Music platform Bandcamp have announced that they are being bought by Epic Games. Most things will remain the same, they say, but they’re looking to expand internationally, improve their platform, and extend their reach into vinyl and live streaming.
In a statement posted to Twitter, Bandcamp emphasise continuity. They claim that they will “keep operating as a standalone marketplace and music community,” and that “we’ll continue to build Bandcamp around our artists-first revenue model.” That apparently includes Bandcamp Fridays, where on the first Friday of the month the platform waives its share of sales.
“Behind the scenes we’re working with Epic to expand internationally and push development forward across Bandcamp,” the statement continues. “From basics like our album pages, mobile apps, merch tools, payment system, and search and discovery features, to newer initiatives like our vinyl pressing and live streaming services.”
For their part, Epic say that “Bandcamp will play an important role in Epic’s vision to build out a creator marketplace ecosystem for content, technology, games, art, music and more,” although they don’t specify exactly what that role will be.
Bandcamp, founded in 2007, is an online music store and user-based community with significant experience in direct-to-customer interactions, which may prove valuable for Epic’s expansion within modern online markets. Music streaming has grown rapidly in recent years, helping revive a flagging music industry that had gone through hard times with the advent of digital music sharing technology.
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