Conventional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing

Before the advent of computer desktop publishing and the Internet, self-published music writers faced a difficult
challenge of distributing their music. The advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing music are presented. A
writer must consider the monetary risks involved with self-publishing or publishing with an established company.
The industry standard is 10% of the retail sale price for writers of educational music, and the publishing company
is responsible for the manufacturing, distribution, and marketing of the music. Also, self-publishing could be
beneficial to composers that write specialized, difficult, or targeted music, whereas publishers prefer music that
appeals to the widest market possible.