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Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes: Bandcamp Starts Charging…

Hey, the free ride is over at Bandcamp, but most seem fine with the change. According to details disclosed Wednesday, the well-regarded direct-to-fan platform is moving towards a revenue-sharing model, good news for those worried about the longer-term sustainability of the company. And, good news for anyone fearing a straight-ahead subscription or advertising approach.

Details please? Starting in August, the company will start charging 15 percent of gross revenues, dropping to 10 percent for those crossing $5,000 in all-time sales. “We’ve based the percentages on what works for the business and what many of you have already told us feels fair, but there’s still plenty of time for more feedback,” announced Bandcamp’s Ethan Diamond. The rest of this month remains gratis, just like old times.

Reactions? Slapping a price tag on anything is difficult, especially if the audience is accustomed to free. But if the first twenty-or-so comments on the announcement page offer any indication, these changes are being embraced. Most deemed the shift as fair, but others were thankful that Bandcamp is implementing a plan for longer-term sustainability. “I’m happy to share revenue if it keeps Bandcamp going, because the service is the best I’ve ever used,” user Jeremiah Pena noted.

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