If I purchase a lyric, can I add it to my own music?
Yes, absolutely. The lyric would still be owned by the seller/lyricist, who would be entitled to a share of the royalties if the lyric is turned into a completed song.
Songbay contracts specify a minimum 25% royalty share for lyricists. This is higher than the usual industry norm, where lyricists may receive around 10-15%, or sometimes only a one-off fee with no royalty share. The 25% position reflects the fact that the songwriter, composer, or producer usually makes the additional creative and financial investment required to turn the lyric into a finished, recorded song.
For full details of the royalty share, please see our license and contract examples: