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Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

variety.com

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Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#121

Post by kinnth »

siver_john wrote: post #22

This feels like a major blow, as someone who just semi recently (probably around pandemic start) started getting into purchasing flac music from indie artists, Bandcamp was a great source of music. I understand nothing will change in the short term, but long term I am very concerned. Especially as streaming becomes more dominant and companies are less willing to provide flac based music and physical discs (where I ca…

I still think Epic will allow download and ownership of FLAC files. They are quite open to ownership of content, I believe what they are trying to build is a stronger moat around their "app store". Longer term I think they will be looking to force Apple/Google to allow 3rd party app stores onto their platforms and in doing so need content.

This is a play to get content and direct relationships with producers, I don't think they will change the business model.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#122

Post by BaseballPhysics »

eezurr wrote: post #20

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Games#Acquisitions This appears to be the first company they are acquiring that is outside of the video game industry. This may start a new era for Epic Games. I wonder what direction they are going to take? I'd guess a new player in the multi-media field, but I really dont know.

> This appears to be the first company they are acquiring that is outside of the video game industry.

ArtStation also falls outside the core videogame industry and would seem to be similar to Bandcamp, insofar as its a two way marketplace connecting artists with fans.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#123

Post by minusf »

noyesno wrote: post #50
siver_john wrote: post #22

This feels like a major blow, as someone who just semi recently (probably around pandemic start) started getting into purchasing flac music from indie artists, Bandcamp was a great source of music. I understand nothing will change in the short term, but long term I am very concerned. Especially as streaming becomes more dominant and companies are less willing to provide flac based music and physical discs (where I ca…

Qobuz offers both streamed music and flac purchases from their store.

is it known how they are compensating the artists? the main reason why i am boycotting spotify.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#124

Post by joemi »

mdoms wrote: post #89
AlexandrB wrote: post #3

> Bandcamp will keep operating as a standalone marketplace and music community... 40% of which will be owned by Tencent, possibly more in the future based on the whims of Tim Sweeney and the performance of Epic's primary business (Video Games). Really unfortunate to see an independent source for music become part of a huge conglomerate.

Epic Founder and CEO Tim Sweeney has addressed this a number of times and so far given no reason to doubt it, > I’m the controlling shareholder in Epic Games, and have been since 1991. We have a number of outside investors now. Tencent is the largest. All of Epic’s investors our friends and partners. None can dictate decisions to Epic. None have access to Epic customer data. > Tencent is a Chinese company founded in…

Defending one's investors is expected and fairly meaningless, though, isn't it?

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#125

Post by SahAssar »

This is incredibly disappointing. I bought quite a bit from bandcamp, to both support the platform and the artists, and I don't think epic should be the middleman in that transaction. Thanks, I hate it.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#126

Post by minusf »

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #69
prox wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tidal pays better than most other streaming services afaik. It’s sad to see Bandcamp go. Because in tech an acquisition means loss of that independence.

As a chronic music pirate- I love Bandcamp. I've purchased more music through Bandcamp than anywhere else. I'm not going to let myself be bummed by this news until Bandcamp actually changes for the worse. Once again everybody is letting themselves be upset by some hypothetical scenario where the new owners drive the service into the ground.

i am old. it's not the first takeover i have seen. it's for a reason many people are sceptical here.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#127

Post by danShumway »

Was Bandcamp draining money or something? Were they not profitable?

I hate this. Why does everything need to roll up into other companies. I don't want anything Epic is bringing to the table, and every interaction they've had with open platforms as a business has been negative as far as I can see.

I hate how much consolidation is going on right now.

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#128

Post by danShumway »

HellDunkel wrote: post #37

Lots of disappointed comments here. Would you guys really prefer seeing bandcamp beeing bought by Apple?

Why on earth are those the two options?

Somebody breaks into my house and tracks mud all over the floor, and the response is, "well, would you rather they killed your dog? It could have been worse."

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#129

Post by merlincorey »

efficax wrote: post #114
merlincorey wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You must have missed the recent news about Simon Peyton Jones leaving Microsoft for Epic Games[0], then. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29131996

Staff moves at that level are a lot different than your average joe, huge paychecks involved and lots of insulation from the product org

Are you suggesting the primary reason SPJ moved to Epic Games is because they offered him more money than Microsoft?

Reading the message from SPJ[0] seems to indicate he is excited for the people and projects he will be working on as well as being given the freedom to continue working on education, functional programming research, and continuing to work in the Haskell ecosystem.

Of course large amounts of money are involved for an engineer of SPJ's renown and experience - that requirement exists for any company that want's SPJ's time.

[0] https://discourse.haskell.org/t/an-epic-future-for-spj/3573

Re: Epic Games acquires Bandcamp

#130

Post by enraged_camel »

superkuh wrote: post #71
zippergz wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Nothing will change in the short term" is the story of every acquisition, almost all of which end up with major changes for the worse at some point. (So yes, I agree with you.)

When Epic bought the game "Rocket League" they promised not to change anything. At that time it had Windows, Linux, Mac, xbox, and playstation clients. 6 months after they aquisition they killed off the linux client (even for people who bought in-game purchases). Epic lies. It is what they do. They are the epitome of a dangerous megacorp.

Yeah, they are one of my least favorite companies in the industry.
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