What’s a Fair Royalty Percentage for a Music Producer?
One of the most common questions in music is: “What percentage of royalties should a producer receive?”
Knowing the answer is crucial. Producers are not just beat makers—they’re co-creators of the record, and understanding fair royalty splits ensures you’re properly compensated for your work.
Let’s break down the basics.
The Two Types of Producer Royalties
Producers typically earn money in two ways:
Publishing Royalties – Earned from songwriting contributions.
Master Royalties (Points) – Earned from the sound recording itself.
Publishing Splits for Producers
If you’re the sole producer on a track (and no samples are used), you are generally entitled to 50% of the publishing share.
If multiple producers work on a track, that 50% is split among them based on contribution.
If you also co-write lyrics or melodies, you may receive an additional portion of the songwriter’s share.
Publishing is often overlooked, but it’s a critical part of long-term revenue for producers.
Master Royalties (Producer Points)
Producer points are percentages of the revenue generated from the master recording.
Major Label Artists:
New producers: 3–4%
Established producers: 3–7%+
Independent Artists:
Deals are more flexible. Many indie artists will negotiate anywhere from a 3–5% master royalty to even a 50/50 master split with producers, depending on their relationship and budget.
Factors That Affect Producer Royalties
A few key elements can shift what percentage a producer receives:
Advance Payments – If you receive money upfront, your royalties are usually “recouped” against that advance before you start earning additional master royalties. Publishing royalties, however, are not affected by recoupment.
Label Deals – Major labels often stick to standardized royalty structures, while independent deals are more negotiable.
Sync Licensing – If a track gets licensed for film, TV, or ads, producers may negotiate a share of the sync fee in addition to publishing and master royalties.
How to Protect Your Share
To make sure you get what you deserve:
Use a Split Sheet – Always document percentages before the song’s release.
Register with a PRO – Join a PRO like ASCAP and BMI to collect your performance royalties.
Work with a Publishing Partner – A PRO only collects one part of your royalties. To make sure you get all your publishing income worldwide, a publisher like Elizabeth Music Group is essential. We handle the complex global collection process so you never leave money on the table.
Final Thoughts
A fair royalty percentage depends on your exact contributions. If you produced the entire track without samples, you should receive 50% of the publishing, along with producer points on the master recording.
But beyond percentages, what really matters is protecting your rights and making sure every royalty stream is collected. That’s why once you land publishing on a song, it’s smart to work with a publishing company like Elizabeth Music Group—we make sure producers don’t just create music, but also get paid fairly for it.
