“I uploaded 10 years-worth of music that had never before been available digitally,” he explains. That the site can function as a discography archive and an international marketplace appeals greatly to Koenig.

I have near total control of how I want to run my online store – setting my own price tags, adjusting it for sales, pre-sale options, shipping costs – and customization is a huge perk.” “I recall seeing the name pop up more and more in the music community in the early 2010s,” he says, “so when I finally decided I was long overdue in making my back catalogue available, I took to Bandcamp.

He runs six accounts on the site, one for each of his aliases. The website gives artists their own store to sell their music, in physical and digital formats, and a journalistic platform to tell their story.Īlex Koenig produces music as Nmesh and is an active Bandcamp user.

Many artists and labels argue that streaming algorithms are skewed towards derivativeness over artistry, with talented creators feeling like they’re falling between the cracks of the industry.Īmong this, Bandcamp is a ray of light: a commercially viable template for how a progressive music service can operate. Founded in 2008 by a group of software developers, the Bandcamp ethos is of artistic control and autonomy, in a business environment where both concepts are in short supply. News of nightclubs, DIY venues, and independent labels closing is commonplace, and streaming platforms are arguing in court for their right to squeeze artists, producers, and songwriters for every penny they can.

Fatalism about the music industry comes easily.

Bandcamp revenue