SMP Press in Conversation
SMP Press
The internet and SMP Press have impacted the publishing industry and changed the way that composers get their music published, played, and heard. Sheet Music Plus is a website devoted to one of the largest selections of sheet music, music scores, music sheets and online sheet music for all instruments and levels.
SMP Press is their global community of independent composers, arrangers, and songwriters creating and selling their sheet music and MP3 audio recordings on Sheet Music Plus. These artists span the full spectrum of music and create unique products, many of which are not available elsewhere.
In Conversation with SMP Press
SMP Press visits with the-piano-studio.com to discuss the electronic publishing industry and what it means for musicians.
What changes to the music publishing industry have you seen in recent years?
There has been considerable growth in the amount of digital sheet music available. While there is still more music available in print, digital sheet music, which can be purchased and printed immediately at home, has become a vastly sought out option by customers.
How has the internet impacted composers and/or your business at SMP Press?
The internet has made it possible for independent artists, writers, musicians, designers etc. to make their products available to the world wide web in a relatively easy and inexpensive fashion. Sheet Music Plus wanted to give this same opportunity to composers and arrangers and so developed SMP Press, our digital self-publishing platform. It’s free and easy for composers and arrangers to publish their original compositions and arrangements directly to Sheet Music Plus and have them available for sale worldwide in as little as 24-48 hours.
This is a game changer for music publishing. It can be extremely expensive to engrave and print sheet music and is not a feasible option for a great number of composers and arrangers. With SMP Press, even those who are just getting started can easily publish and sell one or two works and earn up to 45% royalty of all sales. This is a much higher percentage than if you published through a traditional publisher.
Sheet Music Plus also knows that music teachers spend a great deal of time outside of teaching writing and arranging music to fit their students’ needs. This gives them the chance to share their hard work with the world – it’s pretty likely another teacher out there has the same needs – and get paid extra for their efforts.
How does licensing work with downloadable scores?
With SMP Press, the composers retain control of their copyrights for original compositions and public domain arrangements.
How does having a global audience change the way local composers think or write?
Through SMP Press, it is easy for composers to make available compositions and arrangements for less common instruments and ensembles. Once an arranger has arranged a piece for flute duet, for example, it is easy for them to rearrange for clarinet, oboe, trumpet, etc. A traditional publisher would not always publish all of these arrangements because of the expense of engraving and printing. With digital publishing, it is easy and all it costs is time. We have seen the repertoire for ensembles like saxophone quartet and clarinet choir really grow with SMP Press.
What advice do you give to composers who are trying to get their work known?
If you aren’t already a member, join SMP Press. Participate in our composition and arranging contests. We have several contests throughout the year in various categories like chamber music, piano and choir. Sheet Music Plus promotes these contest entries. We also include SMP Press titles in numerous website sales, sending email marketing to our extensive list of customers worldwide.
Share your titles on social media. If you follow SMP Press on Facebook or Twitter, you can also share your music with all of our followers.
Network. Build an email list of performers, teachers, students, colleagues, friends, family and notify them every time you have completed a new piece.
Can you give a brief overview on the steps it takes to become published?
It is easy to become published through SMP Press. First, you must be signed up for a Sheet Music Plus account. Our sign up process will guide you through these steps. You will choose how you wish to get paid – via check or PayPal. Payments are sent once you have earned a minimum of $20.
Once you have completed the sign up process, you can start uploading PDFs of your music! The process allows you to input information about your product, such as description, instrumentation, pricing, etc. You may also include a sample mp3 recording with your sheet music. We find that music sells better if the customer is able to listen to it first.
It takes about 24-48 hours for your music to become available on the website. You will receive a notification once your music is live and then you can start marketing!
Important links
For more information about SMP Press, visit https://smppress.sheetmusicplus.com/
Join the global community of SMP Press arrangers and composers here: https://smppress.sheetmusicplus.com/sign-up
Jacy Burroughs is the Program Marketing Manager at Sheet Music Plus. If you have further questions, you may contact her at helpsmppress@sheetmusicplus.com.
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