How To Produce Sheet Music and Sell It Online
Turn original compositions into a new income stream by selling sheet music directly through your website. This guide shows how to produce sheet music including how to set up a professional store, attract fans, and keep 100% of sales revenue without relying on third-party platforms.
How To Produce Sheet Music and Sell It Online
by Julia Kater via Bandzoogle
Do you have a great ear, and strong music transcription skills? Maybe you’ve already written a handful of original pieces. If so, have you thought about turning those into income by selling your sheet music online?
[HYPEBOT UPDATE: How to produce sheet music even if you don’t know how to transcribe? Music tech startup Songscription uses AI to automate music transcription, turning any audio file of a song into sheet music in minutes. It’s free to try and offers bulk transcription for a fee. Another similar AI music transcription app is Klangio.]
Selling sheet music online can be a smart way to make money from your music, while allowing you to reach an audience anywhere in the world. You don’t need a massive catalog to begin—just one well-written piece can start generating consistent income as it’s sold again and again.
And here’s the real advantage: selling through your own music website or custom online merch store puts you in control. You keep 100% of your sales revenue, and you can share your sheet music directly with your audience without relying on third-party platforms. That’s you selling to your fans directly—no middle man.
Do people actually make money from selling their sheet music online? Absolutely. Here’s how you can get started:
- How to sell sheet music
- Make your sheet music store stand out
- Sell different types of sheet music
- Sell sheet music in multiple ways
- Sell your music composition services
- Promote your sheet music sales to your fans
How to sell sheet music
Offering sheet music from your website or merch store is easier than ever. The first thing to do to start selling your sheet music online is to create a dedicated website page where visitors can browse your music. Prepare clean, professional PDFs for download to ensure a smooth experience for your customers.
No matter your background—whether you’re a jazz artist, classical composer, or music educator—your store should reflect your creative identity. A well-organized layout and clear product listings go a long way in building trust and making sales
Once your custom storefront page is live online, add a Store feature to set up your sheet music files along with descriptions, titles, and any relevant details. In this store you can add your files as downloads, to be sent automatically to your customer once their payment clears.
With your store page set up, start uploading as much of your sheet music as you have ready. Maintain a clear and uncluttered page design so that visitors can focus on your content. If you offer other products like singles, albums, or merch, create a distinct section just for your sheet music to keep the store easy to browse.
Bandzoogle gives you the marketing tools to promote your work and grow your audience. With your own music website you can promote your music your own way. PROMOTE YOUR MUSIC
Make your sheet music store stand out
Your sheet music store should make a strong first impression. Think of it as an extension of your portfolio—it represents your artistry, and serves as a reflection of your work. List each piece as a separate product, complete with an image preview and a short, engaging description.
If your catalog is growing, consider using a grid layout to help visitors see more options at a glance. Stick to a modern, readable font paired with a simple font with a high contrast background to enhance the user experience. If you offer collections or songbooks, consider organizing them into themed sections to make browsing even easier.
Bandzoogle sheet music store example: Yago Santos
Sell different types of sheet music
PDFs are the standard format for selling music online, and you can expand your offerings by providing versions for different instruments or skill levels.
Start by uploading individual songs, then move on to themed collections or complete songbooks. Whether it’s music from your last album or a curated set of holiday arrangements, a well-assembled product line (and quality sheet music!) keeps customers coming back for more.
Pay attention to what your audience responds to—this will help you decide what to create next.
Sell sheet music in multiple ways
If you’re also a performer, you can enrich your store by embedding music players alongside your products. Let fans hear samples before they buy the sheet music. You can even offer the track and sheet music as a single download bundle—many people appreciate having the audio track as a point of reference.
Selling albums or singles through your music page? Include the corresponding sheet music with the download to add value. You might also create bundles that include related items, like a poster or T-shirt featuring your album artwork, plus the lead sheet for one of the tracks.
Offer a listening experience alongside your store by including audio previews or streams directly on the page.
Sheet music store example: Amy Lauren
Sell your music composition services
Looking to boost your income in a more personalized way? If you’re an arranger or composer, consider offering your services to others. This could include transcribing songs for indie artists, arranging hymns for worship teams, or preparing piano/vocal scores for music teachers.
To further demonstrate your talent, create a music composer website that showcases past projects or client work in a portfolio-style format. This adds credibility and helps potential clients understand the value you bring with your skills.
Bandzoogle sheet music store example: Oleg Maximov
Promote your sheet music sales to your fans
Your sheet music store is more than just an online page—it’s your hub for fan engagement. Add a call-to-action directing visitors to your newest sheet music release. Include links throughout your pages: in blog posts, news updates, and anywhere fans are likely to click.
Promote your sheet music store through your social channels, giving friends and followers an easy path to browse and purchase.
And don’t forget to build your email list. By collecting the email addresses of customers, you can stay in touch, announce new releases, and create a loyal fan base that supports your music again and again.
Bandzoogle sheet music store example: Lindsay Muller
Selling your sheet music online is a fantastic way to make extra money with your music. Whether you’re sharing your own original compositions or arranging music you love, even a small catalog can start generating sales and growing your audience.
