Joe OrtizSep 28, 2023

If you're using #Bandcamp, I would strongly advise getting two external hard drives depending on your size and download your purchased #music ASAP since the new owners are a marketing B2B company and I know where this is eventually going. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/28/epic-games-is-eliminating-16percent-of-its-workforce-and-selling-bandcamp.html

I would not be surprised if Songtradr is going to push the #enshittification button on it. https://www.songtradr.com/blog/posts/songtradr-bandcamp-acquisition/

Epic Games is eliminating 16% of its workforce and selling Bandcamp

Epic Games said on Thursday that it's laying off 16% of its workforce and is selling Bandcamp, which it acquired last year.

CNBC
Show threadJoe OrtizSep 28, 2023
Here's a nice thread on the saga. https://mastodon.social/@mcc/111143889606615360
Show threadJoe OrtizSep 28, 2023
What we really need in the long run is a creator-owned preferably decentralized music platform alternative and I hope there's people out there in the world that is willing to create one.
Show threadwilliam.maggosSep 28, 2023

@joeo10 @mcc

I'm hoping @funkwhale could be that eventually, but we also need something like a decentralized automatic donation system. how do we organize around making this happen?

cc @ryno

Show threadShineSep 28, 2023
@wjmaggos @joeo10 @mcc @funkwhale @ryno I don't think that the payment system needs to be decentralized? We already have liberapay and open collective, I'm pretty sure both can be leveraged for such purpose. Payment processing is replaceable, what matters is the actual media store.
Show threadwilliam.maggosSep 29, 2023

@shine @joeo10 @mcc @funkwhale @ryno

any centralized system can be bought or pressured. if we're asking people to build their livelihood around something new, they should have total independence. a #Bandcamp alternative where each site is actually independent but seems like a connected whole like the fedi is to #Xitter, making it simple for fans, is needed. but we should also figure out a shared open payment protocol that interfaces with all our banks but is then simple for musicians.

Show threadPaulDavisTheFirstOct 16, 2023
@wjmaggos @shine @joeo10 @mcc @funkwhale @ryno i cannot agree that "any centralized system can be bought". What matters is not centralization (in the technological sense) but distribution of ownership. You need a service "owned" or "controlled" by enough people that it will not be possible to force or even pressure a sale.
Show threadwilliam.maggos

@PaulDavisTheFirst @shine @joeo10 @mcc @funkwhale @ryno

but over time, that ownership can be consolidated. it will just take more time/money.

Oct 16, 2023 at 8:37pmWeb
Show threadPaulDavisTheFirstOct 16, 2023
@wjmaggos @shine @joeo10 @mcc @funkwhale @ryno not if the ownership is 15000 musicians. and not if you cannot sell ownership other than back to the conglomerate.