According to published reports from metal Sucks and Vulture, Songtradr has brutally laid off nearly 50% of the staff at Bandcamp, after buying the brand from Epic Games in late September. According to posts from former staff on social media, the layoffs not only editorial, but also the staff that runs the back end of the platform. This brutal news comes after Songtradr said publicly they planned to take a more artist-friendly approach to compensating people for their music. While the company did warn workers on October 5th “not all Bandcamp employees will receive offers from Songtradr,” this is a terrible blow to the workforce that at one point had unionized, and their pleas ignored when they requested Epic Games and Songtradr to come back to the table after the Union collected tons of signatures from the workforce. Ghost Cult stands with the staff of Bandcamp, past and present and supports unions everywhere. Where this leaves the future of Bandcamp as a fair platform for workers and artists remains to be seen.
Multiple Bandcamp staff members have been laid off by Songtradr, just weeks after being purchased from Epic Games, the second time Bandcamp had been sold in less than two years. https://t.co/GclY2vtm1D
— Vulture (@vulture) October 16, 2023
Bandcamp has been hit with major layoffs following their acquisition by Songtradr. https://t.co/LnHMk1xhk2
— The FADER (@thefader) October 16, 2023
Epic Games' Messy Bandcamp Sale Ends With Mass Layoffs https://t.co/AtH0DckXa8 pic.twitter.com/43AHrB7olh
— Kotaku (@Kotaku) October 16, 2023
Half of Bandcamp's Staff Laid Off After Songtradr Acquisition https://t.co/6tX8JAwuQZ
— Variety (@Variety) October 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/modernistwitch/status/1713956664636793288
officially laid off from bandcamp, after two weeks of waiting in limbo with many of my fellow colleagues. unsurprisingly there has been no humanity extended in this process. our union will prosper though.
still working at brick, still freelancing, so don’t be a stranger! pic.twitter.com/QL8Zb9H8ap
— truly humble under god (@atoosamoinzadeh) October 16, 2023
My coworkers are the most incredible, committed people I I've ever worked with, but we are in danger of being torn apart. It doesn't have to happen – please sign our letter to demand union recognition and NO LAYOFFS! https://t.co/trW4XoXFGc
Thanks and solidarity forever! ❤️🖤✊ https://t.co/42aaA8lGLK
— et tu, song traitor? (@mr_salty) October 5, 2023
Hi friends. Myself and many colleagues were laid off from Bandcamp today. I had a good five years there and I’m looking forward to the future. I’m available for any editing, writing, or social media work. You can reach me at the email in my bio.
— Diamond Sharp (@diamonde) October 16, 2023
3 years at Bandcamp, nearly 100 records & an entire union later, and laid off without so much as a peep from (ex) leadership. Please continue to support artists. Buy music at every turn. Hire my beautiful colleagues and hit me up for all your vinyl needs. Artists first forever.
— Rochelle Shipman (@rochelleshipman) October 16, 2023