Peggy,
If you wrote a completely different song, it would be COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SONG. There would be no question about the other writer. I have gone through situations where we had to add another writer because my co-writer had talked over a song before and they started something though never got anywhere on it. I included him on the final song just because I wanted to head off trouble before it began. But that was a different situation involving some different people.
And that is what my story was going to be about. This is it.
A friend and co-writer and co-performer of mine is named KEITH ANDERSON. Keith had a pretty good run with a record deal for a while in the early 2000's and is a very good writer. One of his songs, PICKING WILDFLOWERS, became a top ten. But before his record deal came together, as most artists do, he had scored a few cuts and was pitching songs all over the place as he wrote for a publisher. One of those songs, he had written with two other writers. It was called BEER RUN. It was spelled "B DOUBLE E, DOUBLE R.U.N.!"
Keith had a lot of attention on that song for his first record project. But his publisher called him one day and said "We Need to Add another writer." Kieth got a little hot and said "No way! We already have three writers AND three publishers. We are NOT GOING to add another one!"
Then the publisher said, "The other writer is GARTH BROOKS."
Keith said, "YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT SONG NEEDED SOMETHING ELSE!"
You see, Garth had expressed an interest in the song, and asked to re-write some lyrics to fit the way he would say it. Garth was huge, so the answer was "YES!"
A few months later, they are awaiting their huge Garth Brooks smash, and the publisher calls again.
"We are going to have to add ANOTHER writer."
"We are going to have to add ANOTHER writer."
Keith put his foot down. "NO WAY MAN! WE ALREADY HAD THREE WRITERS AND THREE PUBLISHERS, AND WE ADDED GARTH WITH HIS PUBLISHER, SO THERE IS NO WAY IN HELL WE ARE ADDING ANOTHER ONE!"
The publisher said "The Other writer is GEORGE JONES!!!!"
Keith said "YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING UNFINISHED ABOUT THAT SONG!"
The idea was to have a duet between Garth and George, but they each wanted to add their own stylistic stuff to it. Many times this would be done and the artist would not ask for credit. But starting in the 90's they not only asked, but started insisting on it.
The song, ended up being a huge hit for Garth and George. One of George's last big hits. Keith was very happy with five writers and five publishers. And because of the success of that song, his record deal came through.
The point being that things often change, and you can never predict them. One of the reasons I am not a big fan of getting copyrights and registrations on songs early is that songs continue to change, some times right up to when they are recorded. And "adding to an existing copyright" can be more complicated than the copyright itself.
I would see what the guy comes up with, have multiple versions if needed and keep my options open. If you totally re-wrote it, it could be a challenge for you.
MAB
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