Bandcamp are broadening their vinyl pressing service, allowing indie artists to release and sell their music on physical LPs.
The business is offering to press your records, print your packaging and ship products to your fans, described as ‘streamlining the financing, production and fulfilment of vinyl records.’ They also state on their website that there are no out-of-pocket costs, that the orders of records from fans actually fund the pressing. This new venture could prove to be particularly useful for independent artists on the rise. The BPI reported that nearly 5 million vinyl LPs were sold in 2020, a 21st century high, and the highest total since the early Nineties.
Bandcamp is an internet music platform, launched in 2007. It is an online platform where artists can set up their own online shop, to sell music and merchandise. The site has been described as a ‘smash hit,’ particularly because of ‘Bandcamp Fridays.’ This program was launched in March of 2020, as a way for the company to support musicians throughout the pandemic. On the first Friday of every month, the site waives their website fees, so artists earn 100% of the profits on their sales. According to Ethan Diamond, CEO of Bandcamp, fans have paid artists over half a billion dollars on Bandcamp, between March and December of 2020.
Artists who are wanting to make use of Bandcamp’s new business venture must have existing music on their website. In order to choose your release for print. Once you have chosen your release, you can design the jacket style and vinyl colour, before finalising your campaign goals. The minimum run for a campaign is 250 records, plus the expenses for vinyl mastering and packaging design. Additionally, you can set different pledge levels to your campaign, including merchandise and limited edition materials, to promote the release. Artists are provided with up to four test pressings, and customer support for replacements for damaged records.
However, artists only have 30 days to reach their campaign goal, similar to crowdfunding websites like GoFundMe. Bandcamp also does not offer a vinyl mastering service as of yet, which is another cost to consider for artists. Smaller DIY artists may not be able to make use of the programme, as a result of the steep 250 sales campaign target.
“We’ve been solid supporters of Bandcamp since day one…When their vinyl program was announced we jumped right on it, as it solves the fundamental issue of up-front vinyl costs and gives fans the vinyl they want.”
– Louis Marks, CEO of Ropeadope Records
The overall process takes around three to four months, from the date of your campaign launch. The campaign is held over the first 30 days, and manufacturing your records will typically take 50-70 days. From then, it takes an average of 10-20 days for packaging and distribution. They do argue that the manufacturing time can take a significantly less amount of time, if you send in your artwork and final audio as soon as the campaign is successful.
Successful artists who have made use of the campaign offer include Vulfpeck’s ‘Live at Madison Square Garden’ and City Girl’s ‘Neon Impasse.’
