Music distribution platform Bandcamp has announced an initiative to help fans materially support artists at a time when many are losing a considerable chunk of income due to cancelled shows and festivals in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
“With such a major revenue stream drying up almost entirely, finding ways to continue supporting artists in the coming months is now an urgent priority for anyone who cares about music and the artists who create it,” wrote the company’s CEO Ethan Diamond in a letter.
“The good news is that we’re already seeing many fans going above and beyond to support artists across Bandcamp.”
To raise awareness and help fans put money directly into artists’ pockets, the company has announced they’ll be waiving their revenue share on sales this Friday, 2oth March. They’re running the initiative from midnight to midnight Pacific Time – meaning it starts 6PM Friday here in Australia.
“For many artists, a single day of boosted sales can mean the difference between being able to pay rent or not,” commented Diamond, who points out that this is just as a starting point as the industry faces hardship over the coming months. In the letter, Bandcamp also suggest other ways to materially support artists – such as discovering new favourites via their Bandcamp Daily and Bandcamp Discover sections, purchasing physical items like vinyl and merch through the site or gifting a friend a Bandcamp gift card.
The post also acknowledges that many in the music industry who are not artists are being significantly impacted by these losses as well – from record store owners, tour managers, venue staff, bartenders and technical professionals – and encourages folks to find ways to support those affected in local communities.
