Scene
“A new way to collect music that matters.” – Bandcamp
Bandcamp has just introduced a new subscription model called Bandcamp Clubs, and it’s very different from the usual streaming services we know. Instead of algorithms recommending the same loop of music, this one is built around curators, DJs, writers, and artists, who hand-pick records they think deserve attention. It feels more like joining a small community than just another digital service.
For a subscription fee of $13 a month, subscribers receive one album chosen by the curator, full ownership included. Each club also comes with an artist interview and a live online listening session, giving fans a chance to connect more directly with both the music and the person behind the picks.
At launch, there are four different “clubs,” each focusing on a specific sound or scene, they are named and explained on the official Bancamp page as:
The Hard Stuff
Helmed by longtime music journalist J. Bennett, The Hard Stuff explores the world of heavy music from the underground and obscure to renowned favorites.
Dance Around the World
A global voyage via dancefloors and underground scenes around the world, Dance Around the World is guided by acclaimed UK DJ and broadcaster Jamz Supernova and stops off at electronic clubs, jazz bars, and the unclassified in between.
Kosmos Klub
Artist and DJ Ajay Saggar heads up Kosmos Klub, which will pull its monthly selection from the realms of psych, dub, krautrock, soul, gospel, free jazz, and electronica.
Jazz-ish Jazz Club
In Jazz-ish Jazz Club, iconic UK broadcaster and journalist Tina Edwards shines the light on albums across the global jazz spectrum – from UK jazz and highlife to Latin grooves, left-field electronics, and psychedelic soul.
Each curator brings their own taste and perspective, meaning the experience will differ depending on which lane you follow.
Why it matters
We already have access to more music than we can ever listen to, but most of the time it’s filtered through algorithms that keep feeding us what we already know. It can feel like you’re stuck in a loop. Bandcamp Clubs wants to break that by putting real people in charge – people who dig deeper, take risks, and bring up records you probably would not stumble on yourself.
For fans, it means less time scrolling and more time actually discovering music that feels fresh. For artists, it’s another chance to get noticed and supported, especially on a platform that has always cared about independents. And for the curators, it’s more than just putting together a playlist – it’s about sharing taste, context, and opening up conversations around the music they love.
The big question is whether listeners are ready to pay for curation in a world where streaming is basically free. But Bandcamp has built its reputation on supporting independent artists and keeping things community-focused, so this move makes sense. If it works, Clubs could become another way to keep music discovery human, social, and a little more surprising.
More information about the concept can be found here!
