The following information refers to TuneCore Distribution (streaming and download revenue) only.

Please go here for information about TuneCore Publishing Administration's sharing/splitting.

 

We're excited to (finally) launch TuneCore Splits! This puts the power in your hands to directly share streaming & download royalties with the people who help you create your music. 

A few things to note about TuneCore Splits: 

• You can only create a split if you're signed up for a paid Unlimited Plan (Rising, Breakout, or Professional). TuneCore Splits is not available to artists using the pay-per-release model
• You can create a split on a release once you've sent it for distribution
• Splits will not be applied retroactively to revenue already posted to your account, but you can apply a new split to a previously existing release!
• Splits are applied at the track level, so you can use a different split for each track on an album
• You can save a split and apply it to other tracks (you don't have to create the same thing over and over again!)
• If you're based in the U.S., you can use Splits without submitting a valid W-9. However, if you do not submit a valid W-9, your Splits revenue will be subject to backup withholding 
• Splits will apply to revenue from all stores except YouTube Content ID and Tidal Direct Artist Payments. Publishing Administration revenue is also not included in TuneCore Splits

Splits Creators

How do I create a split? How do I add an existing split to my release?

You can create a split on a release once you’ve fully uploaded it for distribution, including the checkout process. To add an existing split to a release, you'll follow these same steps!

Log in to your TuneCore dashboard, go to your Discography, locate the release you want to add a split to, then click "Split Royalties" (or “Edit Split” if you're needing to change a split on the release).

If you don’t see either of these options, it means the release hasn’t been distributed yet. You can only add a split to a distributed release.

What do I need to create a split?

You'll need your collaborators' email addresses and the percentages/split sheet agreements you want to use for each split.

Here's an example of the information you'll need when creating a split:

Collaborator's Email Address	Split Agreement %
alicia.strings@email.com	50%
kaulanakaleo@contact.net	17%
jeffersonradley@email.com	23%
santiago.ortiz@contact.net	10%

In the above split sheet agreement, you have the collaborators' email addresses and the total of the splits adds up to 100%, so this would be an acceptable split to create!

How do I set up a Priority Payout when I create a split?

For information about Priority Payouts, including how to set them up, please read this article!

What happens if my collaborator doesn't accept the split?

If a Splits Collaborator doesn't accept a split after you've invited them, that collaborator's split will be paid to you, the Splits Creator. 

If this is the case, it will be the Splits Creator's responsibility to pay any unaccepted splits as agreed upon between the Creator/Main Account Holder and the collaborator(s).

Is there a max amount for a split? Or a max number of collaborators?

You can give away up to 100% of your earnings on a split.

The max number of collaborators is 100 since the percentages of a split must add up to exactly 100%.

When does a split activate once I've applied it to a release?

Once the split is added and at least one of the collaborators has accepted their invitation, the split will be active and start paying out at next week’s sales posting. Splits cannot be created with a delayed start.

Splits are effective by pay period and apply at the time of posting. The split applies on the date the sales are posted, not the date the stream earned the royalties.

What is taken out before a split is applied?

Store Commissions, TCDA Encumbrances, Withholding Taxes, and then Backup Withholding Encumbrances are all taken out before a Split is applied and sent to your TuneCore account.

Please note: Any active encumbrances and/or holds must be fully paid off before your splits will be applied. If you pay off an encumbrance with part of one week's sales posting, your split won't activate until the next week's posting.

If I change a split percentage, when will those changes be applied?

If a split is edited, the changes will be reflected the next time sales are posted for releases using the edited split. Edits to a split will activate starting from the date of the next week’s sales posting, not the date the revenue was earned. You can learn more about sales postings here.

If you edit a split between a store's monthly postings, the revenue from the next posting will be split according to the most recent split update.

Example: A release has a 50/50 split and earns $100 on one store from the 1st to the 15th, then is edited on the 15th to a 70/30 split and earns another $100 from the same store from the 15th to the 31st. When sales are paid out for that store the next month, the $200 earned in that month will be split 70/30 only, even though the split was set to 50/50 for the first part of the month.

Can TuneCore create/edit my splits for me?

Our Artist Support team cannot create or edit Splits on your behalf.

The information needed to create/update splits is sensitive, so we cannot make any updates on your behalf. You will need to make any updates to your splits yourself.

If you're having trouble adding or changing a split and you believe you’re experiencing a website issue, please let us know and we'll be happy to investigate.

 

Splits Collaborators

 

I don't use TuneCore as a distributor, but I want the Splits that are shared with me. Do I still need to sign up for an Unlimited Plan?

Yes, you must sign up for an Unlimited Plan to accept collaborator invitations. You can be on any Unlimited Plan, even the free New Artist Plan!

If you choose to use the New Artist Plan, you will still need to pay for the yearly upgrade called Splits Collaborator. The cost is £6.99 GBP per year, which is lower than any paid Unlimited Plan.

The Splits Collaborator upgrade covers all functionality related to splits (accepting your splits invitations, access to receiving weekly royalty payouts, Payoneer, tax forms, etc.)

Please note: TuneCore Splits is not available to artists using the pay-per-release model.

Do I need to do anything once I've been added to a split?

You need to accept the invitation to the split to start receiving your royalties! You'll receive an email when you've been added to a split, but you can also log in to your TuneCore dashboard to see all of the splits you've been added to.

If a change is made to your percentage once you've accepted a split, you'll receive an email letting you know, but you won't need to re-accept it.

Where do I see the splits I've been added to?

You can find all of the splits you've been added to by logging in to your TuneCore dashboard, clicking the notification icon on the top right, and then clicking on a splits notification!

You can also click "Money & Analytics" at the top of your dashboard, then go to "My Splits Invites" in the dropdown menu. From there, you can filter by Pending or Accepted splits and see the details of the splits you've been added to!

I have a question about a split I'm a collaborator on. What do I do?

Our Artist Support team cannot assist collaborators with any split-related inquiries/disputes.
If you have a question about your percentage of a split or any other issues regarding a specific split, please reach out to the Main Account Holder/Splits Creator who created the split in question.