Featured Artist Agreement Template - Royalty & Publishing Split

A featured artist who's getting royalties and a publishing split needs a real agreement — not a text message and a prayer. This Featured Artist Agreement Template covers the royalty + publishing structure: the featured artist receives a percentage of master royalties from the track and a defined share of the underlying composition's publishing. Clear terms on what they earn, when they earn it, and what rights they do and don't have.

Drafted by an entertainment attorney with experience structuring featured artist deals for independent releases.

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What's Included

Master Royalty Terms

• Featured Artist Royalty Rate — Defines the featured artist's percentage of net receipts from the master recording (streaming, downloads, physical, sync licensing).
• Royalty Base — Specifies whether royalties are calculated on gross receipts, net receipts, or after specific deductions (e.g., distribution fees, marketing costs).
• Accounting Periods — Sets quarterly or semi-annual accounting, with a deadline for statements and payment.
• Audit Rights — The featured artist's limited right to audit your records if they dispute a royalty statement.

Publishing Split

• Composition Ownership — Defines the featured artist's share of the underlying composition copyright, split between writer's share and publisher's share.
• PRO Registration — Addresses how each party registers their share with ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC, and who is responsible for ensuring correct registration.
• Publishing Administration — Specifies whether each party administers their own publishing or if one party administers the full composition.

Recording & Creative Terms

• Featured Artist's Contribution — Describes what the featured artist is contributing (vocals, rap verse, instrumental performance, etc.) and the specific track involved.
• Recording Session Terms — Addresses who covers studio costs and whether the featured artist is responsible for their own travel or accommodation.
• Approval Rights — Specifies whether the featured artist has approval over the final mix, the music video, or other uses of their likeness.

Master Ownership

• Master Ownership Confirmation — The primary artist or label retains ownership of the master recording. The featured artist receives royalties but does not own any portion of the master.
• Work for Hire / Assignment — Featured artist's recorded performance is classified as work for hire, with an assignment backup clause.

Credits & Publicity

• Credit Language — Required credit format on streaming platforms, physical media, and promotional materials (e.g., "[Lead Artist] feat. [Featured Artist]").
• Social Media & Promotional Use — Defines how each party may use the track for promotion on their own channels.
• Likeness Rights — Addresses the use of the featured artist's name, image, and likeness in connection with the track and music video.

Standard Legal Protections

• Warranties & Representations — Featured artist confirms their performance and any songwriting contributions are original and don't infringe on third-party rights.
• Indemnification — Mutual protection against third-party claims arising from each party's contributions.
• Term — The agreement's duration and what happens upon expiration.
• Governing Law — Your choice of state, enforceable across all U.S. jurisdictions.

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Common Mistakes This Template Helps You Avoid

❌ No written agreement on the royalty split — "I'll take care of you" is not a number. When the track starts generating DSP revenue, undefined splits lead to accusations, disputes, and withheld payments.

❌ Publishing split agreed verbally, never registered correctly — If both parties register conflicting splits at their PRO, the PRO holds the money — and neither party gets paid until it's sorted out in writing.

❌ Featured artist claims ownership of the master — Without a work-for-hire clause, the featured artist's recorded vocal performance could be characterized as a co-ownership interest in the master recording under copyright law.

❌ No clarity on promotional use — Featured artists often want to post the track immediately. Without a written agreement on timing and channel usage, you lose control of your own rollout.

✅ This template establishes exactly what the featured artist earns and what they can and can't do — before the track drops.

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Who This Is For

• Independent artists — featuring another artist on a track and offering them royalties plus a publishing split as part of the deal.
• Indie labels — executing featured artist deals where the featured artist is receiving more than a flat fee — publishing participation is part of the negotiation.
• Featured artists — who want a written contract confirming their royalty percentage and publishing share before they record a single bar.
• Music managers — representing either the primary artist or the featured artist and needing a template that covers all the income streams.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How is this different from the Flat Fee Buyout version?
The Flat Fee Buyout version pays the featured artist a one-time fee with no royalties and no publishing. This version gives them ongoing participation — royalties from the master and a share of the composition. Use the royalty + publishing version when the featured artist has leverage or when you've agreed to share the upside with them.

What royalty percentage is standard for a featured artist?
There's no universal standard. Independent deals range widely. A featured artist on an independent release might receive 5–20% of net master receipts, depending on their profile, contribution, and negotiating leverage. Publishing splits for featured artists who contribute songwriting commonly range from 10–50% of their share of the composition. The template accommodates any percentage — you fill in what you've negotiated.

Does the featured artist co-own the master?
Under this template's default terms, no. The featured artist receives royalties but does not own any portion of the master recording. Ownership stays with the primary artist or label.

What if the featured artist also co-wrote the song?
The template addresses songwriting contributions in the publishing section. If the featured artist contributed lyrics or melody, their publishing share reflects that contribution. This template is designed to accommodate featured artists who are also co-writers.

Can I use this for a collaboration where both artists are contributing equally?
If the collaboration is truly equal — both artists bringing their own platform, audience, and creative investment — a Music Collaboration Agreement Template may be more appropriate than a featured artist agreement. Contact adam@acfreedmanlaw.com to discuss which structure fits your situation.

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What Happens After Purchase

✅ Instant Download — Word (.docx) file delivered immediately after checkout.
✅ Fully Editable — Fill in royalty rates, publishing splits, credit language, and deal-specific terms directly in Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
✅ Attorney-Drafted — Covers master royalties, publishing, work-for-hire, and promotional rights in one document.
✅ Reusable — Works for every featured artist deal under this royalty + publishing structure.

Also available: Featured Artist Agreement - Flat Fee Buyout and Featured Artist Agreement - Direct Artist Deal for different deal structures.

Need this customized for a specific collaboration? Email adam@acfreedmanlaw.com

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*DISCLAIMER: This template is provided as a starting point and does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Featured artist deals involving significant advances, major label distribution, or complex publishing structures should be reviewed by a qualified entertainment attorney before signing.