Very nice article. Thanks Darren. My small contention is the one you anticipated: the ownership of Bandcamp. It strikes me that it would be more resilient if it was worker owned. Aardman demonstrated this as a way to be resilient from arbitrary takeover. However, I agree with your overall thrust of don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Bandcamp is great as it is. I’m not sure it’s built for a truly mass market, but it is perfect for the vast global indie market.
Thanks Dom. I agree that Bandcamp would be better if it was worker-owned; I've a huge respect for people like Julian Richer who turned Richer Sounds into precisely that kind of operation. However the reality is that when Bandcamp was sold to Epic, the chances of it every being worker owned were reduced to zero. Sad, certainly (given what a wonderfully indie company it was prior to sale), but at the same time, it's done now so we have to accept that.
But yeah in general I just feel people dismiss Bandcamp as if it's done, when really it has so much to offer.
That sale to Epic was the single biggest mistake the original Bandcamp founders ever made. Other than that, agree with your article 100% Darren. Spot on, as always.
Thanks for the article. I just saw a guide on how to monetize on Bandcamp and use it to its full potential. I might check that out: it strikes me that there are 1000's of guides like that that deal with Spotify and only one for Bandcamp. Maybe it will change: I always looked at Bandcamp as a simple online store, but I probably have to reconsider that.
Bandcamp's guide is essential reading. It's the playbook on how to maximise your chances of securing editorial, and any time I've followed it to the letter, it has secured some kind of mention, even if it's a small one. Bottom line: as with all platforms, it really pays to RTFM and create as much opportunity for yourself.
Very nice article. Thanks Darren. My small contention is the one you anticipated: the ownership of Bandcamp. It strikes me that it would be more resilient if it was worker owned. Aardman demonstrated this as a way to be resilient from arbitrary takeover. However, I agree with your overall thrust of don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Bandcamp is great as it is. I’m not sure it’s built for a truly mass market, but it is perfect for the vast global indie market.
Thanks Dom. I agree that Bandcamp would be better if it was worker-owned; I've a huge respect for people like Julian Richer who turned Richer Sounds into precisely that kind of operation. However the reality is that when Bandcamp was sold to Epic, the chances of it every being worker owned were reduced to zero. Sad, certainly (given what a wonderfully indie company it was prior to sale), but at the same time, it's done now so we have to accept that.
But yeah in general I just feel people dismiss Bandcamp as if it's done, when really it has so much to offer.
Cheers for the comment!
That sale to Epic was the single biggest mistake the original Bandcamp founders ever made. Other than that, agree with your article 100% Darren. Spot on, as always.
Thanks Stephan! 🙏🏻
Thanks for the article. I just saw a guide on how to monetize on Bandcamp and use it to its full potential. I might check that out: it strikes me that there are 1000's of guides like that that deal with Spotify and only one for Bandcamp. Maybe it will change: I always looked at Bandcamp as a simple online store, but I probably have to reconsider that.
Bandcamp's guide is essential reading. It's the playbook on how to maximise your chances of securing editorial, and any time I've followed it to the letter, it has secured some kind of mention, even if it's a small one. Bottom line: as with all platforms, it really pays to RTFM and create as much opportunity for yourself.
for your consideration: https://substack.com/@pandelic/note/c-66230972
Thanks for putting Sabres of Paradise back on my musical radar! I hadn’t listened to them for probably three decades and it was awesome to revisit!!
Its thirty years since Haunted Dancehall this year... 31 since Sabresonic... Yikes!