The Platformization of the Music Industry - A Case Study of Bandcamp

Abstract

Today’s landscape of music consumption is increasingly dominated by streaming platforms such as Spotify or Apple Music. Their rise to popularity has not only impacted listening habits of individuals, but also the music industry as a whole. As discussed in popular as well as academic discourse, digital music platforms afford artists and listeners a variety of new opportunities, but can also be restrictive in certain aspects. This study focuses on the platform of Bandcamp which occupies a position on the fringes of the music industry. By outlining the political economy of the music industry and utilizing Actor-Network theory, Bandcamp’s claims of being an alternative platform that values artists and listeners above profit will be critically evaluated. The results of the research show that the platform stays true to its promise in some ways while contradicting it in others. Additionally, insights about the application of Actor-Network theory to the study of digital platforms will be drawn from this study as well.