4 ms·

The best alternative to spotify? Bandcamp. https://bandcamp.com/ https://bandcamp.com/

zaarn 9y ago
Can only agree. I download a lot of my music there, usually in FLAC for archiving and MP3 for listening.
two2two 9y ago
Bandcamp is great. For the artists which I discovered either through Soundcloud or YouTube and have a Bandcamp page, I will follow and receive updates via email. It's a nice system for smaller artists who don't have newsletter support from small to large labels.
Cknight70 9y ago
I'd have to agree with you. What I've been doing lately is clicking on interesting album art in the recently purchased feed on their homepage. It amazes me how often I can guess what genre an album is just from the album art alone, I'll find around 10 new artists I really like within an hour of just clicking on album art.
KozmoNau7 9y ago
Bandcamp is totally awesome. For an albums that truly resonate with me, I do listen to them on Spotify, but I'll also buy them on Bandcamp, to directly support the artists.
kingosticks 9y ago
Except they have no streaming API so I can't use it with my normal audio player software. I am forced to stream it in a browser. I'm out.
- thirdsun 9y ago
  It's not a streaming service. You buy your music there and own it.
  - kingosticks 9y ago
    Nope. The streaming API used to be available to 3rd parties but they closed it all off some years ago. "Digital Album Streaming + Download Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more."
    - thirdsun 9y ago
      Well, yes, you can stream your purchases (via browser or bandcamp app), but it's obviously not their focus, and certainly not comparable to all-you-can-eat-services like Spotify.
      - kingosticks 9y ago
        You are totally right. I'm just ticked off about the fact that lots of bands I like make their new stuff streamable on there before it's released elsewhere. I find it very awkward to access that stuff. For me, in that situation, bandcamp just feels like a botched attempt at a streaming service. Especially when I remember it used to be better in this regard.
        thirdsun 9y ago
        My guess is that streaming isn't a key feature for Bandcamp users/listeners. They use the platform to actually purchase, download and own music, to add it to their offline collections and libraries that will still be there when a streaming service shuts down (rip rdio) or licensing deals change and your favorite albums disappear from Spotify and Co. (It happens). At least that's how I, as a frequent music buyer and collector, use Bandcamp. Concerning the artists that prioritize Bandcamp: Don't forget that most artists don't make any money via streaming - of course they push the channel that actually provides revenue and actual, meaningful sales.
lovehashbrowns 9y ago
This is amazing!! I'm so glad I checked this out. Thank you for linking it. I've already found so many artists that I otherwise wouldn't have found via Spotify, and I already know this is gonna be hurting my wallet in the next few months. :D I'm seriously so happy right now!

Can only agree. I download a lot of my music there, usually in FLAC for archiving and MP3 for listening.

Bandcamp is great. For the artists which I discovered either through Soundcloud or YouTube and have a Bandcamp page, I will follow and receive updates via email. It's a nice system for smaller artists who don't have newsletter support from small to large labels.

Cknight70 9y ago

I'd have to agree with you. What I've been doing lately is clicking on interesting album art in the recently purchased feed on their homepage. It amazes me how often I can guess what genre an album is just from the album art alone, I'll find around 10 new artists I really like within an hour of just clicking on album art.

KozmoNau7 9y ago

Bandcamp is totally awesome. For an albums that truly resonate with me, I do listen to them on Spotify, but I'll also buy them on Bandcamp, to directly support the artists.

kingosticks 9y ago

Except they have no streaming API so I can't use it with my normal audio player software. I am forced to stream it in a browser. I'm out.

thirdsun 9y ago
It's not a streaming service. You buy your music there and own it.
- kingosticks 9y ago
  Nope. The streaming API used to be available to 3rd parties but they closed it all off some years ago. "Digital Album Streaming + Download Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more."
  - thirdsun 9y ago
    Well, yes, you can stream your purchases (via browser or bandcamp app), but it's obviously not their focus, and certainly not comparable to all-you-can-eat-services like Spotify.
    - kingosticks 9y ago
      You are totally right. I'm just ticked off about the fact that lots of bands I like make their new stuff streamable on there before it's released elsewhere. I find it very awkward to access that stuff. For me, in that situation, bandcamp just feels like a botched attempt at a streaming service. Especially when I remember it used to be better in this regard.
      - thirdsun 9y ago
        My guess is that streaming isn't a key feature for Bandcamp users/listeners. They use the platform to actually purchase, download and own music, to add it to their offline collections and libraries that will still be there when a streaming service shuts down (rip rdio) or licensing deals change and your favorite albums disappear from Spotify and Co. (It happens). At least that's how I, as a frequent music buyer and collector, use Bandcamp. Concerning the artists that prioritize Bandcamp: Don't forget that most artists don't make any money via streaming - of course they push the channel that actually provides revenue and actual, meaningful sales.

lovehashbrowns 9y ago

This is amazing!! I'm so glad I checked this out. Thank you for linking it. I've already found so many artists that I otherwise wouldn't have found via Spotify, and I already know this is gonna be hurting my wallet in the next few months. :D I'm seriously so happy right now!