# Bandcamp for DIY bands and labels: a practical guide > How DIY punk bands and labels can use Bandcamp: setting up, pricing, Bandcamp Fridays, physical merch, and alternatives when you need them. - Source: https://menvafan.net/geek/bandcamp-guide-for-diy-bands/ - Section: Geek - Language: en - Published: 2026-10-17 **In short:** Bandcamp lets DIY bands and labels sell digital music and physical merch with no upfront costs, taking a 10–15% cut of sales. Artists keep most revenue, and since 2020 Bandcamp Fridays have waived fees on certain days. Setting up is free, pricing is flexible, and alternatives include DistroKid, CD Baby, and self-hosted stores. Bandcamp is a platform where DIY bands and labels can sell digital music and physical merch directly to fans. It launched in 2008 and has become a key tool for independent musicians, especially in punk and hardcore, because it lets you set up a store for free and takes a modest cut of sales. This guide covers how to get started, how to price your releases, what Bandcamp Fridays are, how to handle physical merch, and what alternatives exist. ## How do you set up a Bandcamp page? Setting up a Bandcamp artist or label account is free. You need an email address and a PayPal account to receive payments. Once you sign up, you can customise your page with a banner, bio, and links to your social media. You can upload music in MP3, FLAC, and other formats, and set prices per track or per album. Bandcamp also lets you offer a mailing list signup and embed a player on your own website. For labels, Bandcamp for Labels allows you to manage multiple artists under one account, with a shared store and separate artist pages. This is useful if you release music by several bands and want a unified shop. ## How should you price your music and merch? Bandcamp lets you set a minimum price for digital releases, and fans can pay more if they choose. A common approach for DIY punk is to set a low minimum (e.g., £3–£5 for an album) and let supporters pay extra. You can also offer name-your-price downloads, which can help spread your music widely. For physical items, you set the price plus shipping. Factor in production costs, packaging, and Bandcamp's 15% cut on merch. It's worth checking what similar bands charge on the platform to stay competitive. Bandcamp's fee structure is straightforward: 10% of digital sales and 15% of physical sales, plus payment processing fees. There are no listing fees or monthly charges. ## What are Bandcamp Fridays and how do they work? Bandcamp Fridays are days when Bandcamp waives its revenue share, meaning artists and labels receive nearly all the money from sales (minus payment processing fees). They began in March 2020 as a way to support artists during the COVID-19 pandemic and have continued intermittently since. Typically announced on Bandcamp's website and social media, these days often fall on the first Friday of the month. For DIY bands, they're a good opportunity to release new music or promote existing releases, as fans are often more willing to buy on those days. ## How do you sell physical merch on Bandcamp? Bandcamp supports physical formats including vinyl, cassettes, CDs, T-shirts, and zines. You can add these as separate items in your store, with options for variants (e.g., different vinyl colours) and bundle deals. You're responsible for shipping and fulfilment, so you'll need to set shipping rates and handle packaging. Bandcamp provides tools to track orders and print shipping labels, but it doesn't warehouse your stock. For small runs, this is manageable; for larger operations, you might consider a fulfilment service like Bandcamp's partnership with some distributors, though that's more common for bigger labels. When listing physical items, include clear photos, descriptions, and edition sizes. Be upfront about shipping times, especially for pre-orders. Punk buyers appreciate knowing whether a tape is a first pressing or a repress, and what the shipping costs are. ## What are the alternatives to Bandcamp? While Bandcamp is popular, it's not the only option. Alternatives include: - **DistroKid, CD Baby, TuneCore**: These are digital distribution services that put your music on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. They charge annual fees or one-time fees per release and take a cut (or none, in DistroKid's case). They don't offer a storefront like Bandcamp. - **Big Cartel, Storenvy, Shopify**: These are e-commerce platforms for selling physical merch. They have monthly fees but give you more control over design and inventory. You'd need to handle digital sales separately. - **Self-hosted options**: You can use WordPress with WooCommerce or Bandzoogle to build your own store. This requires more technical know-how but gives you full control and no platform cut (though you pay for hosting and payment processing). - **Other DIY-friendly platforms**: Sites like Gumroad or itch.io (for games, but sometimes used for music) offer alternative fee structures. Each alternative has trade-offs. Bandcamp's strength is its integrated approach and its community of music fans who specifically go there to support artists. If you're a DIY punk band, it's often worth having a Bandcamp presence even if you use other tools as well. For more on starting a label and distro, see our guide [Starting a small DIY punk label: tapes, vinyl and distro trades](/Musik/how-to-start-a-diy-label/). If you're making zines to accompany your releases, read [How to make a punk zine: paste, photocopy, fold, trade](/bocker/how-to-make-a-zine/). And for a broader look at DIY infrastructure, [Squats, cellars and sound: what became of Europe's DIY venues](/annat/european-squats-and-diy-venues/) covers the spaces where this music thrives. ## What are some practical tips for using Bandcamp? - **Use high-quality audio**: Upload FLAC or WAV files; Bandcamp converts them to multiple formats for buyers. - **Tag your music accurately**: Use genres like punk, hardcore, d-beat, crust to help fans find you. - **Engage with the community**: Follow other artists, leave reviews, and share your releases on Bandcamp's feed. - **Promote Bandcamp Fridays**: Let your fans know when they can support you with no platform fees. - **Bundle digital and physical**: Offer a discounted combo to encourage sales. - **Keep your page updated**: Regular releases and news keep fans coming back. Bandcamp isn't perfect—its fees add up, and it's not a streaming service—but for DIY punk, it remains one of the most direct ways to get paid for your work. Whether you're a band releasing your first demo or a label with a catalogue, it's a tool worth understanding. ## FAQ ### How much does Bandcamp take from sales? Bandcamp takes 10% of digital sales and 15% of physical merchandise sales, plus payment processing fees. Artists receive the rest. ### What are Bandcamp Fridays? Bandcamp Fridays are days (usually the first Friday of the month) when Bandcamp waives its revenue share, so artists get nearly all the money from sales. They started in 2020 as a response to the pandemic. ### Can I sell physical merch on Bandcamp? Yes. You can list vinyl, tapes, CDs, T-shirts and other items alongside digital releases. Bandcamp handles the transaction, but you fulfil orders yourself unless you use a fulfilment partner. ### What are alternatives to Bandcamp? Alternatives include DistroKid, CD Baby, and TuneCore for digital distribution; Big Cartel or Storenvy for merch; and self-hosted options like WooCommerce or Bandzoogle. Each has different fees and features.