mccSep 28, 2023

WHY DID YOU BUY BANDCAMP IF YOU WERE JUST GOING TO SELL IT 18 MONTHS LATER?!

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/28/epic-games-is-eliminating-16percent-of-its-workforce-and-selling-bandcamp.html

I trusted Epic not to screw up Bandcamp, but I don't have any idea who these new owners are. I have very little emotional attachment to Epic. If Epic winds up being the motive agent by which Bandcamp gets transitioned from a healthy standalone company and social space to a dead mall, that will be an evil that outstrips everything good they've ever done from my perspective

JeslasSep 29, 2023
Show threadmcc
Of mild interest, see my comments about the "death timer" that I made on Twitter back in March 2022 when Epic bought Bandcamp to begin with. Post #5 was dead on I guess 🤷‍♀️
Sep 28, 2023 at 5:15pmWeb
Show threadmccSep 28, 2023

More-detailed thoughts on "investing in the exit". I wonder how long until it starts to look like we need an artist-owned alternative to Bandcamp. I'm not sure if we even have an existing successful model for such a thing to exist. How's Artisans Cooperative [the creator-owned Etsy alternative] doing? https://mastodon.social/@mcc/109383696907716007

Like, MAYBE this holding company will run Bandcamp on the model that's succeeded so far… but if so that'll last *another* 18 months, until they themselves get bought

Show threadMatt MascarenhasSep 28, 2023
@mcc In my dreams it's at least (most?) minus 6 months until it looks like we need this: https://mas.to/@miblo/110028766094641447
Matt Mascarenhas (@[email protected])

@[email protected] Aye, this is one of those things that's in the back of my mind. Wishing bandcamp well in there, but rather hoping we can come up with something better for musicians. Maybe even a kind of federated file-hosting / shop front system hosted by someone like the Musicians' Union: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/

mas.to
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@mcc https://resonate.coop/coop/ has been trying for a few years but it seems to be pretty mild in its interest, features, & reach. i’ve got a couple of albums up there still i believe but i haven’t checked in for probably a year.
It's a co-op

Resonate is the world’s first co-operative music streaming service — a multi-stakeholder platform co-operative, democratically governed by its members: artists, listeners and workers.

Resonate
Show threadmccSep 28, 2023
@tsrono Interesting but it seems awkward there's literally 0 music linked from the front page
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023

@mcc it’s been all full of awkward since day one :/ & last i checked you had to have money in the system to give anything a full listen, as it starts deducting cash based on listen quantities….so that’s a HUGE hurdle to get anyone even poking their head in.

i remember some emails about potential changes but haven’t yet reviewed or familiarized myself with it again. looks like that’s a good idea to do right now.

Show threadmccSep 28, 2023
@tsrono …huh
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@mcc it’s “fair” but it’s complicated.
Show threadmccSep 28, 2023
@tsrono If I were selling music, I'd prefer "you can listen to N things per day for free, then you have to pay". Listens are a way of selling music, i'd assume.
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@mcc as someone who sells music i would agree wholeheartedly with that.
Show threadmccSep 28, 2023
@tsrono Your music's good! Come to think of it I should probably buy some of it (especially if I can no longer assume bandcamp streaming will exist…)
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@mcc thank you Andi ☺️ it’s always available for free with a DM if anyone needs/prefers, but support is appreciated. i’m not trying to make a living with it like many are so i just like that it’s shared & enjoyed mostly :)
Show threadtrash panda qcSep 28, 2023

@tsrono @mcc yeah I've had stuff on resonate for ages and never seen any activity on it. seems like good intentions but 0 marketing budget.

here's the Bandcamp-ifier for itch.io if anyone ends up needing it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE6G0zSec1E

Blamscamp Tutorial

YouTube
Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@trashpandaqc @mcc itch could be interesting as a marketplace for tunes…
Show threadtrash panda qcSep 28, 2023

@tsrono @mcc I don't think anyone's looking for them there yet*, but from an interface perspective you can get pretty much the same experience as Bandcamp, so that's nice. I have my self-released stuff on there just in case.

* aside from stuff specifically intended as game assets

Show threadt s r o n oSep 28, 2023
@trashpandaqc @mcc it’s an interesting option to my mind! i’ve always had good vibes from itch and the community
Show threadRiver Kitten 🏳️‍⚧️Sep 28, 2023

@mcc
this music streaming co-op seems interesting.

https://resonate.coop/

Show threadMorgan GangwereSep 28, 2023
@mcc Welp, guess I'm gonna have to go and start beating on my friends who publish on Bandcamp to start archiving their shit on archive.org or something.
Show threadLuigi Sep 28, 2023
@mcc my heart is bleeding. I did not know Epic bought Bandcamp, and is now selling it to someone potentially even worse. I am invested in the platform, lots of Dungeonsynth, Synthwave, punk and indie artists I love publish there
Show threadJuMiSep 28, 2023
@luigirenna @mcc same, it's almost the only place where I buy music nowadays, it's a shame what they're doing with it
Show threadgkrnoursSep 28, 2023
@mcc I wonder how difficult it would be to go "blender" on bandcamp?
Maybe turn it into a non profit and try to work something with white squirrel and itchio as to my knowledge, bandcamp business is serving files and selling merch