A line in the sand - The Wire

"Since its founding in 2008, Bandcamp has become an invaluable resource for musicians, from bedroom producers to pop stars, as a host for the streaming and buying of their work. With artists and labels selling a wide range of physical products in addition to every major digital format, Bandcamp is the closest thing to a globe-spanning independent record store. In 2022, founder Ethan Diamond sold Bandcamp to Epic Games, who"

"While it may be a closed environment, these elements contribute to a healthy ecosystem for artists and fans alike. When fraudulent goods are introduced, it is tantamount to an attack on the entire business model, a threat to the wellbeing of the marketplace. Such doubt becomes a poison, a virus. AI-generated music is that poison. Spotify has been plagued by an influx of AI-generated music that is streamed by bot"

"In a post published on 13 January, entitled "Keeping Bandcamp Human", the company stated that "musicians are more than mere producers of sound. They are vital members of our communities, our culture, and our social fabric. Bandcamp was built to connect artists and their fans, and to make it easy for fans to support artists equitably so that they can keep making music." This was the argument at the centre"

Bandcamp was founded in 2008 and hosts streaming and sales for a wide range of artists and labels, including physical products and major digital formats. Bandcamp functions like a global independent record store. Founder Ethan Diamond sold Bandcamp to Epic Games in 2022; Epic sold it to Songtradr in 2023. Bandcamp features Bandcamp Fridays and Bandcamp Daily, which publish features and scene guides. Bandcamp emphasizes a closed environment that supports artists and fans. Fraudulent or AI-generated music poses a threat by polluting algorithms, diverting royalties, and undermining community trust. Bandcamp prohibited music generated wholly or substantially by AI, citing artists' cultural importance.

Read at The Wire Magazine - Adventures In Modern Music