An overlooked part of the a commissioning party’s job comes after the premiere.
So many wonderful commissioned works disappear into filing cabinets after their premieres. And whether a piece has a life depends a lot on it finding a second performance, a second performing ensemble, after that premiere.
So I think it should be a part of the commissioning party’s responsibility to spread the word about the piece after the premiere. Whether or not it’s published, you should be publicizing it. Repeatedly.
For example, the brilliant Jeremy Fox wrote a marvelous piece for The Rockford Aces in 2019. We delighted in performing it, and it sings beautifully. Since it’s about the cherry blossoms (it’s a setting of the A.E. Houseman poem “Loveliest of Trees” I never miss a chance to share the recording in April. I hope it leads to more performances and a robust life for the piece beyond my own ensemble. That’s what I want for every piece I’ve commissioned.