There are two companies available who are intermediaries between me (site) and the lyrics publisher (writer) and handle all licensing:

- Gracenote (they sold their lyrics licensing to lyricfind)

- Lyricfind

E.g. Google and Bing also license their lyrics offering through Lyricfind.

I only deal with them.

Unlikely. First you go to ASCAP, then all of its competitors. For artists that don't use a rights clearance and royalty processing company to handle that stuff, you might just wait to get a letter from their attorney and offer a reasonable settlement based on the ASCAP rate.

Tracking down loose artists on your own initiative just to give them enough money that they won't track you down and sue you seems like an overly honorable use of time and money to coexist with a successful business.

There are 3 main record labels (Sony, Universal, and Warner) which own pretty much the entire market. So just 3 contracts to negotiate (or 4 if you include EMI pre 2012).

ASCAP and BMI are who you deal with. For small potatoes they have rate cards, making it as easy as pie.