Distribution isn’t the only way to make money as an independent musician. Music publishing is one of the most difficult things in the industry. Artist Publishing is the business of promotion and monetization of musical compositions: The music publishers ensure that songwriters receive royalties for their compositions, and also music publishers work to generate opportunities for those compositions to be highlighted, performed and reproduced in venues across the country. Music Publishing is the oldest vertical of the music business. It was there long before the first recording mediums came around, and in the early 20th century, sheet music publishing pretty much ran the music business. Music Publishers are in charge of putting music compositions to paper, producing songbooks, distributing them to the stores, and compensating artists, authors, producers for the commercial use of their works.  From current through early recording days, the start of radio, vinyl, cassette tapes, CDs, digital piracy, download music services, and  streaming. Going from the songbook days to now, music publishers earn money in different ways.