Please folks do not get the wrong idea about what I am saying.....my point is that there are, despite what Bill says, far more lyricists than musicians.....even in Nashville. Brian made that clear in his earlier post. I see posts here and on other sites on a daily basis where people have lyrics but no music and require someone to put music to them.....seldom it is the other way round. Many musicians also write their own lyrics making the odds even greater. Lyricists outweigh composers by a huge margin...FACT.
Most lyricists have no idea about how a studio works and how much time, skill and expertise is needed....FACT.
A lot of people are naturally capable of writing lyrics as compared to going through the business of learning how to play an instrument and write music... FACT
If writing music was easier than lyrics then I would expect lyricists to be in great demand. This is not and never will be the case.
Roy when I said writing just lyrics it was not meant as any kind of insult or sleight.....I was just meaning only lyrics instead of completed songs.
My point Roy is that just because a thing is set in stone does not make it right or fair......There have been tons of crappy hit records over the years that make plenty money where far better songs are left on the shelf....That is set in stone but does not make it right or fair.
With a few exceptions most decent studios will do the best job they can at the best rate they can......by your own admission they do not want any extra credit.
If a studio, even on a work for hire basis, writes a melody to a lyric they have been supplied they have written by definition 50% of the song so are entitled to 50% cowrite. I treat the demo part and work for hire as different. Whatever way it is put they write the music. IMO in most genres it is the most saleable part of a song.

My point is simple........lyricists should learn more about music theory and the ability to play an instrument would help.
Sadly most do not have the time, dedication or drive to learn.

My final point is that studios and musicians are underpaid and under valued......I had to get a plumber recently to fix a leak from my washing machine...it took him only a few minutes and he charged a fortune........same applies to car mechanics, painters, carpenters, and most other trades.
If musicians were paid only a fraction of the rates we happily fork out for tradesmen......we would all be happy. LOL

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055