I thought people were mostly streaming now but maybe I'm wrong...
This is since covid July 2020 - 2022 but not that much nowadays
That one time on bandcamp...
I'm just starting out and will share on Bandcamp for £1 it's almost nothing but if I can grow a fanbase who supports me there it would be amazing :)
It comes down to building and having a following.
Bandcamp has paid me a few years' rent for sure.
I forget when I started but I've had it way over 10 years, maybe 15.
I've been making music since 1992 so selling music and having a marketplace for it has always been essential for me and I have never prioritized streaming or promoting it more than paid avenues.
And before you ask: http://fanu.bandcamp.com
If you just started, it's a bit different of course, but whatever you actively promote is where ppl will go.
That's when I see ppl only promote Spotify and then whine about not getting paid, I'm like, yyyyeahh, see that's where the problem is: if you're only promoting free streaming, that's where you strategy sucks.
Also if you've only been promoting streaming and then switch to Bandcamp, that may not work that well either because if your fans grow up with the vibe that your music is free, it may be hard to start telling them at some point that hey, it used to be free, but now it's not.
But it's a generational thing to an extent, I think. I'm 44 and a lot of my followers are 30-40 yo, and that generation grew up paying for music. I guess youngsters don't pay, and they mostly stream (correct me if I'm wrong – I hope I am wrong!)
It kills me seeing ppl only promote streaming for their release – and I know of course it's because they don't know of better alternatives. But Spotify is a race to the bottom for many.
I mix+master for my living, and sometimes the release format etc comes up and especially younger ppl may say they only release thru Spotify/streaming and need the version for that, and I'd like to get my lecture on and say don't go free streaming only.
(It's not part of my job to lecture ppl about that in my work, but I'd wish to say it every time.)
So start with Bandcamp as early as you can!
When my last album came out last year, I think it sold around 200 copies on Bandcamp, and it costs 10 EUR
(this is a rough figure)...so it's def some beer money there.
If labels run the label page for Bandcamp, they can link your release, so the release shows up on their page and yours, so both their and your followers get the notification (payments for that release on your page go to label).
⚠️ TIP! ⚠️
You can have a free release on Bandcamp, but people can "pay" with their email address. That email list can be exported and used for free email marketing with email services such as Mailchimp.
Also, whenever you release something thru Bandcamp, ppl who have got something from you will get a notification about it. Also, you can use the free Bandcamp app to msg your followers and fans.
Bandcamp rules!
Fanu! Love your tunes 🔥🥁🤘
Thanks duuude :-)
I’m not sure if I agree with your sentiment, but maybe that’s because I am biased from my relative success. I can consistently hit stream numbers in the 100s of thousands on Spotify, with some going in the millions. You mentioned that album generating 200 x 10€ in revenue - I can do that too, with a single song on Spotify. I don’t mean this to come across in a dick measuring type of way, but rather to make this point that with Spotify it’s easier to reach an audience, which in turn means more streams, which in turn means bandcamp-rivaling streams of revenue.
But this is why I started off with that disclaimer, maybe I’m just one of few that are having decent luck with the algorithm. And for someone starting out it would be easier to generate some revenue from bandcamp within their first year(s) rather than being stuck on streaming platforms hitting stream numbers in the low 1000s which actually barely pays anything (if any) at all.
Hey Fanu, surprised to see you here. How backed up are you on the mixing and mastering projects? Do you do any private hourly 1 on 1 sessions?
Yo :)
Mixing and mastering is my main living, and it's just getting busier and busier.
To give you an answer on how busy: just took 10 days off (first offtime all year) and got back to the usual Monday this week and had 27 clients in the queue. Been working like a madman all week to normalize the situation, and I'm currently down to only 11 clients in queue, but work comes in daily.
It ain't gonna slow down from here, especially as my reputation as the engineer for some badass dudes like John Summit is spreading.
I do 1-to-1 sessions sometimes, still, yessir.
Whenever that is requested, please holler via email [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]) !
I’m sure you’ve worked hard to deserve the success haha, very nice! 10 days off for the first time as in no weekends off for you either? I’ll shoot you an email tomorrow, I’m in LA and it’s currently 2am lol.
I work a bit in the weekends sometimes especially when it's mad with all the work.
Get some sleep!
Most of my clients are from the US actually.
I sold a broken candle for $96 last month
Oh yeahhhh
I have a version of Dolly Parton's "Slow Ass Jolene" that I sell for a dollar. I probably should send Dolly that dollar
what's this "still" thing you're talking about?
They changed who own it
That suggests that I was making money from the old owners as well
Lol
Bandcamp prints drink tickets?
I just recently made a Bandcamp account and placed what I thought was my very best work there. So far, I have zero plays. :) *hardcore goth dance*
Like other ppl’s shit. It will activate the algorithm
Are you doing anything to funnel listeners to your Bandcamp..?
No. But I'm still not confident about my tracks, actually. I've been checking out some of the tracks submitted here in this sub, and I'm not sure I'm on your level, so I just let my tracks sit on my Soundcloud and Bandcamp, hoping someone happens upon them and deeming them somehow good. I honestly could use some collabs or lessons or something. Or feedback at least.
i guess it depends where you are at
you can be new at it but be making music that sounds raw but good
it's unclear if the predicament you're in is a confident issue or a skill issue
if it's skill -- your tracks could be "objectively" good and there would still be people who would think it's bad; try not to use the opinions of others as a litmus test, especially if they are consumers. if you really need to, seek a mentor for feedback.
Thank you for these tips. It really is just a confidence issue. The person who taught me EDM production was particularly strict, and my earlier works were not up to par for him. However, I just recently talked with the dude to ask about vocal mixing. I asked him about my general mixing for the instruments and he told me that it's already good. I still don't know tho. I feel like the dude was just being nice.
Regarding where I'm at, EDM is really dead in this country. I think there are just a few people who like EDM, so I can't really peddle my stuff here.
You guys are getting paid?
Like with real money?
Personally speaking, money is the thing I make from my day job
+1
What's this "money" thing you speak of?
I've made 1151$ all time on bandcamp vs 85$ in streaming - including some songs with million plays...
How do you have millions of plays fromstreaming and only make $85?
1mil streams on Spotify is around $3,000
Maybe I'm reading this wrong then? This is only the data from when I rereleased my past music on my own distrokid - I don't have access to the data when it was done by labels I think.
Yeah these are 'impressions'. I don't really know what it means, I've got one song with 4,500,000 that made $8 and another with 59,000+ that made $4.
I'm sorry, that's simply appalling
I have no idea how that even happens. I have one with 2 700 000 that made roughly $3000, and I’m only receiving 30% of the royalties on that one.
Remix?
Labels
If you have decent followings streaming money is not something i would be worried about. My focus would be more on how am i gonna get more streams so i can get noticed by a label and get lucky.
Touring is where the real moneys at. Live performances. Whether ur playing live or dj set. Just saying guys. Dnt mean to step on anyones toes.
Think of streaming money as the money you’d use to go wash your clothes or car or do a quick grocery shopping lol or maybe a haircut. Or you can always just save it. :)
Not nearly every music-maker is looking to tour, of course. And it's hecking tough to get booked these days even as a DJ unless you're quite big.
Also I'd say labels prioritize good music over lots of streams. The labels I've worked with have never really asked me about stream numbers or stats.
Yeah the touring part was coming from a personal perspective. I wanna make music people can dance to.
About the label part, i have a question for you. So if someone has good music or decent. But hardly any streams or not so much following on their social platforms. Would that impact the labels decision to sign a potential track? Would appreciate your response in advance. Thx.
Oh and one other question. Ima sound like such a noob for saying this. But yeah lol. How do you have your soundcloud link attached to your username how it’s showing rn. Im trying to get me one of those. :)
Prob depends mostly on music but a little bit on the artist’s presence. This depends on the label. I’d say music first, always – unless you’re someone famous.
If you think about Burial: he had no presence but he only made killer music that made him famous. Being unknown and not revealing his identity was partly his thing for a while and I think he kinda ruined it by posting a selfie.
I don’t think labels like Metalheadz for example care that much about whether or you’re cool or not but if you send them killer music, they will sign it. I mean they’ve released music by me because Goldie has got stoked about it, and I ain’t hot shit on socials, ha.
I think my SC link got added by some admins some years ago when I did an AMA thing over at some DNB subreddit (if I remember correctly).
Nice, thanks for the input. I have yet to send my music to any labels yet. Although i do have a few in mind where i want to send them to. Got them bookmarked and everything lol.
Im about 4 yrs into producing. I feel like im getting close to that point. I just feel like i gotta work on some type of live performance method or hybrid. Like rn i dnt have any dj controllers.
Well i do but its a piece of sht and its useless. I do every now and then read a bit about cdjs and such from pioneer and allen and heath but thats about it. I have a basic understanding in djing in terms of beatmatching, hot cues, mids lows, like how to eq frequencies and such and transitions. It’s pretty straight forward. “Match the transients, achieve the transitions” lol. working with audio and music theory has open doors i never knew existed.
Someone who came from a family that never tried doing something out of the ordinary. Everyone i know just settled with what they knew and didnt try learning anything more.
But if i had someone that had a pair of cdjs and a mixer to use that be nice. Only thing i could consider of being able to do something live would be sort of a hybrid setup. Like my korg, my xone k2, and my maschine mk1.
You could borrow my Pioneer RX3 if you were in my area 😊👍🏻
Which area might that be?
Espoo, Finland, close to Helsinki.
Snap bro let me go ahead and book the next greyhound bus and ill let you know when im close 😂😭. Gimme like 2 months😭😂
Cool I’m already standing outside my house waiting. You’ll see a guy holding a RX3 and that’s me. It’s starting to rain so pls hurry :D
^ Ah I see you're on the bus already! :D
(That pic is from one of my favorite movies ever, called Planes, Trains, and Automobiles)
Made $2 on band camp a week ago. made $4 in streaming all year.
Hmm you’re earning double on streaming ;)
Edits oops no my math is wrong. Comparing week to year. So Bandcamp earns more?
Depending on the week.
Don’t spend it all in one place
I’m getting ready to release my first album and I’m wondering why not just do both? I’m planning on doing bandcamp and distrokid to start
My whole thing is just “make it easy for people to buy”. bandcamp has been fine. I haven’t used the Distrokid one
I get some purchases with every release, but I'm also a big supporter of my fellow enthusiasts. So that money I make just goes right back in to supporting other artists. I feel like we're all just passing around the same dollar😆
If that ain’t community I don’t know what is
A $10 purchase on Bandcamp is worth a couple thousand streams. If you’re a certain kind of hobby/side-gig/local/niche musician you might be able to make more money there than streaming (but also not very much money).
no, i can get some money to pay for mastering services and thats it.. never made profit from bandcamp.
When I want to support an artist I go to bandcamp. Actually I recently listen more to my bandcamp collection than to Spotify. And I like a real CD every now and then.
So it’s going to be a net negative for me probably forever 😍
Nah. I’ve had a couple friends buy my tunes before as support but never anyone else. I always put it up for free.
Streaming has made it such no one really has to pay for music anymore. I’ve got legit radio play but never made a cent off BC.
If YOU want to make money on band camp go ahead. My shits free.
the only Space Shaman i see on BC isn't free. what's your artist name? i'll check it out
Shots fired lol
lol i meant it actually curious
Wont dox myself, sorry.
I've made like $40 bucks ever since I opened mine like 2 years ago. I usually just set releases to pay what you want cause why not. If they want it free they will get it free so why not give them the best quality?
You act as if I ever made money on bandcamp
Yeah wtf, how do you phrase it like that
djs still buy music. i almost exclusively buy on bandcamp, take that how you will.
yeah, i've only ever spent money on bandcamp. great spot for weird stuff
I always buy on Bandcamp for dj'ing, even if it's nyp I pay a dollar a track
Same
I sold one copy of my album and I think that’s pretty rad!
It is someone cared enough about your work to pay for it. That’s a legit accomplishment.
Thank you! I truly feel that way. It was a surreal email to get saying the album sold.
Feels good, right? :)
i do! i think a lot of the income comes from people randomly finding the songs on bandcamp and not as much people who already listen on spotify coming over but still definitely worth it to upload on bandcamp.
Yes Bandcamp allows you to sell songs and merch.
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All time sales $275 and most of them came from my mash-ups. I sell it for $0 but most people donate more!