Bandcamp Fridays approach their first birthday

If you’re a fan of an independent musician who’s been trying to cobble together a living without touring or gig income, or if you’re just generally concerned with artists’ well-being during the pandemic, you probably already know about Bandcamp Fridays. But just in case, here are the basics: on the first Friday of most months since last March, digital music retailer Bandcamp has been passing along its usual cut of sales to artists and labels. By incentivizing fans to spend during these 24-hour periods, Bandcamp hopes to provide musicians some financial relief until the pandemic eases its grip. During the nine Bandcamp Fridays in 2020, sales on the site totaled $40 million.

The Reader has made a habit of rounding up all the music available via Bandcamp that’s appeared in the paper’s coverage since the previous Bandcamp Friday. I hope you not only give these releases your ear but also read what our contributors wrote about them. And if you want more, I highly recommend checking out our Bandcamp roundups from March, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December, and February. Happy listening!