Bandcamp lays off most of its remaining engineers, artists weigh alternatives

Bandcamp laid off most of its remaining engineers in late June 2026, according to a 13-year employee. Engineer Drew Harris posted on Bluesky that his time at the company was ending: “I’ve been laid off along with most of the remaining engineers.” Bandcamp has not commented, and the number of cuts is unclear.

The news hit the independent music community hard, because Bandcamp is not another streaming service.

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My 13 years at Bandcamp are coming to an end. Best job I've ever had, working with the best people you could ever work with.

Why artists are worried about Bandcamp

Bandcamp pays artists directly. Sellers keep about 82% of revenue, and up to 93% on Bandcamp Fridays, versus the fraction of a cent per play that streaming returns. For a lot of independent acts, it is the one platform that reliably pays rent.

The ownership history is the other worry. Epic Games bought Bandcamp in 2022, then sold it to music-licensing company Songtradr in 2023, a deal that triggered an immediate 50% staff cut. Reporting from Hypebot notes that other recent tech layoffs have cited AI as a new source of engineering efficiency, though Bandcamp has given no reason for these cuts.

What to do now if you sell on Bandcamp

You do not need to abandon the platform. A few steps protect you either way:

• Download your sales history and catalog so you hold your own records.
• Capture your fans’ emails with a free tool so you are not renting the relationship.
• Test one or two alternatives that fit your release schedule, such as the artist-owned co-op Subvert, Sleeve, or CD Baby.
• Keep your Bandcamp page running while you diversify.