Bandcamp Friday: The Impact Continues

Aly Gillani - Artist & Label Relations Lead at Bandcamp

Much more than an online music community for music fans, Bandcamp continues to pave the way to build the bridge between artists and fans, whilst also ensuring the platform it is going above and beyond to ensure that when it comes to the hard work and passion of all creators regardless of their size. 

With 2025 being the 5th year anniversary since the launch of the incentive, Bandcamp Friday, we sit down with Aly Gillani from the Labels and Artists division as we explore more about  Bandcamp's continued commitment to make an impact. 

First launching in 2020, what were some of those initial concepts and values that went into helping shape the blueprints for Bandcamp Friday?

The first Bandcamp Friday was March 20th in 2020, just at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initial concept was very simple. Our belief has always been that if you want the artists you love to be able to continue making their art, you need to pay them. That's been Bandcamp's mission since our launch back in 2008. With the world moving into lockdown we knew that our community of artists faced an uncertain future. Without live shows artists had a major source of income removed and we wanted to show them that we had their back, and remind fans that there were still ways to support artists through the tricky months that lay ahead. I've had a lot of people commend us on this 'genius marketing idea' - but it really was born out of a desire to help the musicians and artists that make up our diverse and global community. Our leadership at that time deserves full credit for coming up with the concept, moving quickly, and following through on their promise to prioritise artists above profit.

With this being the fifth year milestone, what has it been like witnessing the evolution of this great idea? Has the reception been as you imagined or has it blown those expectations out of the water?

We really had no idea how it would pan out, but the response was pretty remarkable. Pre-Covid, on an average Friday we might turnover around $300k, maybe $500k on a very busy release week. On the first BC Friday we turned over $4.3million, on the second it was $7.1million. To see the response from our community of music fans was incredible. We're now approaching 50 BC Fridays with a total of over $130million paid out to artists and labels.

Another interesting note is that we didn't come up with the name 'Bandcamp Friday'. I think originally it was billed as a 'Covid-19 Fundraiser', or something similar, and It was our community that started calling it Bandcamp Friday and we just ran with it. It feels fitting that something that exists to serve that community was named by the same people it was created to help.

One of the important focal points is where 100% of revenue from sales go directly to the artists and labels. Knowing that your platform made that possible and is helping in such a meaningful way must feel pretty rewarding, right?

It's immensely motivating for me - the reason I wanted to work at Bandcamp in the first place was because I could see how important it was for independent music. I've run a small indie label for 20 years and Bandcamp became a key part of our survival. And whilst Bandcamp Fridays are the ultimate expression of the company's mission, it's worth noting that even on a regular day Bandcamp pays the majority of revenue generated directly to artists. On Bandcamp Fridays, after payment processing fees an average of 93% of the retail price is paid to artists and labels. On regular days it's 82% which still makes it way ahead of most other platforms in the space.

Have there been any examples of positive stories from artists and/or labels which have stood out to you?

During the early days we had numerous artists letting us know that the income from Bandcamp Fridays was literally keeping their lights on, and making sure they had food in the fridge. I think my favourite story is about an electronic artist in the UK who posted on his social media that Bandcamp income had paid for his double glazing. Not the sexiest story but I still really love that as a tangible example of what that direct income can do for working artists.

With the next round of Bandcamp Friday's taking place in August, September, October and December, are there any plans to make those dates even more special?

We look forward to every Bandcamp Friday and these dates are no different. We hope each Bandcamp Friday is bigger than ever, meaning more artists are getting paid. The success of Bandcamp Friday would of course be nothing though without the continued support from the fantastic fan community, who are buying music to own and cherish, knowing the significance of Bandcamp Friday to the artists they are supporting.

Another of the really notable things about Bandcamp Fridays is that it's the artists that drive things. Whether it's through fundraisers for causes close to their heart, or uploading special editions and exclusive items, it's the artist's creativity that fires the imagination of our community of fans. Alongside the fans, without artists Bandcamp is nothing, so I'm excited to see what they have in store for us through the next few months.

For anyone who has been part of the Bandcamp community - be that a musician or simply a music fan, how valuable is that support?

I think the word "support" is a really important one. Yes, it's financial, but just as crucial is the genuine connection we help foster between fans and artists. Giving artists the ability to speak directly with their fans, without an algorithm filtering that relationship is a game-changer for emerging talent. Getting paid is obviously important, but also getting notes of encouragement (fans can leave reviews once they've bought an album or track), can really make a difference. It can be a lonely road as an independent artist, and knowing there's a supportive community out there truly matters.

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