Bandcamp alternative for artists: what changes when AI music is banned

October 26, 2026

Where do you sell your music when your store of choice changes its rules? Since 13 January 2026, Bandcamp no longer allows music generated wholly or in substantial part by AI (reported by TechCrunch). For artists whose work relies substantially on generative tools, that raises a practical question: is there another place to sell downloads directly to fans?

This article compares what matters when you pick a direct-sales store, and where bitsound fits. We covered the policy difference itself in an earlier post: https://bitsound.com/blog/en/bandcamp-bans-ai-music-bitsound-labels-it-instead

What artists actually look for in a Bandcamp alternative

Most artists who ask this question want the same few things:

Fans buy the files and keep them. No subscription, no copy protection.
A clear, fair revenue split.
Audio quality that does the recording justice.
Clear rules about what may be sold.

The numbers: who keeps what

Bandcamp keeps 15% of digital sales, dropping to 10% once an artist passes 5,000 USD in sales per year. Payment processing fees come on top.

bitsound pays artists 90% of the net price: it keeps 10% of each sale after VAT. Compare the full picture for your own pricing, because processing fees and your sales volume change the result.

Audio quality: lossless, with one caveat

Artists upload FLAC, WAV or AIFF from CD quality (16-bit/44.1 kHz) up to 24-bit/192 kHz. Buyers download exactly the files the artist uploaded, as FLAC, ALAC or WAV.

One technical point worth being precise about: lossless quality applies to the purchased download only. The 30-second preview on each release page and in-browser streaming are not lossless, so they are not a reliable way to judge the sound of the final files.

No subscription, no DRM

A purchase on bitsound is a purchase. Tracks cost 1 EUR, albums typically 8-9 EUR. The files are yours: no player lock-in, no expiring licence. Previews on release pages work without a login.

How bitsound handles AI-made music

Bandcamp's answer is a ban. bitsound's answer is disclosure. Music made with AI tools can be sold, as long as it is labelled openly. Artists state whether AI was used: no, partly or mostly. That statement is shown publicly on the release page, and it has to be accurate.

Two conditions follow from this. The statement must be true, and the licence of any AI tool used has to allow selling the result. Releases that use AI carry a visible "AI-generated" label on the release page, so buyers know what they are getting before they pay.

The point is not that AI music is better or worse. Buyers decide with full information, and artists are not forced out of a store because of their tools.

Which store fits whom

If your music is made without AI, or AI plays only a minor part, Bandcamp remains an option. Check its guidelines for where the line is drawn.
If your work relies on AI tools and you want to sell downloads openly labelled, bitsound is built for that.
If you are a listener who wants lossless files you own outright, with no subscription, both models do that; on bitsound, AI-generated releases carry a visible label.

Where bitsound stands today

bitsound is not open to every artist yet. It opens once around 20 artists have signed up. If you want to sell there, the artist page has a notification list: https://bitsound.com/for-artists?utm_source=bitsound-blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=bit-con-010

Try it as a listener

The easiest way to judge the experience is to look at a release page, play the 30-second preview and check the format details. A good example is the album "Superposition" by The Visitors: 12 tracks, 24-bit lossless, 9 EUR, released on 4 October 2026: https://bitsound.com/artists/the-visitors/album/superposition?utm_source=bitsound-blog&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=bit-con-010