Topshelf Records claims Bandcamp asked them to stop supporting company’s unionization efforts
Employees at Bandcamp, which is owned by Epic Games, announced the intent to form a union in March 2023.
Bandcamp United press image via Bandcamp United.
Management for Bandcamp contacted Topshelf Records on Friday (April 7) and asked them to cease its support for the music platform’s nascent union, Bandcamp United, according to a statement from the record label’s official Twitter account.
Topshelf says that the label was “petitioned to cease supporting [Bandcamp United],” a request they declined. “[W]e fully support @bandcampunited and want to see the platform that espouses to champion independent music do so equally for their staff.” Bandcamp’s workers announced their intention to form a union in March; since then, they claim that the company has engaged in union-busting, delayed the official election, and hired Foley & Lardner LLP, a group which specializes in “counsel on union avoidance considerations.”
In March 2022, Bandcamp was purchased by Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. Topshelf’s thread was critical of this sale, saying that Bandcamp “fucked up” in its decision. “Bandcamp is now a third party platform owned by a billion dollar tech company who see them as a content farm for Fortnite and leverage in their ongoing case against Apple more-so than the vibrant music community that it is and has been for 10+ years,” the thread reads.
“[A] unionized workforce keeps the integrity of Bandcamp, the music company intact within the context of Epic, the tech company,” Topshelf wrote. Find the full statement below. The FADER has reached out to Bandcamp, Topshelf Records, and Foley & Lardner LLP for more information. Bandcamp United declined to comment and linked to a recent campaign call from April 4 describing allegations of union busting.
we were contacted by @Bandcamp management and petitioned to cease supporting @bandcampunited. to be clear: we fully support @bandcampunited and want to see the platform that espouses to champion independent music do so equally for their staff. let them vote immediately.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
2/n Bandcamp is a music company. it is the defacto marketplace for independent music. but it is a third party platform bought by a multi-billion dollar tech corporation which is showing why we as a music community should be critical and why its staff should be diligent.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
it is possible to love a thing and be critical of it and hold it to the highest standard. a unionized workforce keeps the integrity of Bandcamp, the music company intact within the context of Epic, the tech company. a @bandcampunited Bandcamp is a better @Bandcamp for all of us.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
Bandcamp fucked up by selling to Epic Games. can’t say that more plainly. higher ups at Bandcamp are signaling they plan to continue down that path of ignoring the community they serve when they reach out to labels like us to union bust.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
more of our peers should be signaling support for the staff at the loudest voice in the room right now for independent music. i encourage anyone who follows us to follow @bandcampunited and to tell @Bandcamp you want to see them allowed to hold a vote to unionize.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
ultimately, Bandcamp is now a third party platform owned by a billion dollar tech company who see them as a content farm for Fortnite and leverage in their ongoing case against Apple more-so than the vibrant music community that it is and has been for 10+ years.
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
that community built bandcamp more than any dev or marketing team and it can and will move on to something else that respects and serves it better. we’re all watching this @Bandcamp @EpicGames @FoleyandLardner. don’t contact us again about union busting. allow this vote. ty
— topshelf records (@topshelfrecords) April 7, 2023
This post was updated on Friday, April 7 at 6:21 p.m. to include a link to Bandcamp United's recent campaign call and to correct the status of union: Bandcamp United announced their intention to form a union in March; the vote has not yet taken place.