CO-WRITING:
Co-Writer: (2) How can I find a co-writer?
Co-Writing/Publishing/Legal: I can't read music, do I need to pay alot of money to have someone help me?
Co-Writing: "how do I find someone to write music for my lyrics"
Song Splits: "I wrote 80 percent of the words & most of the melody but my co-writer wants 50 percent, is that fair"
Co-Writing: What should a co-writers agreement contain?
Co-Writing: 8: I'm a great lyricist/musician. But, I do not play an instrument/write lyrics. How do I go about collaborating with someone on the Internet? And, is it difficult?

Writing 'up' vs. Writing 'down'.

Finding a Co-Writer can be done live, or via technology.
Finding local people is a matter of going out where they are, Open Mic Nights, live music venues, music stores, and approaching people about it.
Finding people out in cyberspace can be done too. There are websites that specialize in collaborations. Many well-known musical acts worked from their homes or home bases to put together the various instruments and vocals and produced Songs that way, as opposed to all being in the same studio at the same time.
Co-Writers with that technology could easily work that way.

A Co-Writer 'offers' their contribution to your Song, or your contribution to theirs, as 'Consideration'. Each makes an 'offer' to the other.
If you/they 'accept' the 'offer', it can become a 'contract'; an offer, and an acceptance.
Until the two parties (or more) decide to accept the other Co-Writer's offer either can back out and decline the contract.
I've heard Demonstration Recordings, paid for by Song-Writers, recorded in studios, which, if I were 'offered' to Co-Write on, I would not 'accept'. Demo studios will record your momma's biscuit recipe if you're paying their fee. That doesn't mean it will be a hit.
The Song might not have merit, in my opinion, so I would not be able to invest it with merit by my offered contribution. After reading a Lyric or hearing whatever auditory presentation the Co-Writer offered, I would make a decision as to whether I could contribute.
Or the Co-Writer's 'offer' to my Song might not be to my satisfaction, so I would reserve the right to reject it.
Once the offer and acceptance form the contract...let's capitalize Contract...legally binding document...both parties agreeing to formally accept each other's offers, and the product is put in 'Fixed Form', written down, or recorded, it becomes Intellectual Property, bestowed with Copyright protection by Federal Copyright Law.
Formal Registration with the Library of Congress (U.S.A.) would establish the Co-Writers as Co-Authors, Co-Owners of the 'right' to 'copy' the Intellectual Property. Both would be required to sign other contracts for any 'use' of the Song.
So, Co-Writing can be serious 'business' with legal ramifications. You're crossing from avocational hobbyist to commercial venture, a company, a partnership.
Inherent in any partnership is potential for conflict and adversarial situations. Marriage. Commerce. So it is important to know what your signature on a contract, or your verbal agreement entails. Comprehension of these details of when an offer is made and when an acceptance is made should be discussed with Co-Writers. Sometimes it can be casual and no formal contract is agreed on. No 'rights' are transferred to what you bring to the table or what they bring to the table.

With modern technology, recording can be inexpensive, compared to days of old. Bela Fleck, jazz banjoist, said, "I'm getting better recordings in my living room with ProTools than I got in 30 years of recording in expensive studios."
People who make their money recording Demonstration Records are plentiful. Again, a contract should be written and the mutual 'offers' and 'acceptances' agreed upon before you put your signature on it, and pay the fee.
Now; you've signed your name.
Who owns the Master Recording? Did the contract specify that for the fee the Producer running the technology gained any rights as 'Co-Writer', co-creator of the Master Recording? Or did the con...I keep forgetting to capitalize Contract. It's legally binding. Whatever is in it is what you have to abide by. A lawyer will point out that you, as an adult, signed the contract. If it isn't in the contract it didn't happen. Verbal assurances can be denied. People often find they don't own the Master Recording they paid to have created, and therefore can't Contract for 'use' of that Recording, in a Synchronization License, for example, for a 'use' in a TV commercial or show, or a movie, a documentary, any 'use', without the Producer's Co-Ownership being involved. They have to agree because they, not you, own the Master.
Did you know that, going in? Or did you find out later, after the Contract was signed, the Master Recording made, and you, your 'Company', were trying to enter into a Contract with a Music Supervisor of Artist or Label or Publisher only to find out you didn't have authority to sign a Contract for that 'use'?

Splits: What percentage of a Song does each Co-Writer own? This is a matter for specifying, in a Contract.
If you expect or desire to have a long term relationship it is easy to see equal shares, 50-50 as reasonable. Equal shares make sense if you're trying to establish a long-term relationship. Each party has equal motivation to follow through in trying to get the Song to market where it can earn money, in ticket sales, merchandise, and Royalties. 'Next time' maybe they'll have the 80% to offer and you'll have 20%, but they'll agree to the established rule of equal shares.

If it's a one-time interaction and you came to the Co-Writing Session with a 'finished' Song, but they helped improve it, in your opinion, you might negotiate a percentage reasonable for their time and insight, and the 'qualities' you assess in their contribution. Remember, you still have time to reject their 'offer' if you have not 'shook hands' and signed a Contract.
Does the percentage you propose make it worth their while for having come and contributed, made their 'offer' of improvements, which you 'accepted'?
Don't get greedy. If it turns into a contentious argument it becomes part of your reputation. Keep the product moving toward the market, where it can earn Royalties. It hasn't earned anything yet, and may never if they withdraw their 'offer' before a Contract is signed. So far it's 80% of 'nothing', the insiders like to say.
But it's 100% of your Company's product. So you have to make some decisions about whether your Sole Proprietorship is going to take in a Partner. How much of your Company are you willing to give up?
No party is compelled to go forward before a Contract is agreed on verbally and especially in writing. Making that clear as you enter into the Co-Writing exploration is reasonable. They call it, "Taking care of business."

Internet Collaborating:
I just saw this, October 2022.

Sessionwire
Software Company
Creatively connect with anyone, anywhere in the world. Sessionwire, the all-in-one #onlinecollaboration platform, delivers a seamless in-studio experience used by top artists and producers the world over. Join our community. #remotecollaboration
http://www.sessionwire.com/
info@sessionwire.com

Here's another one:
Music Creator Collaboration | Songwriters, Singer, Producers etc!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/183716069605034

Last edited by Gary E. Andrews; 11/01/22 12:47 PM.
There will always be another song to be written. Someone will write it. Why not you? www.garyeandrews.com