Bandcamp’s New Owner Has Gone After the Company’s Unionized Workforce
Bandcamp was meant to be an alternative to the corporate behemoths of music’s streaming age, giving a better deal to independent artists. But the company’s new owner, Songtradr, has suddenly laid off half its workers, putting Bandcamp’s future in jeopardy.
A wave of sudden layoffs casts doubt upon the future of Bandcamp as it has come to be known and loved over the past decade or so. (Guillaume Payen / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
With its relatively direct artist-to-listener relationship, sharp editorial, and community-focused public image, Bandcamp has provided a refreshing counterpoint to the faceless platforms of the streaming age for many musicians and music fans since its inception in 2007.
Its regular fee-waiving Bandcamp Friday initiative allowed artists to maximize their income during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continues to this day. Artists and labels directly upload and manage their music on the site, with listeners able to pay extra to support independent acts.
The site’s emphasis on material support, physical products, and community interaction is in marked contrast to the likes of Spotify and Apple Music, platforms that tend to encourage more passive engagement from listeners and obscure the economic relations between platform, artist, and consumer.
This article is for subscribers only. Please login or subscribe to access our full archives and beautiful print and digital magazine starting at just $3 a month.