In the eyes of the law, every song is divided into two equal halves: the Writer’s Share (50%) and the Publisher’s Share (50%). Even if you are an independent artist who writes 100% of your own music, your royalties are still split into these two buckets. To get paid “in full,” you must be set up to collect both halves.
One of the biggest shocks for new artists is looking at an ASCAP or BMI statement and seeing “50%” listed next to their name. Their first thought is: “Who is getting the other 50%? I wrote the whole song!”
The answer lies in how the music industry was built. The system assumes that every song has a Creator (the Writer) and a Business Manager (the Publisher). Here is how the money moves between them.
1. The Two Halves of a Song
Think of your song’s earnings as a 100-cent dollar.
- The Writer’s Share (50%): This belongs exclusively to the songwriter(s). By law, this share cannot be assigned to a publisher. It is paid directly to the person who wrote the lyrics or melody.
- The Publisher’s Share (50%): This is the share dedicated to the administration, licensing, and “business” of the song.
The DIY Artist Trap: If you are independent and haven’t registered a publishing entity or hired a Publishing Administrator, you are only collecting the 50% “Writer’s Share.” The other 50%—the Publisher’s Share—often sits in a “black box” account at the collection society because there is no publisher registered to claim it.
2. How the Split Works in Practice
Let’s look at how this plays out depending on your team setup.
Scenario A: The “Self-Published” Artist
If you write 100% of the song and have no publisher, you are entitled to 100% of the money. However, you must register with your PRO (like ASCAP/BMI) as both a Writer and a Publisher to see all of it.
Scenario B: The “Admin Deal” (Recommended for Indies)
If you work with a service like Audiobulb, you still own 100% of your copyright. You simply grant the “Publisher’s Share” to the administrator so they can collect it for you globally. They take a small commission (usually 15%) from that share and pass the rest to you.
- You get: 100% of the Writer’s Share + ~85% of the Publisher’s Share.
Scenario C: The “Traditional” Publishing Deal
If you sign with a major publisher (like Sony or Warner), they often take 100% of the Publisher’s Share in exchange for an upfront payment (an advance).
- You get: 100% of the Writer’s Share.
- The Label/Publisher gets: 100% of the Publisher’s Share.
3. What Happens When You Have Co-Writers?
If you write a song with a friend, the “100% total” is divided.
- Writer A: 25% Writer’s Share + 25% Publisher’s Share.
- Writer B: 25% Writer’s Share + 25% Publisher’s Share.
- Total: 100%.
Important: You must agree on these “splits” before you release the song. If the math doesn’t add up to 100% when you register the song, the royalties will be frozen until everyone agrees.
4. Comparison: The Split Breakdown
| Entity | Writer’s Share (50%) | Publisher’s Share (50%) |
| Who owns it? | The Songwriter | The Publisher (or Artist-as-Publisher) |
| Can it be sold? | No (Usually stays with the creator) | Yes (This is what labels buy/sell) |
| Who pays it? | PROs (Paid directly to the writer) | PROs, MLC, and Sub-Publishers |
FAQ: Splitting Royalties
What if I wrote the lyrics and my friend wrote the beat?
Usually, this is a 50/50 split. The industry standard is that the “Lyrics/Melody” and the “Track/Beat” are equal in value, regardless of who spent more time in the studio.
Can a publisher take a piece of my Writer’s Share?
No. In almost all standard contracts, the Writer’s Share is “sacrosanct.” A publisher only takes a commission or ownership of the Publisher’s Share.
Does my distributor (DistroKid) get a share of these?
No. Your distributor handles the Master Recording royalties, which is a completely different bucket of money. We are talking strictly about the Songwriting royalties here.
Summary: Don’t Leave 50% on the Table
The 50/50 split exists to ensure that the “business” of the song is funded. If you don’t have a professional publisher, you aren’t “saving” 50%—you are often just losing it because you don’t have the technical setup to claim the Publisher’s Share from global societies.
Your Next Step: Check your ASCAP/BMI portal. If you don’t see both a Writer and a Publisher account listed for your songs, you are only getting half the story. Let Audiobulb manage your Publisher’s Share so you can collect 100% of what you’ve earned.