Bandcamp has announced an update to its content policies under which music and audio generated wholly or substantially by artificial intelligence will no longer be permitted on the platform. The decision reinforces existing rules against impersonation and copyright infringement and applies to both music uploads and audio content.
According to the updated guidelines, Bandcamp will not host recordings created primarily through generative AI tools, nor content that uses artificial intelligence to replicate the voice, style, or identity of existing artists. The platform also prohibits the use of its catalogue for training external AI models and reserves the right to remove content that violates these policies.
Bandcamp and its role in contemporary music
Founded in 2008, Bandcamp has established itself as a key platform for independent musicians, labels, and niche musical communities. Unlike subscription-based streaming services, Bandcamp operates as a marketplace that allows artists to sell music directly to listeners, set their own prices, and retain a higher share of revenue.
Over the past decade, Bandcamp has become particularly significant for experimental, contemporary, and non-mainstream music, including composer-performers, small ensembles, and specialist labels that operate outside commercial distribution circuits. Its editorial features, genre-agnostic discovery tools, and emphasis on direct artist-fan relationships have positioned the platform as an alternative ecosystem within the digital music economy.
Initiatives such as Bandcamp Fridays, during which the platform waives its revenue share so that artists receive the full proceeds from sales, have further strengthened its reputation as an artist-centred service, particularly during periods of financial instability for musicians.
A broader debate around AI and music
Bandcamp’s policy change takes place amid a wider industry debate about the role of generative artificial intelligence in music creation and distribution. While some major streaming platforms allow AI-generated content under certain conditions, Bandcamp’s approach draws a clearer line by excluding music that is primarily machine-generated from its catalogue.
The move highlights ongoing questions about authorship, originality, and labour in music, especially as AI tools become increasingly accessible and capable. At the same time, it reflects Bandcamp’s long-standing emphasis on human creativity and its positioning as a platform built around artistic agency rather than algorithmic production.
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