Epic Video games, maker of hit online game Fortnite and Unreal Engine has acquired on-line music retailer and direct-to-fan platform Bandcamp.
In a press release revealed by Epic, the corporate says that Bandcamp will play an “essential function” in its “imaginative and prescient to construct out a creator market ecosystem for content material, know-how, video games, artwork, music and extra”.
The information follows the agency’s acquisition in November of Harmonix, creator of the favored Rock Band and Dance Central franchises for an undisclosed sum.
On the time, Epic Video games, which is backed by Sony Corp and carries a $28 billion+ valuation – hinted at formidable plans in music, stating that it will collaborate carefully with Harmonix “to develop musical journeys and gameplay for Fortnite” and that Harmonix will proceed to assist current titles together with Rock Band 4.
The corporate additionally claimed that, as it really works “to construct the metaverse”, the Harmonix staff’s “experience is required to reimagine how music is skilled, created and distributed”.
Epic’s acquisition of Bandcamp marks a fair deeper enlargement into the music enterprise.
Asserting its acquisition in the present day (March 2), Epic states that “Truthful and open platforms are essential to the way forward for the creator economic system”.
The corporate provides: “Epic and Bandcamp share a mission of constructing probably the most artist pleasant platform that allows creators to maintain the vast majority of their hard-earned cash”.
Epic has been getting nearer and nearer to the music trade over the previous few years.
The agency’s flagship sport Fortnite has served as a well-attended digital efficiency and video premiere area for a variety of main stars, whereas its Unreal Engine is used as the inspiration for 3D music movies created by Sony Music‘s Immersive Music Studios.
In a weblog publish revealed in the present day, Bandcamp’s co-founder and CEO writes that Bandcamp will proceed to function as a standalone market and music neighborhood, and he’ll proceed to steer its staff.
“Bandcamp’s mission is to assist unfold the therapeutic energy of music by constructing a neighborhood the place artists thrive by the direct assist of their followers.”
Ethan Diamond, Bandcamp
“Bandcamp’s mission is to assist unfold the therapeutic energy of music by constructing a neighborhood the place artists thrive by the direct assist of their followers,” stated Ethan Diamond, CEO and co-founder of Bandcamp.
“In Epic, we’ve discovered a accomplice who believes as deeply as we try this the way forward for music, and artwork itself, is determined by the creation of equitable and inclusive communities just like the one our followers and artists have helped to construct.
“We’re excited to work alongside the Epic staff to speed up the belief of our mission and pursue our shared purpose of empowering extra creators in a good and open manner.”
“Bandcamp has constructed an unimaginable neighborhood and enterprise the place up and coming artists can succeed due to the direct assist of their followers, with top-of-the-line income fashions and phrases in music.”
Steve Allison, Epic Video games
Steve Allison, Vice President and Normal Supervisor, Retailer at Epic Video games, added: “We couldn’t be extra excited to welcome the Bandcamp staff to Epic Video games.
“Bandcamp has constructed an unimaginable neighborhood and enterprise the place up and coming artists can succeed due to the direct assist of their followers, with top-of-the-line income fashions and phrases in music.
“This aligns carefully with Epic’s strategy to supporting creators throughout all media and enabling them to attach straight with their followers.”
You’ll be able to learn Ethan Diamond’s weblog publish in full under:
I’m excited to announce that Bandcamp is becoming a member of Epic Video games, who it’s possible you’ll know because the makers of Fortnite and Unreal Engine, and champions for a good and open Web.
Bandcamp will maintain working as a standalone market and music neighborhood, and I’ll proceed to steer our staff. The services and products you depend upon aren’t going anyplace, we’ll proceed to construct Bandcamp round our artists-first income mannequin (the place artists web a mean of 82% of each sale), you’ll nonetheless have the identical management over the way you provide your music, Bandcamp Fridays will proceed as deliberate, and the Each day will maintain highlighting the varied, superb music on the location. Nonetheless, behind the scenes we’re working with Epic to increase internationally and push improvement ahead throughout Bandcamp, from fundamentals like our album pages, cell apps, merch instruments, cost system, and search and discovery options, to newer initiatives like our vinyl urgent and dwell streaming companies.
Since our founding in 2008, we’ve been motivated by the pursuit of our mission, which is to assist unfold the therapeutic energy of music by constructing a neighborhood the place artists thrive by the direct assist of their followers. That easy concept has labored properly, with funds to artists and labels closing in on $1 billion USD. And whereas through the years we’ve heard from different firms who needed us to hitch them, we’ve all the time felt that doing so would solely be thrilling in the event that they strongly believed in our mission, had been aligned with our values, and never solely needed to see Bandcamp proceed, but in addition needed to supply the sources to deliver much more profit to the artists, labels, and followers who use the location. Epic ticks all these packing containers. We share a imaginative and prescient of constructing probably the most open, artist-friendly ecosystem on the earth, and collectively we’ll have the ability to create much more alternatives for artists to be compensated pretty for his or her work.
Whether or not you joined Bandcamp lately or have been with us for the reason that starting 14 years in the past, thanks for being part of this unimaginable neighborhood, and we sit up for serving you for a few years to return!
Ethan Diamond
Bandcamp co-founder and CEOMusic Enterprise Worldwide
