Unfair Practice Claim Filed Against Songtradr and Epic Games by Bandcamp Union

The recently-established Bandcamp Union has initiated the collective bargaining process with Songtradr and Epic Games, the previous and current owners of Bandcamp, respectively.

Following the acquisition of Bandcamp, Songtradr made redundant nearly half of Bandcamp’s workforce. A significant proportion of those made redundant were Black. A spokesperson for Songtradr described the move as a “comprehensive evaluation.”

Bandcamp Union has lodged a complaint against both companies with the US National Labor Relations Board, citing unfair labour discrimination.

Before the initial acquisition, Bandcamp had garnered a great deal of goodwill from artists grappling with the challenges of the Covid pandemic. “Bandcamp Fridays” became celebrated events, furnishing added financial backing for both labels and musicians.

Recent news of the acquisition and the ensuing redundancies has caused some fans and users to distance themselves from the platform. Many are now turning to a new site called Artcore, which pledges to return up to 93 percent of sales revenue to artists and labels, among other features. Learn more here.