Questions and Answers
Composer Questions
General
Is Swirly Music a publisher?
No, if you participate as a composer, the presumption is that YOU are the publisher. Swirly Music can be considered something closer to a distributor.
Does Swirly Music take over my copyrights?
No. As a self-publishing composer, you maintain ownership of your own copyrights. Swirly Music is only a platform where you can make your music available.
Does Swirly Music take 50% of my royalty distributions (ASCAP/BMI)?
No, Swirly Music does not have any share in your royalty distributions. If you haven’t already, you should set up a self-publishing entity, so that you keep both the publishing and creator portions of that revenue.
Who is Swirly Music for?
Swirly music is for composers wishing to make their music available to the greater community of musicians without having to manage orders, printing and fulfillment on their own. While all composers are welcome, it is primarily aimed at professionally trained composers who are actively pursuing performances and opportunities through a variety of means.
Submitted scores are subject to light review for quality assurance purposes. We do not make artistic judgments, but we do expect the presentation to be at a professional level.
My Music Isn’t Written Down. I just have recordings.
The service provided here is limited to notated music.
Will Swirly Music help me get “discovered”?
It can. Our goal is to become a known destination for musicians seeking interesting new repertoire, and having a presence here will mean that your work can be discovered. We do what we can to promote the store as a whole with that goal in mind, and composers benefit from this collectively.
But the main purpose is to be a service of convenience to you as a self-publishing composer, taking some of that heavy lifting off your hands of getting your music to people who are in a position to perform it. We hope you are doing all you can to promote your work, and that Swirly Music provides you with an easy place to point folks to when they want to acquire your scores and parts.
Can I also sell my music as a download?
Yes, we are now offering the option to sell downloads. Upon payment, customers receive a link to download a PDF stamped with their name, and a statement about illegal copyright infringement.
Most choral pieces have a minimum quantity of 8 for both print and download options.
Why should I sell my work through Swirly Music?
Selling printed music requires a combination of skills and equipment not within the reach of most of us. Placing your music for sale on Swirly Music requires relatively little of your time and ensures that you are compensated for your work as a composer.
Can I continue to list my work at other venues if I sell on Swirly Music?
Yes. This is a non-exclusive arrangement. The only stipulation is that you not sell anywhere else at a lower retail price.
Why not just sell my work on my own web site?
By all means, you should! If you can. But why not do both? Consider that there is strength in numbers. Listing your work here among other composers means more exposure in the long run. Swirly Music aims to be the most browsable and user-friendly online music store, with lots of opportunities for composers’ work to be found.
Why is Swirly Music better than similar sites?
Swirly Music does a better job of presenting your work, giving the buyer maximum information upon which to base decisions. Here are just a few of the benefits:
1. Buyers can page through your whole score (watermarked) in a beautiful full-screen view. Here’s an example.
2. Recordings of your music are prominently placed along with the score and description of each piece. (Usually SoundCloud or YouTube embeds.)
3. Composers are informed of each sale in real time, including the name and contact info of the buyer.
I have some pieces that are formally published. Can I list them here?
Yes! As of 2024 you can now add pieces as “External” products. Instead of an “Add to cart” button, your guest will follow a link from your piece’s page here to whatever publisher, distributor or store you would like.
Why? Because Swirly’s goal is to be a useful and comprehensive resource for people who buy music. Your external content adds value to this site.
Financial/Legal Arrangements
What does it cost to list my work here?
Nothing! That is – unless you would like to take advantage of Option 2, described below under “What is the financial arrangement?”
What is the financial arrangement?
As of March 2024 there are two options.
Option 1. Composers receive a competitive 75% of the revenue from sales of their work here for download orders. For print, the split is 60% for the composer. Swirly pays for the printing and absorbs the transaction fees. (Through traditional retail publishing, composers may get as little as 10%.).
Option 2. Swirly Music operates as de facto non-profit. Composers are encouraged to contribute and pool resources for the benefit of all. With an annual contribution of $75 or more, composers can enjoy a 100% commission on download sales, and 80% for print. If there is a demand for your work, this will pay for itself.
Can I track sales, and how do I get paid?
Composers have access to a “dashboard” where they can track sales and manage the written details and accompanying media for each of their pieces. There is also an email notification to the composer at the time of each sale. As of March 2024, payment takes place on a quarterly basis via PayPal. Other methods will be explored soon.
How are items priced?
Pricing, as in any retail environment, is a matter of cost and what the market bears. Pricing for each score will be determined in collaboration with the composer. The primary factor will be the page count, but market factors are also in play.
Standards and Guidelines
What determines whether my music is accepted here?
This decision is made in as objective a way as possible. Unlike typical publishers, there are no gatekeepers with regard to style, aesthetics, or market viability.
But in the interest of maintaining a reputation as a useful site with a wealth of high-quality music, some light vetting is needed for quality assurance purposes. The criteria mostly have to do with professionalism in how composers’ materials are prepared and presented.
As of March 2024 there is a plan to provide more specific guidelines in the near future – in an effort to make this more transparent.
Meanwhile, time permitting, we will provide specific reasons in the event a composer is not accepted.