Bandcamp have announced a 24-hour campaign to support musicians and artists in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
CEO and Co-Founder of online music retailer Bandcamp Ethan Diamond has announced that for a single day (this Friday, March 20th from midnight to midnight Pacific Time) the company will waive their revenue share on sales. This will mean that rights holders – artists, songwriters and musicians – will receive all the sales income for the 24 hour period.
The announcement was made via the Bandcamp blog yesterday (March 17th) and is an attempt by the company to address the financial impact of the pandemic on recording artists, singers and musicians. Diamond noted:
“…artists have been hit especially hard as tours and shows are being cancelled for the foreseeable future. With such a major revenue stream drying up almost entirely, finding ways to continue supporting artists in the coming months is now an urgent priority for anyone who cares about music and the artists who create it.”
The impact of the pandemic on musicians, DJs and other performers has already been substantial; however Diamond also drew attention to the many other roles in and around the music industry which are being adversely affected by current events.
“Many others within the music industry are being impacted as well, including record store owners and staff, tour managers, event producers, venue staff, lighting and sound professionals, janitors, photographers, bartenders, security guards, and more. We encourage you to find ways to reach out and support those affected in your local communities.”
You can read the full statement from Ethan Diamond here.
The World Health Organisation is providing up to date information on the Covid-19 pandemic.