Just about 2 sign record/publishing deal PLEASE HELP with copyright/ownership

I really really need help regarding song writing ownership and copy right . We are about the sign a deal and this needs to be sorted internally with the band 1st. This is the general process we follow when writing songs.

1st step:

Guitarist will write a piece of music just using guitar and sometimes keyboard and record to tape. I.E. chords progressions and structure and some lead bits to form a piece of music.

The singer will then write the lyrics and melody to sing along with the music on the tape based on whats on the tape.

The guitarist and singer will then sit together in a room and both will work on the chord changes, notes and melodies until they are happy and finalize the song.

2nd step:

The guitarist and singer will then take the song and play it from start to finish to the rest of the band.

After hearing the new song, then band will play along .

The guitarist will say where he thinks the drums, bass, keys etc should stop and start and sometimes the singer will too.

However, the bass player will also contribute to this part i.e. arrangements of instruments.

My question to you is: Who wrote the song, who is the author, who are the song writers, who gets copyright etc etc ???

BIG THANKS TO ANYONE WHO CAN HELP!

Usually CHords, melody, and lyrics are ALL that is required to actually officially "write" a song- the rest is just "arrangement" ideas (Bass and drums, percussion, layers, keys, etc...) the basic melody, chords and lyrics are what constitutes a song-

BUT some bands (like U2) tend to share publishing like

Lyrics: Bono

Music: U2

Which means everyone gets a piece of the pie

Other bands have EACH member form a publishing "company" label and then divide the songs up as to who wrote what-

THat way Singer and guitarist may each own a piece of this song, guitarist and drummer may own a piece of that song, the singer may own this song alone, the bassist and guitarist may own a piece of another tune...

It's up to you.

B

Hey, thanks !!!