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Co-writing songs or song collaboration as it is also referred to involves the creation of a song from two or more songwriters. In a simple song collaboration one person may write the lyrics and the other the music. If you decide to collaborate (co-write) the best advice I have ever been given is to clearly define, right from the get go, in writing, how the song will be divided up. It helps establish and preserve a good relationship among co-writers and it is good practice to have these items in order when you go to negotiate a song publishing deal. Music attorneys I've talked to, and whose books I've read, basically say you don't need an attorney to put a collaboration agreement together but they advise you should draw up some kind of agreement at the start.
Please note I'm not an attorney and I'm not providing this information as legal advice so please take it as hopefully helpful information and please don't hesitate to consult an attorney if you prefer but make sure they specialize in music law. A basic songwriters collaboration agreement should list the song title, the date of the agreement, who the writers are and their contact information and then what percentage of earnings each writer will get. In a simple collaboration example if there are two writers and one writer wrote the lyrics and the other wrote the music then a clear division of %50 to each would be fair. It is also good to decide how to divide up the expense of recording or demoing the song. For deciding the division of recording expenses in the above example 50/50 would be a fair agreement. However, if one writer is broke a common scenario would be for the writer who pays for recording expenses to recoup the money spent from the other writer's share when and if the song earns money and then a 50/50 split of earnings would resume. If it's of any help I've provided a link to a pdf copy (below) of the agreement I've constructed from various discussions and agreements I've encountered and it's what I use myself modifying it slightly from one situation to the next but overall it remains the same. You can preview and download it and use it if you'd like for free. Please note this agreement below is for general reference only, it is not formal legal advice. As I said above please don't hesitate to consult an attorney if you prefer but make sure they specialize in music law. Please feel free to download and copy this agreement template and use it or change it to your own situation. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ COLLABORATORS' AGREEMENT
(in pdf and txt formats) Please note for the pdf you will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read the Collaborators' Agreement. You can get Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download without leaving this page). If you want to simply open the file in your browser window for viewing you can just click on the link. However if you want to download the file to view and use then right click on the link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As." Then select where you want to save the file on your hard drive. Once you have saved the file, locate where you saved it, and double click to open. In order to print, open the downloaded file, and select the "Print" option from the Adobe menu. Click here for the Collaborators' Agreement pdf file (right click to download). +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Internet CollaborationIf you are collaborating with someone on the internet feel free to email this agreement to a potential or current collaborator and use it as a template as is or develop your own agreement (create your own document by downloading the txt file and pasting it into your word processor, then reformat it to the font style and spacing you want and then save it possibly as Collaboration Agreement Template). Or to start off you can just refer them to this page (just copy and paste the address link at the top into your email). Let me elaborate; to use this agreement via email fill out the above agreement (once you've typed it into your word processor (for this you need the TXT file), by fill it out I mean type in the relevant information (name, percentages, etc.) and then send it to your collaborator in the body of your email (just copy and paste it in from your word processor). You may send it back and forth a time or two but once you have agreed upon the final terms you then send them and they send you an email saying you agree to the terms of the document that you've finalized and save a copy of that email (printing it out would be best) to show agreement to the terms. A tip for emailing - first copy and paste your Collaborators' Agreement into a text editor like Notepad in Windows (found under Programs>Accessories>Notepad in most Windows programs), to get the alignment right, and then copy and paste it into the body of your email. Then of course send it off for review.
Whether you use the agreement as is from the pdf or make your own in your word processor you may ultimately want to get original hand written signatures on it (this would be best) so once you've agreed on the agreement you'd have to use regular mail, unless you live close by, to get it formally signed. Remember if you do this send as many copies as there are writers so you each get a copy with all original signatures.
A software program that works well in collaborations is Lyricist. With Lyricist you can easily link lyrics and music, like mp3 files, and email them right out of the program. Take Advantage Of The Current Lyricist Savings Special: In arrangement with Songwriting Software Plus Lyricist is currently available for %20 off the usual $49.95, now just $44.95. Click here for more information and see how you can download it and save now. For a full line of music contracts for all of your songwriting dealings, from CO-writing to gigging to running a band, that won't cost you high attorneys' fees click here to check out 101 Music Business Contracts.
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