Bandcamp bans AI generated music
- Text by Isaac Muk
- Photography by Shutterstock
Human creativity — The new policy applies to music created “wholly or in substantial part” using artificial intelligence tools, with its team reserving the right to remove any suspected tracks from the platform.
Online music record store and distribution platform Bandcamp has announced a ban on music created using generative AI.
The updated policy was revealed yesterday (January 13) via its blog, in which the company said that all music “that is wholly or in substantial part by AI” will be prohibited on the platform. It added that “any use of tools to impersonate other artists or styles is strictly prohibited”.
Any music that is suspected of being AI generated may be removed by the Bandcamp team, while reporting tools allow users to flag music that they suspect to have been made using AI.
The statement read: “Bandcamp’s mission is to help spread the healing power of music by building a community where artists thrice through the direct support of their fans. We believe that the human connection found through music is a vital part of our society and culture, and that music is much more than a product to be consumed.”
It continued: “Similarly, musicians are more than mere producers of sound. They are vital members of our communities, our culture, and our social fabric. Bandcamp was built to directly connect artists and their fans, and to make it easy for fans to support artists equitably so that they can keep making music.”
The announcement comes at a time when AI music is increasingly entering people’s feeds. Last year, The Guardian reported that an AI-generated band got 1 million plays on Spotify, while the streaming service removed 75 million “spammy” tracks from its platform between September 2024 and September 2025.
Bandcamp has a track record of attempting to give artists a fair deal. In November, Bandcamp announced that Bandcamp Fridays – when the platform waives its share of revenue to ensure that 100% goes to artists – is set to continue in 2026. The company claims that the venture has led to over $120 million (£90 million) going directly to musicians.
Isaac Muk is Huck’s digital editor. Follow him on Bluesky.
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