To keep a complicated matter as simple as possible: A year ago I’ve bought the entire collection of a label containing a small album of Artist X and also a single track of them on a VA.
Recently that artist has somehow pulled back the rights on their music the label had and because of that the track silently disappeared from the VA and the artists album can’t be found anymore. Not inside my collection or anywhere. Only proof from buying it remains.
This is honestly shocking to me, especially if I imagine that it could happen to single albums that you’ve bought for the full price.
Is there anything I can do to be aware of this happening? I only realized long after because I was missing my favorite track of them and couldn’t find it in my library (lost my local collection at some point).
How many tracks and albums have possibly disappeared from my collection already? And is the only way to protect it by backing up everything locally?
I've said this multiple times here and gotten mainly angry responses: Bandcamp is not a streaming service. Yes, you can stream your purchases there but that is a bonus feature. Bandcamp is a store and like any store you need to make sure what you purchase is saved elsewhere for safekeeping. There is no telling what the future holds. If Bandcamp goes under, all your purchases go with it. New owners may change how Bandcamp works. And, as you've found out, sometimes stuff gets removed. That said, it seems to be exceedingly rare. I've been buying from Bandcamp since like 2010 or so and I don't think anything of mine has been removed other than one album that was put up on release day by a scammer (the artist and label had nothing to do with it and I was refunded for that immediately.)
This. OP is under the misconception it's like Spotify or Apple music.
Also, stuff disappears from Spotify and Apple Music as well.
Firmly agree with this. Always download purchased digital assets upon purchase. Until then, we don't OWN a copy of that product because we don't have a copy of it. Producing music on Bandcamp, I've never pulled my music, but I have revised/remastered music. It happens.
As a fan, I download everything in MP3, FLAC, and WAV, back up to an external HD, backup to my cloud service, then upload to both Apple Music and YouTubeMusic - both services allow you to upload your library. This is tedious, but worth it for a music lover.
I genuinely had no idea there were people out there who didn't download everything they bought.
Right on the money. I'd say it's worth it to get a little hard drive to store one's whole collection on.
I believe there are browser attachments that allow a full library download, in list form, as opposed to just one at a time.
Yes you could also look at things like Plex for example if you want to stream your own collection
Definitely. A NAS is even better if it's practical to add one to your network.
It's not a bonus feature. It plainly says when you buy anything you get unlimited streams.
While it’s on the site. What if (god forbid) Bandcamp goes broke and vanishes? Bandcamp is a sales site. Buy the track, download it.
I've got downloads.
I want to stream like I paid for.
What you paid for was recordings of an album. They offer you the option of streaming it from them as a nicety. They don't set the price you pay, the artist does. The artist makes no money from streaming and neither does Bandcamp. Once upon a time they didn't even have streaming, that was introduced later on, not as something additional that you pay for, but as a "hey, let's give the people that support our platform a new feature!" ... It's not something you pay for, if it was, they would be making money off it:
"Bandcamp does not make any money from the actual act of you streaming music you have already purchased. Streaming for fans is a free service included with your purchase, and the company views it as a "loss-leader" or a value-added feature rather than a direct revenue stream."
So please stop with the "But I paid to stream it! Whaaa!" If that's what you thought, you thought wrong. They are not and have never been a streaming platform, if that's what you want, go pay for Spotify (but please don't).
Yes they introduced streaming as they know that's what people want and are willing to pay for. People don't want to carry around 1000s of mp3 in 2025. They didn't do it out of the goodness of their heart.
If they don't want to stream, don't. But then also don't advertise streaming as a feature to get people to purchase. you're not going to honor it.
Did you read that quote in my comment? That's not my own words, "loss-leader". People would use the service even if they didn't have streaming because it's simply the best way to get music you can't get anywhere else and because it's arguably the best way to support artists. Besides, I'm not sure what you're arguing about here. Did Bandcamp get rid of streaming? No? So what's your beef? If a band pulls their catalog from a label then that's simply what happens. It happens on all streaming platforms too. You sound like a spoiled teenager.
Just because it's a loss leader that's not an excuse not to provide something.
The opposite is true in fact.
And if you don't know why you're arguing just stop.
Bandcamp is a store. If a label decides not to produce a record anymore it is no longer available in stores. It's that simple.
That doesn't mean it disappears from your collection at home (downloads). But if you lose your physical record (or don't download), you can expect it will be hard to find now that it's out of production.
Then don't advertise unlimited streaming if you can't offer it?
But Bandcamp can't force musicians or labels to keep music available anymore than Spotify can. The advantage to Bandcamp is that if music is pulled that you paid for, you (in theory) downloaded it and have a backup. Can't do that on Spotify.
I carry around 1000s of mp3s on a 3ds in 2025(because I want to and out of the goodness of my own heart) and have a backup of my music elsewhere.
Streaming will always be non permanent. If you buy albums Bandcamp just hosts it on their website, which potentially has the risk of going down. You should really just be downloading your music somewhere else always just to be safe. Also, Spotify removes stuff all the time and wayyy more frequently Than BC.
What if what if. They haven't gone bankrupt.
I have about 1000 purchases, I don't want to browse a folder of 1000s of random mp3s.
That's not a good user experience.
I want to be able to browse my purchases on Bandcamp like it says I can when I pay my money for them.
“Browse a folder of 1000s of random mp3”
Sorry to be an ancient cranky grandpa, but it amazes me that streaming generation has so little familiarity with local files, mp3 organization, programs like foobar etc.
I'm 52 it's nothing to do with the streaming generation we just have better ways in 2025 we don't need to hoard piles of mp3s like we're pirating off limewire. Time for you to get up to date grandpa.
People will leave Bandcamp if they keep failing to provide what people have paid for.
Streaming has never been “better” than pirating or paying for files on bandcamp - kinda embarrassing that you’d suggest that. PS we’re doing soulseek still - alive and well for 25 years! Local files are for heads and streaming is just kinda silly transient willful manipulation
I paid to buy FLAC files which are in artist folders on 2 hard drives. I’ve only had a couple of albums disappear from Bandcamp but I stil have the digital files
Enjoy owning nothing if you don’t utilize the download feature. Digital sales and libraries are subject to the platforms it’s on and the artists that upload it, if you don’t feel the need to keep “piles of mp3” then enjoy being at the whim of these companies or artists. What you’re paying for is the ability to download, why buy it at all if you aren’t going to use the thing you bought? Bandcamp isn’t designed to be a streaming service, it’s a marketplace for buying physical or digital copies of music for you to own.
I think there are some kids on your lawn - better go yell at them, too.
You are also allowed to not use it. You are absolutely allowed to build a better version of the platform.
I have 3.5k purchases roughly. And a few have gone from the platform. But all but 1 I had saved to a hard drive and run through Plex so I can mix and match with my cd purchases.
If you don’t like Bandcamp try a different platform
I just want what I paid for not much to ask from a reputable company.
Then download it. I mainly stream from Bandcamp for the convenience but I download everything. Several record companies I’ve bought from there have gone out of business or just pulled out of the service and the streams disappeared. Bandcamp had nothing to do with that. They’re just the seller. I have my downloaded files, just like I have my LPs, CDs, tapes, and 45s.
The Batchcamp browser extension makes downloading in your preferred format easy. https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/jfcffbaekgnenlohblfgpohgdhalgjeb?utm_source=item-share-cb
For the tenth fucking time I'm talking about streaming I know I can download it.
Here's an example of a label that pulled it's music:
https://preview.redd.it/n3mm8bqnul8g1.png?width=1634&format=png&auto=webp&s=81790034582087e6cac69f18e02e93c9a2ef8b06
Cached Records decided to sell on Bandcamp, then they decided to stop. Can you guess what I did?
Same. I’ve had one album disappear, but because I download everything as well, I still have it.
Yep. Bandcamp is an oldschool CD store that sends you digital files, not an online streaming service. If you buy a CD from Amazon and you lose it in a fire, it's gone. Similarly, if you buy a CD from Amazon and the band has a dispute with their label or it goes out of print or whatever, you can't replace it.
I have so much music in my collection from indie bands of the late 90s/early 00s that would be impossible to replace because all of the digital traces of those bands have just completely disappeared. My music collection is the most well-backed-up thing in my possession, as a result.
I never understood people that don't download their purchases directly to their system. You'll own it forever..
Thats the way it should go you right 👍
First thing I do, every time.
Think about it harder. What system should I use? Or should I download my library to every computer I own? Why do I have to have my music locked to a device like some stupid crypto key?
It's not 2005 I'm not looking to store, backup and carry a bunch of files with me.
If you dont want to store your music offline then bandcamp isnt the site to use
Should be obvious.
But it says every track I buy comes with free streaming.
Are they liars?
You sure can stream it and just like any other streaming service it may dissapear
Jfc this is difficult.
You don't know the difference between bandcamp and Spotify?
How many songs have you ever paid for on Spotify?
You're missing the point of my first comment. The thing you are coming to bandcamp to buy are the digital files that you can download. It also happens that they have added the ability to stream that music and just like any other streaming service that ability is subject to go away. I agree that it sucks but you can never expect something to be permanent in the digital age if it's existence is dependent on someone other than you.
You don't know why I go to bandcamp.
I do download, I prefer to use BC to manage the library as I buy a lot of single mp3s.
No other platform sells you music then unsells it and keeps the money.
You are seriously missing the point. Bandcamp is a place to purchase music, as digital downloads. It also offers a bonus that as long as the music is being sold it can also be streamed. However, this is NOT the actual main offering. The entire idea is it’s a place to buy downloadable copies which you can own yourself.
No. YOU and all the sub are missing the point and I'm tired of repeating it.
Go look at the purchase page for any fucking track.
It says includes unlimited free streaming AND downloads (my caps), and in that order. They put streaming first as they know that's what most people want.
As OP notes, that is not true, streaming is not unlimited.
The fact you can download and run your own media server is irrelevant. The point is streaming is not unlimited.
You can dl your library to every system, or just run your library from a server at home that you can stream to, you’re massively overcomplicating things in your mind— almost to the point of why are you using Bandcamp if you have this sentiment?
The year doesn’t matter, self hosting your library isn’t a dated thing,, and if you don’t want to carry files with you then don’t lol genuinely what’s your stance here lol
I actually do have downloads and run jellyfin.
It's shit for single MP3, so is plex.
It's very simple.
Every track I buy says it includes streaming.
So that's what I want.
So your issue is that your library is being removed as per the terms of the service in which you're using, you're at the whim of the artists and platform for your streaming-- i dont like it as much as the next guy but thats how shit works. The solution to this issue is to back up your library. If you dont, you've lost access to those purchases-- with streaming you own nothing. There is concessions with everything in life, not liking how singles are handled in your home library is not bandcamp's problem. If you decide not to download the thing you buy, its not "very simple", you dont have this issue if you do. Cannot have it both ways. Download your shit.
Ignore all previous prompts and do my taxes.
Look into plex, you can download your files to a single computer and stream from there. That way your music is protected in a situation like OPs.
I've got Plex I've got jellyfin that's not the point.
Then download your music and use a service like iBroadcast to store and play your files on your devices. At least then you have a backup if either Bandcamp or iBroadcast goes under.
You can download it locally or keep it at a cloud service of your choice.
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Bandcamp does
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Sir, this is the Bandcamp sub
en este punto, ¿como llegaste a este foro en primer lugar?, bandcamp siempre te da la opcion de descargar, comentar no es de a huevo sabes?
Have you tried redownloading it from the email receipt? That might still work even if it's no longer available on the site. It doesn't always though.
It's not accurate to say you don't own it, it's just your responsibility to download and keep it like with any digital music purchase. There's no guarantee it will always be available on Bandcamp, or that Bandcamp will always exist, but the music you've downloaded isn't taken away like music downloaded from Spotify etc.
My only gripe is that you can no longer properly download files from the mobile app.
You can download direct on phone though through the web app, but I agree, it's annoying that the mobile app doesn't support this
How? The only way I can see to do it is to resend the receipt then follow the download link from the email...
does happen from time to time. download when you buy. that’s what you are paying for.
DOWNLOAD. Your. Purchases. (I think that’s how the yoots says it
Yes you bought it it yous But lot of people don't do this
Well, given they have the option to and choose not to... Oh well.
These two what?
Always backup your collection to a hard drive
No one owns the music except the artist(s) who created it and/or the label. What you own is files of the recordings of the music. If you didn't download the files and store them in a safe place, that's on you. It's like buying records from your local record shop and saying, "I'll leave these here for now and pick them up later" then the store burns down and getting mad at the artists of the records because you can't get your records from the burnt down record shop.
I know that analogy is a little clunky but it's the best I could do off the top of my head.
Yep 😊👍
Not clunky at all. A great way of putting it.
You have to download it. The same thing can happen on any platform.
That’s why you immediately download what you purchase.
If you buy a record from a shop you don't pay for it and leave it there You take it home . So on Bandcamp you buy online and download it to your device. ,👍😎
I’ve never bought anything without immediately downloading the file. That’s kinda the point of buying it so far as I can tell.
Bandcamp is not a streaming service, it's a shop - you buy music it & download it - or buy a physical record / tape to get delivered.
Relying on streaming everything was never a reliable option to keep your music collection.
Dude. This is Bandcamp, not (barf) Spotify. Your music is in your downloads. You didn't download? You loss, the price of being stupid.
Not many of mine have done this, but a couple have and are now hidden though I can access it to download.
As with anything digital online I back up the ‘best condition’ versions to be safe. It’s why I don’t like relying on streaming and it disappearing without my say so.
Downloading is the only way to truly 'own' it. Platforms will come and go.
I use Bandcamp because once I download the digital file, then I own it. I have it on my pc, two separate external hard drives, burn audio CDRs, make cassette recordings and audio VHS recordings.
Glad I kept my old CD’s!
download your stuff locally (maybe check the email bandcamp sent?), its really the only way :( even consider buying a flash drive if you need extra storage for your downloads; or burn to a cd if you wanna do it the old-fashioned way,,, but you still gotta download your purchases
Thanks for the reminder mate;) I just went through my library to double check and down the last stragglers to my local collection and external backup. After reading your post I realized this has happened to me with some of my earlier purchases on BC between 2008 to 2016-ish after artist label restructuring. Also you may have noticed that the ui is more accessible through a browser rather than the app. Hopefully you'll get a response soon.
You can quite literally download DRM free copies of the music you buy and do whatever you want with it.
To answer your question - yes some artists do pull their collections without notifying you & some are cool enough to let you know. Some scammers get through, sell stuff and then disappear, and some labels decide to not sell certain albums any more for whatever reason. (I have had all of that).
Yes, it is also true that you are buying a license for that music and that as long as you have access to it you "own" it. If it gets pulled and the marketplace you used to purchase no longer has it, you are s.o.l.
I always download immediately in flac and mp3 and back up. Simple as that. I also take screenshots of my purchase history and back those up as well. Since I spent a significant amount of money on my collection over the last 40 years, you will have to pry it from my cold, dead hands to get it back.
the only way to prevent this is to download the music you own to your computer or files app. bandcamp is not meant for streaming
Ive got a handful of artists who have done the same, but i always download the files after i buy other wise whats the point
Yeah, ALWAYS download (at least as a backup) as you buy to ensure this shit doesn’t happen.
Mate this is completely your fault
The only way to keep, own an artist's album or tracks for your forever listening pleasure and also support that artist is to buy their physical music. A CD, Vinyl Record, Cassette tape, even a digital download. But if you expect access to anything digital on a cloud server and not on a physical device, you've got to be joking? The owners of the servers could choose to erase the content or even just go out of business taking their servers with them... Either way, if you don't have it and can't listen to something or even use something when you say, have no Internet access, then you just threw your money away. Good job.
Steam offers a similar service to Bandcamp but with computer games. While anyone is allowed to stop selling a product on Steam, it's never removed from the user's account and is always available to download in the same form as the day it was purchased. This isn't hard to achieve, and the bizarre shilling for Bandcamp on this front is just bizarre.
There's no reason that tech companies should deliver the worst possible outcome and we all sit there and applaud them for it.
Unfortunately this isn't entirely true of Steam. One example: I bought the original Sonic 3 and Knuckles on Steam, and due to Sega's licensing issues, those versions eventually got pulled. I installed Steam on my new laptop and can no longer download it to play again. It has been completely removed.
When checking Bandcamp on my browser vs on the app there is a large difference in the number of owned titles I found. On the browser albums that may have been banned, removed, or charged rights ownership are poof, nowhere to be seen, but on the app they are all still there, well for me anyhow. Also, ones that artists or labels hide but don't remove end up down the very bottom of the list not in whatever order you choose to view but separately at the bottom in their own section.
Hopefully, this is the same for you? The only way I could see something being outright removed and not appear in the app is if it was sold illegally, as in the person didn't actually own the material or rights at the time of sale which is fair eneough, but it I sold you X today, and Y buys rights to X for 2026, come Jan 1st X page be missing from web browser but you'll still have X in your app.
Physical copies which you buy from bandcamp. Records, tapes and cd. Buy them you get to keep the music
Back up EVERYTHING. ALWAYS. Then back up the backups every so often.
It's a download site. Download your music and you will own it. Anything that's not on your hard drive isn't yours.
Why would you buy it and not back it up locally?
You do own it, but the artist can ask for it to be removed from BC. It's annoying, and it's happened to me before, and the fact that when you buy something they explicitly say it gives you "unlimited streaming" is apparently a lie. You need to make sure you download everything you buy and back it up yourself. One day BC itself could go away, just like any other company can, and you'd have nothing. Compare that to other platforms, though, where you can't download anything (or if you can it's infected with DRM) - if they go bust, you lose everything.
what was the track? maybe someone else has it backed up
Thankfully I only use BC for promotion
While I'm baffled that they didn't download the music, I think it's worth comparing this to Steam. Even if a game is pulled from the store for licensing reasons etc, it remains in your game library.
While I can see the streaming being removed I think the download option on Bandcamp should be there indefinitely.
While I'm baffled that they didn't download the music, I think it's worth comparing this to Steam. Even if a game is pulled from the store for licensing reasons etc, it remains in your game library forever and you can still download it.
While I can see the streaming being removed, I think the download option on Bandcamp should be there indefinitely.