# Is Bandcamp legit? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 21, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314 "2025-04-21T16:39:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/1 "2025-04-21T16:39:57Z")
I try to be careful and wary of anything online, especially when it comes to ID and money. However, a lot of the music that I like is only available on Bandcamp. Is Bandcamp legit, that is can I safely give them credit card info and will I get what I purchased? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/2 "2025-04-21T16:40:53Z")
I don’t use it a lot, but I’ve not ever had any issues with it. I’ve bought a few digital albums from the site. ---
**Author:** ![dirtball](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dirtball/32/18772_2.png) [@dirtball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dirtball)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/3 "2025-04-21T17:02:04Z")
I’ve been signed up for a while (as a customer), have made purchases, and nothing untoward has ever happened. If you’re seeing music there you’re interested in, I don’t see any reason not to go for it. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/4 "2025-04-21T17:04:54Z")
@kenobi_65 and @dirtball, I assumed that it’s legit but you gave me some external validation. Thank you very much ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/5 "2025-04-21T17:08:40Z")
I use it occasionally as well. No issues here with using them. I usually wait until [Bandcamp Fridays](https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/bandcamp-fridays?from=countdownbanner), where purchases result in all money going to the artist (next one coming up on May 2). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/6 "2025-04-21T17:11:33Z")
My understanding is that, unlike other music services (e.g., Spotify, Apple Music), Bandcamp nets the artists more on each sale, and also lets them set up online stores, to sell physical media (vinyl albums), merch, etc. The musicians from whom I’ve bought stuff on Bandcamp tend to be indie artists, who don’t have deals with major record labels (though some of them did in the past). ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/7 "2025-04-21T17:30:13Z")
I’m not affiliated with it myself, but a musician friend and collaborator uses it. He seems to be a pretty savvy fellow, so I would generally trust his judgement. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/8 "2025-04-21T17:30:31Z")
Agree. I think everyday purchases do get the artist more money than other services, but on those selected Fridays that is amplified. Either way I think it’s good for the artist. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/9 "2025-04-21T17:53:57Z")
Let me add my unnecessary amplification of what everyone has said. It’s not only legitimate, it’s my preferred venue for buying music. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/10 "2025-04-21T19:46:59Z")
Bandcamp is legit. Some of my musician buddies use it for distribution and funds collection but also to find new music & shows. Edit: What they said: > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > I’m not affiliated with it myself, but a musician friend and collaborator uses it. > > He seems to be a pretty savvy fellow, so I would generally trust his judgement. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/11 "2025-04-21T21:56:04Z")
I am taking everybody’s advice and I’ve successfully ordered three different downloads from them. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/12 "2025-04-21T22:15:02Z")
Now that the question has been properly answered… > Is Bandcamp legit? Yes, except for that one time[.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ftdcWqhUs) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/13 "2025-04-21T22:20:43Z")
> [@DMC](#): > > Yes, except for that one time[.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-ftdcWqhUs) So long as the OP isn’t downloading flute solos, it should be fine. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/14 "2025-04-21T22:27:52Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > So long as the OP isn’t downloading flute solos - King Buffalo: “Live at Freak Valley”; - Tuber: “Desert Overcrowded”; and - Villagers of Ioannina City: “Through Space and Time (Alive in Athens 2020)” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/15 "2025-04-21T22:29:03Z")
I should have specified: flute solos by Alyson Hannigan. (Reference to a naughty line from the movie _American Pie_, in case it went over anyone’s head.) ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/16 "2025-04-21T22:40:20Z")
Just to add a bit of nuance, it is indeed legit, but has gone through some rocky times recently. A few years ago, they were bought by Epic Games (the company behind the Fortnite and Unreal video games), which is itself part of the Chinese mega-conglomerate Tencent. Then a couple years later, Bandcamp was again resold to another music conglomerate, Songtradr, who then laid off half its staff and all the employees who were involved an unionization effort. > **[Bandcamp](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandcamp?wprov=sfla1)** > > Bandcamp is an American online music distribution platform founded in 2008 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with an office and record store in Oakland, California. Acquired by Epic Games in March 2022, the company was sold to Songtradr in 2023. > Bandcamp was founded in 2008 by Ethan Diamond (CEO) and programmers Shawn Grunberger (CFO), Joe Holt and Neal Tucker. In 2019, Bandcamp opened its first office and record store in Oakland, C... So as a business, it isn’t very stable. It used to be a beloved indie darling a decade ago, but has seen some troubles recently. Not sure what its future looks like. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/17 "2025-04-21T22:51:20Z")
Make sure you download them to your device, pronto. I forgot once and it was a round-about way to find my purchase later and download it. You can listen to your tunes on Bandcamp, but I prefer to download to my device (also, re: what @Reply mentions it’s always safer to have all your purchases on your device rather than leave everything on their platform). ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/18 "2025-04-21T23:30:19Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Alyson Hannigan Now I get it😁 ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/19 "2025-04-22T01:32:29Z")
I hid a clue in my first response. The period at the end is a link. ---
**Author:** ![Toxgoddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Toxgoddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxgoddess)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2025, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-bandcamp-legit/1017314/20 "2025-04-24T22:13:26Z")
I thought that’s what this thread was about! I was a flute player who went to band camp and was going to chime in. Sadly, no American Pie-type stories but band camp itself existed.