How Music Credits Work
Music credits identify everyone who contributed to creating a song — songwriters, performers, producers, engineers, and publishers — and determine how royalties are split.
Search song credits — Look up the songwriters, publishers, and credits for any recording in our free database.
Search CreditsWhat are music credits?
Music credits are the formal record of every person and organization that contributed to a song. They serve two purposes: recognition (who made the music) and compensation (who gets paid). Every stream, download, radio play, and sync placement generates royalties, and credits determine exactly how that money is divided.
A single song typically involves many credited parties — the people who wrote it, the people who recorded it, the people who produced it, and the companies that publish and distribute it. Each of these parties has different rights and collects different types of royalties through different organizations.
Types of music credits
Credits fall into five main categories, each with distinct rights and royalty streams:
Writing Credits
Who created the underlying composition
Created the melody and musical structure. In many genres, the composer writes the chord progressions, harmonies, and instrumental parts that define the song.
Wrote the words. In PRO registrations, the lyricist is often called the “Author.” When one person writes both music and lyrics, they are credited as “Composer/Lyricist” or simply “Writer.”
Adapted or rearranged an existing composition. Arrangers may receive a songwriter credit if their arrangement is substantially original — common in jazz, classical, and cover versions.
Performing Credits
Who performed on the recording
The primary artist(s) whose name appears on the release. Featured artists typically receive a share of master recording royalties (after label recoupment) and 45% of SoundExchange digital performance royalties.
A hired instrumentalist or vocalist who performs on the recording but is not the primary artist. Session musicians typically receive a one-time fee or union-scale payment. They may also receive residuals through the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund.
Production Credits
Who shaped the sound of the recording
Oversaw the creative direction of the recording. Producers may earn “points” (2-5% of master royalties) and sometimes songwriter credit if they contributed to the composition. Top producers like Max Martin, Metro Boomin, and Jack Antonoff often receive both.
Engineering Credits
Who handled the technical aspects
Managed the technical recording, mixing, and mastering process. Engineers are typically paid a flat fee or hourly rate. While they receive a credit, they usually do not earn ongoing royalties unless they negotiated a special deal.
Publishing Credits
Who manages the business of the composition
The publishing company that directly represents the songwriter. Collects the publisher's share of royalties and handles licensing. Examples: Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Kobalt.
A publisher that represents the original publisher in a specific territory. Sub-publishers collect royalties in their region and pass them back to the original publisher. This chain is how royalties flow across borders.
How credits translate to money
Each type of credit connects to a specific royalty stream. Here is how the money flows:
| Royalty Type | Paid To | Collected By | Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical | Songwriters & publishers | MLC (US) | IPI / ISWC |
| Performance | Songwriters & publishers | ASCAP, BMI, SESAC | IPI |
| Master recording | Labels & artists | Distributors | ISRC |
| Digital performance | Performers & labels | SoundExchange | ISRC |
| Sync licensing | Publishers + labels | Negotiated directly | N/A (deal-based) |
A single stream on Spotify generates both mechanical royalties (to songwriters) and master recording royalties (to the label/artist). These are entirely separate payment chains.
The credit chain: from creation to payment
Understanding how credits move through the system helps explain why accuracy matters so much:
- 1
Credit — Who created it
Songwriters agree on splits and document them in a split sheet. The song is recorded with performer, producer, and engineer credits noted.
- 2
- 3
Registration — Making it official
Songwriters register the composition with their PRO (ASCAP, BMI) and the MLC. Publishers register their claim. The recording is delivered to streaming platforms by the distributor.
- 4
Collection — Gathering the money
Streaming platforms pay mechanical royalties to the MLC and master royalties to distributors. PROs collect performance royalties from streaming services, radio, TV, and live venues. SoundExchange collects digital performance royalties from non-interactive services.
- 5
Payment — Money reaches creators
The MLC distributes mechanical royalties based on IPI, ISWC, and share percentages. PROs distribute performance royalties. Distributors pay labels, who pay artists. Each step relies on accurate credits and identifiers from the previous step.
How share percentages work
When multiple songwriters collaborate, the composition's ownership is divided into shares that total 100%. These shares determine how mechanical and performance royalties are split.
Example: “Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd
The composition has multiple credited songwriters, each with a share percentage that reflects their contribution to writing the song:
View full credits for “Blinding Lights” on Credits.fm to see the complete breakdown with share percentages and publisher chains.
The composition's 100% ownership is further divided into two halves:
If a songwriter has no publisher, they keep both halves (sometimes called “self-publishing”). With a publishing deal, the publisher takes a negotiated portion of the publisher's share — typically 15-25% of that half.
Role definitions
Music credits use specific terminology. Here are the key distinctions:
Composer vs. Author (Lyricist)
A composer writes the music — melody, chords, arrangement. An author (or lyricist) writes the words. In many pop collaborations, one person writes the lyrics while another creates the beat or melody. Both receive songwriter credit, but their roles are distinct in PRO and MLC registrations.
Performer vs. session musician
A featured performer (the artist) receives ongoing royalties from master recording streams and SoundExchange. A session musician is hired to play on the recording, typically for a flat fee. Session musicians may receive residuals through the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Fund (5% of SoundExchange collections), but they do not receive a direct share of streaming royalties.
Original publisher vs. sub-publisher
An original publisher has a direct deal with the songwriter. A sub-publisher represents the original publisher in other territories. For example, a US songwriter's publisher might have a sub-publishing deal in Japan — the Japanese sub-publisher collects royalties locally and passes them to the US publisher, minus a commission (typically 15-25%).
Administrator vs. publisher
A publisher takes ownership of a share of the copyright. An administrator manages the business side (registration, licensing, collection) without taking ownership. Admin deals are common with independent songwriters who want to keep their copyrights while still having professional representation. Companies like Songtrust and TuneCore Publishing offer admin services.
Why credits matter for independent artists
Independent artists face the biggest risk from credit errors because they typically lack the infrastructure that labels and publishers provide. Without a team managing registrations, an independent artist must handle every step themselves:
- Register with a PRO — Join ASCAP or BMI (both free) to collect performance royalties. Without PRO registration, there is no way to receive performance royalties from streaming, radio, or live venues.
- Register with the MLC — Create a free account at themlc.com and register every composition. The MLC cannot pay you if your songs are not in their database.
- Register with SoundExchange — If you perform on your recordings, register at soundexchange.com to collect your 45% share of digital performance royalties. Your distributor cannot collect this for you.
- Document splits before release — If you collaborate with anyone, agree on percentages and sign a split sheet. Disputes after release can freeze all royalties.
- Verify your credits — After release, look up your ISRC on Credits.fm to confirm that your songwriter data appears correctly.
Where to find music credits
Several free tools exist for looking up who wrote and performed a song:
Credits.fm
Free, comprehensive search across all identifier types — ISRCs, ISWCs, IPIs, ISNIs, and UPCs. Combines MLC ownership data, MusicBrainz metadata, and streaming platform links. Search by song title, artist name, or any identifier code.
ASCAP ACE Repertory
ASCAP's public database of registered works. Search by title or writer name to find songwriter credits and publisher information for works registered with ASCAP.
BMI Repertoire
BMI's public search for works and songwriters registered with BMI. Shows writer names and publisher affiliations.
MLC Portal
The Mechanical Licensing Collective's public search at portal.themlc.com. Shows matched and unmatched works, songwriter names, and publisher chains for compositions registered for US mechanical royalties.
Frequently asked questions
What are music credits?
Music credits identify everyone who contributed to creating a song — songwriters, performers, producers, engineers, and publishers — and determine how royalties are split. Credits connect people to the music they helped create and ensure they get paid when that music is streamed, broadcast, or licensed.
How do music credits affect royalty payments?
Credits directly determine who gets paid and how much. Songwriter credits determine mechanical royalty splits (paid by the MLC) and performance royalty splits (paid by PROs like ASCAP and BMI). Performer credits determine who receives master recording royalties and SoundExchange digital performance royalties. Without a credit, there is no payment.
What is the difference between a songwriter credit and a performer credit?
A songwriter credit means you wrote or composed the underlying song (the melody, lyrics, or arrangement). A performer credit means you performed on a specific recording of that song. These are separate rights with separate royalty streams. A singer-songwriter typically holds both credits, while a session musician who did not contribute to the songwriting only holds a performer credit.
How are songwriting splits decided?
Splits are decided by the collaborators themselves and documented in a split sheet — a legal agreement signed before or during the session. There is no universal formula. Some writers split equally regardless of contribution; others negotiate based on who wrote the melody vs. lyrics vs. arrangement. The important thing is to agree and document it before release.
What does a music publisher do?
A music publisher manages the business side of a songwriter's compositions. They register works with PROs and the MLC, pitch songs for sync placements (film, TV, ads), issue licenses, collect royalties from all territories, and pursue infringement claims. In exchange, publishers typically take 15-25% of the songwriter's publishing income, though major-label publishing deals may take more.
Do producers get songwriter credits?
It depends on the agreement. Producers who contribute to the melody, lyrics, or arrangement may receive songwriter credit and a share of publishing royalties. Producers who only handle the sonic production (mixing, sound design, beat-making that does not incorporate original melodic content) may instead receive "points" — a percentage of master recording royalties, typically 2-5%. Many modern pop and hip-hop producers receive both.
Where can I look up music credits for free?
Credits.fm provides free music credit lookup. You can search by song title, artist name, ISRC, or ISWC to find songwriter names, roles, share percentages, and publisher chains. Data comes from the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC), MusicBrainz, and streaming platforms. Other resources include ASCAP ACE (ascap.com/repertory), BMI Repertoire (repertoire.bmi.com), and the MLC's public search (portal.themlc.com).
What is a PRO and why do songwriters need one?
A PRO (Performance Rights Organization) collects performance royalties on behalf of songwriters and publishers when music is played on radio, TV, streaming services, live venues, and in public spaces. In the US, the three PROs are ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. Every songwriter must affiliate with a PRO to collect performance royalties — this is separate from the mechanical royalties collected by the MLC.
What happens to royalties when credits are wrong?
When credits are wrong or missing, royalties go into "black box" pools — money collected but not distributed because the rightful owners cannot be identified. The MLC holds unmatched mechanical royalties for 3 years, then distributes them based on market share to identified publishers. This means songwriters with incorrect credits lose their money to larger publishers. Globally, hundreds of millions of dollars are lost this way every year.
How do I get credit as a songwriter?
First, affiliate with a PRO (ASCAP or BMI in the US — both are free to join). Second, register your works with the MLC at themlc.com (also free). Third, make sure your co-writers agree on splits and document them in a split sheet. Fourth, when your song is released, verify that the distributor has included your songwriter information. You can check by looking up your ISRC on Credits.fm to see if your name appears in the credits.
Try it yourself
Look up the credits for real songs in our free database:
Key terms
- Split sheet
- A written agreement between co-writers that documents each person's ownership percentage of a composition. Split sheets should be completed before release to avoid disputes.
- Points
- A percentage of master recording royalties paid to a producer. One "point" equals 1% of the retail price or streaming revenue attributed to the master. Producers typically receive 2-5 points.
- Recoupment
- The process by which a label or publisher recovers their advance from an artist's future royalties. Until the advance is recouped, the artist receives no additional payments from that royalty stream.
- Black box royalties
- Royalties collected by the MLC, PROs, or international societies that cannot be matched to their rightful owners due to missing or incorrect credits. Hundreds of millions of dollars go unmatched globally each year.
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