5 ms·

> We know they did big layoffs Did we ever get clarification if that was blanket layoffs including their tech talent or they were mostly targeted cutting of se

by Pxtl 3y ago

> We know they did big layoffs Did we ever get clarification if that was blanket layoffs including their tech talent or they were mostly targeted cutting of secondary stuff like the journalistic wings? Which, I mean it sucks for the writers that were there, but the journalism wasn't part of Bandcamp I was using, and I assume that's the case for most others. If the tech side is still generally intact? I would assume it would stay hunky dory. Anyhow, Epic runs an e-store and generally treats its employees well and so I was fine with them taking it - there was synergy there. Songtradr seems to be mostly about hoarding music rights, and is buying up music e-stores left and right, and did a large downsizing first thing after they bought Bandcamp. I think pessimism there made sense.

iainctduncan 3y ago
I don't understand how a video game company can be seen as more of a synergy than Songtradr. Given that songradr is in the digital rights exploitation business, I would guess they are more likely to be helpful to artists. Don't forget, you can only upload original tunes to bandcamp (no covers). If songtradr wants to exploit those rights further (publishing licensing, better PRO work, etc), they have to pay the artists - which most artists would love.
- Semaphor 3y ago
  > Don't forget, you can only upload original tunes to bandcamp (no covers). What? Here’s a black metal cover of Hit me Baby (One more time): https://spider-god.bandcamp.com/track/baby https://spider-god.bandcamp.com/track/baby There are tons of covers on BC, never heard of that restriction.
  - iainctduncan 3y ago
    I don't think it gets enforced much, but it's definitely there in the terms of service and help pages. You need to have written permission from the copyright holders. This is not the same as for a "regular" release, where one only needs explicit permission if it's the first recording of the piece. (After that you can record a cover under what's called a compulsory license). When recording a cover, the seller must pay mechanical royalties to the rights holder of the composition, which Bandcamp doesn't want to do (though maybe Songtradr has plans??) and we can assume artists won't bother. Because bandcamp is selling releases (rather than just streaming), mechanicals would apply. Presumably they don't bother enforcing unless the rights holder makes a complaint. See "are covers ok" here (this predated the Songtradr acquisition, FWIW) https://bandcamp.com/terms_of_use https://bandcamp.com/terms_of_use
    - Semaphor 3y ago
      Huh, interesting. Some quick googling suggests, this is relatively new, as a new law regarding streaming services came into effect in 2021, forcing streaming services to post, and bc didn't want the hassle. Before the law, they could require the band to have a streaming license in addition to the mechanical license.
- Pxtl 3y ago
  Before the buyouts Songtradr didn't have consumer-facing e-stores -- the company was primarily B2B. Epic is a consumer company, like Bandcamp and 7Digital (the two e-music shops bought by Songtradr). Apple sells all types of digital goods - movies, music, and games/apps. Google used to sell the same 3 types of digital goods, until they decided selling music instead of renting it is an anachronism. A true merger of Epic Store and Bandcamp would give Epic a similar kind of positioning as Google and Apple. Come to our e-shop to buy and download digital goods.
  - iainctduncan 3y ago
    Which is what Epic said at the time but never did, right? Just seemed a little fishy that it was convenient for a legal battle to look like that was a plan, but then nothing came of it.

by Pxtl 3y ago

iainctduncan 3y ago

I don't understand how a video game company can be seen as more of a synergy than Songtradr. Given that songradr is in the digital rights exploitation business, I would guess they are more likely to be helpful to artists. Don't forget, you can only upload original tunes to bandcamp (no covers). If songtradr wants to exploit those rights further (publishing licensing, better PRO work, etc), they have to pay the artists - which most artists would love.

Semaphor 3y ago
> Don't forget, you can only upload original tunes to bandcamp (no covers). What? Here’s a black metal cover of Hit me Baby (One more time): https://spider-god.bandcamp.com/track/baby https://spider-god.bandcamp.com/track/baby There are tons of covers on BC, never heard of that restriction.
- iainctduncan 3y ago
  I don't think it gets enforced much, but it's definitely there in the terms of service and help pages. You need to have written permission from the copyright holders. This is not the same as for a "regular" release, where one only needs explicit permission if it's the first recording of the piece. (After that you can record a cover under what's called a compulsory license). When recording a cover, the seller must pay mechanical royalties to the rights holder of the composition, which Bandcamp doesn't want to do (though maybe Songtradr has plans??) and we can assume artists won't bother. Because bandcamp is selling releases (rather than just streaming), mechanicals would apply. Presumably they don't bother enforcing unless the rights holder makes a complaint. See "are covers ok" here (this predated the Songtradr acquisition, FWIW) https://bandcamp.com/terms_of_use https://bandcamp.com/terms_of_use
  - Semaphor 3y ago
    Huh, interesting. Some quick googling suggests, this is relatively new, as a new law regarding streaming services came into effect in 2021, forcing streaming services to post, and bc didn't want the hassle. Before the law, they could require the band to have a streaming license in addition to the mechanical license.
Pxtl 3y ago
Before the buyouts Songtradr didn't have consumer-facing e-stores -- the company was primarily B2B. Epic is a consumer company, like Bandcamp and 7Digital (the two e-music shops bought by Songtradr). Apple sells all types of digital goods - movies, music, and games/apps. Google used to sell the same 3 types of digital goods, until they decided selling music instead of renting it is an anachronism. A true merger of Epic Store and Bandcamp would give Epic a similar kind of positioning as Google and Apple. Come to our e-shop to buy and download digital goods.
- iainctduncan 3y ago
  Which is what Epic said at the time but never did, right? Just seemed a little fishy that it was convenient for a legal battle to look like that was a plan, but then nothing came of it.