Bandcamp’s Charitable Opportunity for Artists

This morning, I mentioned that Bandcamp plans to donate its sales revenue to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund this June 19 and every June 19 after that. I failed to mention that tomorrow, June 5, is another one of Bandcamp’s monthly artist-appreciation days, with the platform paying out 100% of sales to its artists and labels.

There are inspiring examples of the two ideas coming together. Many labels, bands, and artists are taking advantage of Bandcamp’s full payment of sales by pledging that amount to civil rights organizations. For example, I received a message from the cool label Music From Memory. Starting tomorrow, the label is donating ‘all profits’ to Black Lives Matter-related organizations for the next two weeks, which includes tomorrow and June 19. An interesting side-note: Music From Memory hails from Amsterdam, not our troubled USA.

Bandcamp is providing a list of labels and artists with special offers for tomorrow’s percentage holiday, including those giving to charities that can help in this time of civil unrest and tragedy. Many artists and labels that aren’t necessarily relying on Bandcamp income understand the power of redirecting this money to worthy causes. I hope Bandcamp keeps running the monthly ‘waiving-our-percentage’ days long after COVID-19. The gesture not only supports artists but also gives those artists a means to publicly support organizations fighting for issues important to them.

Update: Yes, there’s also this to consider.