Successful songwriter Sam Barsh, known for collaborating with Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, and Logic, has revealed his surprisingly low streaming royalty earnings from major hits.

Here's what Barsh earned from his songwriting credits:

• Kendrick Lamar's "Institutionalized" (12% share): Less than $20,000, despite the album going Platinum and winning a Grammy
• Anderson .Paak's "Heart Don't Stand a Chance" and "Your Prime" (16.66% share each): Less than $5,000 total
• Logic's "Black Spiderman": Less than $2,000
• Aloe Blacc's "The Man" (8.5% share): Nearly $200,000, largely because it was released in 2013 when digital downloads were still common

Barsh attributes these low earnings primarily to streaming's poor payouts. He compares the situation to a doctor completing years of training only to discover their expected $400,000 salary has dropped to $60,000.

While Barsh acknowledges streaming's benefits for artists through exposure and touring opportunities, he emphasizes that publishing royalties from streaming remain extremely low. He encourages songwriters to:

1. Continue writing despite low payouts
2. Join organizations like SONA and Recording Academy
3. Fight for better compensation rights

Barsh notes that he receives significantly higher earnings from production work compared to songwriting, and maintains positive relationships with his publishing team and industry collaborators.

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