Bandcamp Fridays pay out $154m to artists since 2020

Bandcamp Fridays were introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdowns severely reduced income from live performances and touring. On designated Fridays, the company waives its revenue share, allowing artists and labels to retain the full purchase price of music and merchandise sold on the platform.

The latest total represents an increase of $31 million from the $123 million Bandcamp reported in May 2024. In 2025 alone, payouts through Bandcamp Fridays reached $19 million, exceeding the previous year’s total. December’s event generated more than $3.8 million in 24 hours, marking the strongest single day of the year.

Outside of Bandcamp Fridays, the platform typically takes a 15% commission on digital sales and 10% on physical goods. Bandcamp said artists receive an average of 82% of sales on regular days, contributing to more than $1.5 billion paid out to artists and labels since the company’s launch.

Bandcamp general manager Dan Melnick said the initiative continued to demonstrate the impact of direct fan support. “Five years on, Bandcamp Fridays continue to show just how powerful direct fan support can be,” he said. Reflecting on 2025, Melnick added: “It was another strong year for artists and labels, capped by our strongest Friday of the year.”

Bandcamp plans to run eight Bandcamp Fridays in 2026, scheduled for 6 February, 6 March, 1 May, 7 August, 4 September, 2 October, 6 November and 4 December.

The company has also expanded its services beyond one-off purchases. In September, Bandcamp launched ‘Bandcamp Clubs’, a subscription service priced at $13 a month, offering curated record selections, listening parties, recommendations and exclusive artist content. At the launch, Melnick said the service was designed to prioritise human curation over algorithms.

Founded in 2008 as a direct-to-consumer alternative for musicians, Bandcamp has grown to include services such as ticketed livestreams and vinyl pressing, and hosts catalogues from artists including Peter Gabriel and Björk. The company was acquired by Epic Games in 2022 and sold to music licensing platform Songtradr in 2023.