streaming) splits only. Publishing royalties are collected separately based on songwriting credits.
What if percentages don't total 100%?
The remaining percentage stays with the track owner (you). This is fine if intentional.
Can splits differ per track on the same release?
Yes! Each track can have unique split configurations.
Payment & Earnings
Viewing Your Earnings
Access your Earnings dashboard:
See total earnings
Break down by release and track
View split-adjusted amounts
Track payment status
Payment Thresholds
Most platforms have minimum payout amounts:
Check your payment settings
Understand accumulation periods
Set up payment method (Trolley)
Tax Considerations
Royalties are taxable income
Different rules for different countries
Keep records of all payments
Consult tax professional for advice
Need help configuring splits or resolving a dispute? Contact support or your relationship manager for assistance.