Bandcamp

A few months ago, we began tracking the starting point of every sale that happens on Bandcamp. In the course of looking at the data (which we’re using to help us plan out what to do next), we’ve noticed something awesome: every day, fans are buying music that they specifically set out to get for free. — Bandcamp

I’ve said before that people hear music, then they like music, then they buy music. It’s important to realise that you need to go a step further than just allowing that to happen. You have to remove all the friction in between. — Andrew Dubber

It takes a lot to impress me. To say I was impressed by bandcamp would be an understatement.

I first came across bandcamp through Shadowboxer, who I came across through Stewart Warwick. Both have albums on bandcamp.

I came across Stewart Warwick a few years ago when down in Brighton I picked up the excellent Unlimited Art by Jacob’s Stories from Resident Records, having heard in Brighton Books. This led to Mechanical Bride and a couple of years ago The Ordeal by Stewart Warwick.

Through Stewart Warwick I came across the Surrey University live sessions and studio sessions by Shadowboxer.

– Shadowboxer – Chase and Status – Time
– Shadowboxer – Scott Matthews – Elusive

Bandcamp is the place to listen to, download and buy music.

Each creative artist has a page. On what is effectively their home page you will find their albums, notes about the artist, lyrics, links to other sites etc.

I like to share music. If that makes me a pirate, then I am proud to be a pirate.

Before I found bandcamp, I would have to copy a CD or maybe rip a track or two. But now, all I have to do is link to bandcamp. Only bandcamp make it even easier than that.

Click on share. You can then tweet, post onto your own or a friend’s facebook wall an entire album, copy the embed code and embed the album onto your blog.

With bandcamp you have a virtual on-line music collection.

Where else can you download an album for $1, an album not a track? Where else can you download an album for free? Well yes, ok there is FrostWire and sites like Pirate Bay.

Paulo Coelho has recently made The Way of the Bow available for free download on FrostWire.

– Paulo Coelho featured on FrostWire

Often a minimum price is suggested, which could start at zero. The strange thing is, people often pay more, on average 50% more, than the minimum.

– Cheaper than Free

When you download an album you have high quality audio, not the low quality, lossy compression highly compressed mp3 files which are the norm elsewhere. [see mp3 v FLAC]

Yes you can still download mp3 but it is mp3 320, or you can choose a lossless mp3. Even when you listen on-line your are listening to mp3 128.

You are not though restricted to mp3. You can choose FLAC (large file size). To play FLAC you will need VLC Media Player, as will not play in the bog standard Windows Media Player.

And why would anyone wish to listen to lofi when hifi is available?

I found you need the mp3 and FLAC download (yes, you can download both) as with the mp3 you get the lyrics. I assume they are there with FLAC but at the moment not showing with VLC Media Player (could be I need to change the settings).

Albums outsell tracks 5 to 1. The industry norm is tracks outsell albums 16 to 1.

Through featured albums on the bandcamp blog I have come across music and artists I have never heard of before. For example Where are the Arms by Gabriel Kahane and Les Sessions Cubaines by Philémon Chante recorded at the famous Studio Egrem in Havana, Cuba.

Bandcamp connects the creative artist with those who wish to enjoy what they create. It bypasses the greedy music industry. The money you pay for a download, or a real album that (hopefully) arrives in the post, goes straight into the pocket of the creative artist (with a small cut going to bandcamp).

I am amazed at the money that is flowing through bandcamp straight into the pockets of the creative artists. To date, artists have made $13,971,838 using Bandcamp, and $1,042,618 in the past 30 days.

Bandcamp is a virtual company, it exits, but exists on the net.

– How We Work, Selling Right Now

Top Story on #GoIndie (Sunday 15 September 2013).

Tags: bandcamp, FrostWire, music, Shadowboxer, sharing, Stuart Warwick, The Ordeal, Two Cities