Bandcamp… What Now?

Hello, Lung Records Bandcamp followers. You may have heard by now about the massive layoffs that happened at Bandcamp this week after the acquisition by Songtradr was finalized. Including, according to SF Gate, all 8 on the union bargaining committee, 3 of 6 on the editorial team, 12 of 13 of the union-eligible support staff, and two-thirds of union-eligible engineers. This is an extremely troubling turn of events. You may be angry and less willing to use Bandcamp now and in the future. We are angry too. 

As of now there is no viable alternative to what Bandcamp offers. There is no easy way for us to sell our music directly to you and still receive the majority of the proceeds. This is alarming! Of all the innovation and technological advances that have occurred over the past 30 years of the digital revolution, very little has been done to provide independent artists a way to support and promote themselves. Music has been ground down to a fine commodified dust. The system has been designed to take advantage of the artist’s compulsion to create, no matter what. The art and the artist have been taken for granted for far too long.

We ask that you consider this when you hear your favorite song or discover an exciting new band. We ask that you consider this when you see live music, or hear something that touches your soul, compels you to dance, or just makes you smile. What you’re hearing has value. There is no real musician middle class. Bands need fans to keep music alive. 

Until an alternative to Bandcamp arises that provides independent artists and labels the tools they need to support their art and community, we also ask that you continue to use Bandcamp. Use it as much as you can. LISTEN, FOLLOW, SHARE, and buy if you can. And as long as their new overlords keep “Bandcamp Fridays” (the first Friday of the month), please participate. This is the day that Bandcamp fees are waived for the artists.

Thanks and peace,
-beach