‘More than a marketplace; it’s a thriving community’: Bandcamp Friday helps artists survive
Today marks the 40th ‘Bandcamp Friday’, a monthly event where 100% of sales revenue generated on the music streamer and marketplace goes directly to the five million artists who use the platform.
The idea was born shortly after the pandemic hit, when Bandcamp announced it would waive its fees for a day to support musicians, who were upon the first to lose work when venues closed down. During the 24-hour window, fans bought $4.3 million of music, over 800,000 records and merchandise – more than 15 times the usual Friday sales on the platform.
As Bandcamp noted after the haul: “Fans stepped up for the artist community and showed their commitment with their wallets, knowing the purchases they made would go directly to helping the livelihood of the artists they supported.”
An idea was born, and Bandcamp committed to one Bandcamp Friday a month, for an entire year. Then they kept going. Today is the 40th.
In that time, the platform has contributed $123 million to artists through this initiative alone, adding to the $1.3 billion generated for artists across all Bandcamp transactions to date.
“Bandcamp is more than a marketplace; it’s a thriving community where artists and fans converge to celebrate and sustain the art of music,” explained Andrew Jervis, Bandcamp’s director of artists and labels.
“This community-driven model not only supports but actively promotes the growth of artists by providing them tools to manage their careers. Artists from virtually every country gain global exposure and connect directly with fans who are eager to support them, not just through purchases but through genuine engagement and feedback.
“Our platform facilitates these interactions by sharing useful data, enabling fans to express their shared appreciation for music, enabling direct artist-to-fan communications, and through special events like Bandcamp Live and Listening Parties, making it an indispensable hub for music discovery and artist development.”
Bryan Biniak, president of Bandcamp’s parent company Songtradr said of the platform: “We’re not standing still. Our ongoing enhancements and investments in Bandcamp are about expanding the platform’s capabilities. We’re introducing more tools for artists and labels to succeed, enhancing discovery, and building community features.”
Biniak said the introduction of these tools has already led to a 20% increase in artist earnings, and a 30% rise in fan engagement.
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Nathan Jolly is the Deputy Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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