The artist-friendly platform has updated its policies to prohibit music created wholly or substantially by generative AI.
Bandcamp has drawn a clear line in the sand, announcing a new policy that bans music created wholly or substantially by generative AI. The move supports the platform’s long-standing mission to support artists and maintain direct connections between them and their fans.
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“Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp,” the company stated in its policy announcement. Bandcamp also explicitly prohibits using AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles, which is in line with existing policies against impersonation and intellectual property infringement.
The decision stems from Bandcamp’s core belief that music is more than content, and artists are mere content creators. The statement reads, “We believe that the human connection found through music is a vital part of our society and culture, and that music is much more than a product to be consumed. It’s the result of a human cultural dialog stretching back before the written word.”
As a platform built to connect artists directly with fans and compensate artists fairly, their stance comes as no shock. Bandcamp has consistently prioritised artist welfare—most notably through Bandcamp Fridays, launched in March 2020 at the height of the pandemic, in which the platform waives its revenue share and passes all funds from purchases directly to artists and labels. Bandcamp Fridays continue throughout 2026.
While major streaming platforms largely have remained neutral and even embraced AI tools and AI-generated music, Bandcamp’s stance will no doubt come as a breath of fresh air for artists.
