Even vs Bandcamp: The D2C app battle of 2026

In the evolving world of Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) music platforms, choosing between Bandcamp and EVEN can be daunting. This video breaks down the key differences between these two major players—exploring discovery features, revenue sharing, project formats, and more. Whether you’re an artist or label executive, understanding these platforms could be crucial for your next move in the music industry.

00:00 - Let’s talk!
01:43 - Discovery Vs Limited Discovery
03:53 - Previews vs No Previews
06:47 - Projects vs Singles
08:08 - Revenue Share
09:14 - The Apps
09:47 - Do They Offer Fan Communities?
10:38 - But No Previews makes the music harder to sell!?
11:14 - 20% is a bit much off the top!
13:18 - If you use any of these
15:22 - If you don use a D2C platform in the next 24 months

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[waynebo]

I like the freedom of Bandcamp. I can release however I want to. I buy a lot of singles on Bandcamp as a consumer, so releasing singles makes sense if you have people who enjoy your music and want to support. As far as the "noise", you can minimize that by sharing direct links to your project.

Also, If someone listens to the songs on my album and decides not to buy, they simply aren't a fan of my music. That's the risk we all gotta take. One of the main goals is to build a fan base.

I think it does more damage to charge $10 with no previews and then they only like 3 out of 12 songs. Then your customers feel like they got burned and they definitely won't be back. And they won't be a fan.

[YariBeatsMedia]

You don't need to sign in to buy music from Bandcamp.

[secretarchivesofthevatican]

The Even site looks terrible, very 90s. It also seems very hip hop orientated and very American, which is fine but Bandcamp is a LOT wider in its scope and seems culturally much broader..

[joechapman]

These are really weird pros and cons imo. I purchase a lot of digital music and some physical media, and used to purchase a lot of physical media in the past, and these things you're saying are just not recognisable to me. Aside from being a consumer, I'm also a producer and I have lots of successful friends working in the creative and admin side of the industry (international publishers etc).

Calling limited discovery a "mechanism" is pretty odd. How can the absence of something be a mechanism? It's a choice (and a bad one imo), but it's not a mechanism.

In-store CD previews were a huge driver of sales back in the day, so much so that labels were fighting to get those listening stations, particularly bigger indie labels hustling for those spots versus the majors. The idea that you lose sales that way is not reflected by the facts, and I don't see it being a problem with Bandcamp, 7Digital, Boomkat etc either. I have bought TONS of music I wouldn't have found because of audio previews where I didn't even know what it was, and it helps me to buy the records I think I want to buy, too. Unless you think pissing off a customer with cherry-picked tracks on socmed resulting in a regretted sale is a good idea? There's a good chance that customer will never touch that artist again, so congratulations on your last sale, I guess.

How is it unfair to compare the apps? You can't say that Even's missing features are actually good things and then say the app is only young. If the app has no intention of adding the things that make Bandcamp great, then it doesn't matter how old it gets: its limits are already fixed.

Bandcamp does have a community system. You can follow customers and music creators whose taste you like, and look at what they're buying. You will also receive regular emails telling you about your follows' purchases. It's not full DMs, but it's still a community system. You can send notes to creators at the point of sale, and creators can create social posts to talk about anything that's on their mind and the other users can reply.

[jupiter_ki]

bandcamp is like soundcloud, has/had all the potential possible, BUT because they didn’t gain over success and become an apple or spotify, EVEN is going to take the bag because they’re new, fresh and ppl we gave bandcamp way to long to become the company they’d continue to evolve into .

[Born_Original]

Sounds like both platforms is a must!! decision moving forward plus im an album type artist

[joyti_jmg]

Even, is something new to me. I’ll look into it and see what it does

[BRowMusic]

so even, gives you publishing royalties and mechanical royalties? the only downside is the fact its less "Discovery" and no previews? also what would you say to an artist that is consistent with good content just low engagement through social media, would this not just be a harder way to get people to listen to your music rather than a spotify/apple music link? Really appreciate your vids man, just want some clarification.

[MYZTICTRAVLER]

wasn't an overt endorsement for EVEN though it turned out to be a overt plug for EVEN.... 😅😅😅

[musuku]

I have had Even for a few months now, but I noticed it is more project based! I have been dropping singles since I started not long ago! But my first album is about finished! So I will most likely use them as another resource to support that release. I'm have to link you fam!

[stevelanemusic]

I have not been able to check EVEN out in discovery / consumer mode. I only see “Oops, something went wrong” time and time again. I have tried it on 4 different phones, a tablet, and 3 computers. It’s black, partitioned blankness 🤷. I’m able to noodle around the artist Interface, but that’s all. Also, it seems that EVEN is aimed to urban music. Which is great, I’m a rock artist however. I’m not sure of my audience going there for Rock. I’m really digging Bandcamp though. I would be interested in EVEN if I could get into the discovery space.

[Gavenr]

Since "Even" is a new plataform, is it even worth it for new unknown/upcoming artists?
As other comment mentioned, atm it looks very north-american oriented,
so is it even worth using if someone isn't north american?

Also, this is the first time i've heard about the platform.

[jamesmccool]

Have you checked out NEWM or Audius? I would be very interested in your opinion.

[SmokeWitMeTv]

Bandcamp Does have some kind of Community feature

[Dan-TylerMusic]

Too biased towards Even when clearly its not the site to use for the consumer.
No previews means you dont know what your buying and less likely to buy, moving newbies to the background just means only big artists will be pushed to the front

[roberthinrichsmusic]

I've been trying to figure out what to do as the sand has shifted under my feet, and am so pleased to have come across your distillation of what is happening to the music business. I am interested in the business viability/sustainability case for these platforms. We have all heard that Spotify, despite its billions and greed, isn't a stable company at all, and is set to crash at some point (or maybe become a platform for listening to pre-fab AI music, and just let the artists starve). And, what impact will it have that bandcamp was acquired in 2022 and a lot of its staff were let go, and where will its parent company probably take it? Do they "get it" or does it seem they might strategically drop the ball in the new world because it is no longer autonomous? Also, as a new company, how does EVEN hold up in terms if its financial stability, etc.? In terms of investing in the services I use, stability is a factor. That's a lot of questions, sorry! haha

[bolojean-luc]

Hi !

How long "Even" music plateform exist ? Is it something new ?

[SmokeWitMeTv]

I thought u can stop Previews on Bandcamp

[dr.harmonymusic]

I really like this channel, but I was just curious do you have another channel that displays more of your personality Casey because if so, I’m interested in knowing a little more about you and what you do other than music business education.

[Joejoyoyoyo]

Hi, Have people in the UK had success with your course? 🤔 It says you can build a record label in the US…