Look, I’m not saying your band is destined to break up over money—but if you’re reading this and haven’t talked splits yet, I’m legally required to raise one eyebrow in concern. Here are 10 tips for keeping your band together, solvent, and (mostly) emotionally intact.
Let’s split this up fairly, shall we?
1. Talk Before You Rock
Before you hit the stage, hit the table. Don’t wait until there’s streaming revenue to divvy—talk splits before your song hits Spotify Wrapped or your drummer’s ego hits Mach 5.
2. Songs ≠ Shows
Songwriting and live performance are two different beasts. If one person wrote the lyrics while everyone else was perfecting the triangle part, consider separating songwriting splits from gig income. You can’t pay rent in exposure or vibes.
3. Equal Isn’t Always Fair
Yes, democracy is lovely—but if one member is producing, mixing, writing, booking, and wrangling merch orders while the bassist “vibes,” maybe a 25/25/25/25 split isn’t quite right. Fair ≠ equal.
4. Put It in Writing (Seriously)
Handshake deals are for 1960s Motown contracts and movie montages. Draft a basic band agreement outlining revenue splits, songwriting credits, and what happens when someone quits to become a barista-slash-novelist.
5. Revisit the Deal—Like, Occasionally
Your band will evolve. Maybe the drummer becomes the main songwriter. Maybe your synth player joins a cult. Check in once a year to make sure your deal still fits the band’s actual contributions.
6. Copyright Credit ≠ Royalty Rate
Just because all five of you are listed as writers on the song doesn’t mean royalties must be split evenly. Think of writing credit as “who helped build the house” and royalties as “who paid for the materials.”
7. Side Hustles Need Boundaries
If your lead singer starts a solo project, clarify what’s “band property” and what’s not. Otherwise, one TikTok collab could lead to three lawsuits and an awkward green room silence.
8. Manager ≠ Mediator
Don’t make your manager (or your mom) settle disputes over money. Get a neutral third party—or better yet, a lawyer who knows both chords and clauses.
9. Use a Spreadsheet, Not a Napkin
Keep track of who gets what. Seriously. If your band’s finances exist only in someone’s Notes app, you’re begging for resentment (and IRS confusion).
10. Remember: It’s About the Music, But Also the Money
Music is magical, but rent is real. If you want to make art and stay friends, treat your business like a business. You don’t need a fancy contract—just a fair one.
In the end, fair splits are like good harmonies: no one notices when they work—but the second someone’s off-key, it’s all anyone hears. Save yourself a decade of passive-aggressive text threads and get your deal down early.