Co-Writing Business Realities
Co-Writing Business Realities
It is always wisest to determine the protocol for writer splits before you start writing.
A few suggestions:
If you start a song from scratch together, agree to split the song evenly between the writers, regardless of who contributes what. This is the cleanest approach and usually the healthiest one.
If one of the writers comes into the room with a developed melody and/or lyric, then consider tilting the splits in that writer’s favor. For example, 75/25 for a substantially developed melody, or 75/25 for a substantially developed lyric.
But please do this upfront, before anyone plays a note of music. If the group does not agree to alternate splits before the writing begins, stick to the Nashville protocol of equal splits and determine to communicate more clearly next time.
Look for ways to do good to contributors. If an instrumentalist comes up with a riff that becomes inextricably integrated into the song, leap at the opportunity to cut that person into the writer splits.
Discuss the possibility of using a lyric doctor upfront. Please see the blog titled Lyrical Integrity. If the group anticipates needing outside lyrical help, predetermine what percentage could be offered, and discuss who that person might be.
If the song was inspired by a sermon, talk, teaching, poem, or other creative source, consider whether that person should be included in the writing arrangement. For example, The Kingdom Is Yours was inspired by a talk by Aaron Keyes. Dee Wilson, Brittney Spencer, and Micah Massey welcomed Aaron into the arrangement as a 10% writer.
After the first co-writing session is finished, no one should add another writer to the song without first consulting the existing co-writers.
Malcolm du Plessis
