I think in the context of music, composer and writer are essentially the same, but maybe you meant specifically text writer?
Yes. I was thinking more along the lines of songwriter === lyricist.
MusicBrainz has a relationship top-level called "writer" and under there are more specific relations "composer", "lyricist", "librettist" and "translator".
That's beside the point. The performers are starting to demand a portion of the revenue stream that should be going to "people who aren't the performers".
Would there be a revenue stream without the performers?
No? But the point of the article is that the performers already have their own revenue stream.
Would there be a revenue stream without something to perform?
I don't have an opinion on the ethics of this one way or the other, but the pop stars should be responding by asking why the songwriters signed the particular contract they are complaining about in the first place if they felt so strongly about this.
Would there be a performer without something to perform?
That's a classic rent seeking argument, where people make money depending on how easy it is for them to sabotage something as opposed to how much they contribute.
Do you also believe software developers should take a smaller cut/salary to pay more to sales, because without sales selling the product it is worthless? That's the equivalent to the argument you are making.