Direct sales are stronger when the rest of your release stack is connected.

VELVETEEN vs BANDCAMP

Direct sales, downloads, DSP distribution, royalties, and pitching in one release stack.

$1.99/ month — that's it.

Pro-grade delivery. AI that knows your catalog. Built for serious artists.

TL;DR

Is Velveteen better than Bandcamp?

Velveteen is not a one-for-one Bandcamp replacement. Bandcamp is still the stronger native fan marketplace for community, collections, and merch. Velveteen is better when you want direct-sale download pages connected to DSP distribution, royalty reporting, pitching, and catalog operations in one release stack.

Last reviewed 2026-06-12Published 2026-06-0815 comparison points
// What you get with Velveteen

Label tools.
Artist price.

Everything Bandcamp charges extra for — or doesn't offer at all — comes standard. Real product, built for artists and labels running six-figure catalogs.

// AI A&R

Vee runs your catalog

A tool-aware agent that validates metadata, pushes releases to every DSP, and answers questions about your royalties in plain English.

V
Vee
● Online · Haiku 4.5
Push my new single to Spotify and pitch it editorial.
Validated metadata. Artwork 3000×3000 ✓. LUFS −14 ✓.
SpotifyApple MusicAmazonYouTube
Pitch submitted for editorial consideration →
// ROYALTIES

See every dollar, across every platform

Real-time dashboards break down earnings by DSP, track, and territory. 0% commission — you keep what you earn.

Year to date
$18,420
0% fee
Spotify$11,240
Apple Music$4,128
Amazon · YouTube · 38 more$3,052
// SPLITS

Pay collaborators automatically

Configure splits once. Producers, co-writers, and features get paid direct — no spreadsheets, no chasing.

Royalty splits — auto-paid
3 ways
You · Artist60%
Producer · Mx25%
Co-writer15%
Paid direct to every collaborator
// PITCHING

Pitch editorial on every major DSP

Submit releases for Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and YouTube editorial — something most distributors don't offer.

Editorial pitch · Spotify
Draft
Reverie (Single)
Releases May 12 · 3:48
GenreAlt Indie · Dreampop
MoodLate-night · Melancholic
CultureCanadian · Vancouver
Submit pitch →

FEATURE COMPARISON

See how Velveteen stacks up against Bandcamp, feature by feature.

Feature
Velveteen
Bandcamp
Core purpose
Distribution + direct sales + catalog tools
Direct-to-fan marketplace + community
Starting price
$19/yr Artist
Free to start
Distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, and DSPs
Unlimited releases to 40+ DSPs
Commission on DSP royalties
0%
Not a DSP distributor
Direct music sales and downloads
Commission on direct digital sales
15% Free, 10% Artist, 5% Pro, 3% Label
15% digital, drops to 10% after $5k sales
Physical merch sales
10% revenue share + processor fees
Native fan marketplace and collections
Artist/release pages
DSP pitch submissions
Royalty analytics dashboard
Sales and play stats
Team management
Label plan
Label account
API access
Limited/no public artist API
Music stays live if you cancel
Existing releases stay live
Support
Email + ticket system
Help center + support queue

THE REAL COST

Artist releasing 4 singles and earning $500 from direct digital sales

Velveteen
$19/yr Artist for DSP distribution, 0% commission on royalties + $50 direct-sales fee at 10%
Bandcamp
$75 revenue share at 15% + payment processor fees

This is not a clean replacement comparison. Bandcamp is the stronger native fan marketplace for collections, community, and merch. Velveteen matches Bandcamp's standard 15% digital fee on Free, beats it on paid plans, and connects direct-sale download pages to the same system that handles Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube Music, royalties, pitching, and catalog operations.

Your music stays live — even if you cancel.
Your ISRCs and UPCs come with you.
No contracts. No lock-in. Cancel anytime.

WHAT ARTISTS SAY

It's been an absolute pleasure working with the Velveteen team, complete night and day experience. Highly recommend for artists looking to take their music to the next level!

Andy Colonico

Andy Colonico

Artist

I built Velveteen because independent artists deserve label-level tools without the label deal. Every feature exists because I needed it myself.

Babbage

Babbage

Artist

The platform makes releasing music effortless — from upload to every streaming platform. I wouldn't use anybody else.

Junyor

Junyor

Artist

FAQ

Common questions about switching from Bandcamp to Velveteen.

Is Bandcamp a music distributor?

No. Bandcamp says artists can sell on Bandcamp and other platforms at the same time, but it does not handle distribution to Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, or other DSPs. Velveteen combines direct-sale download pages with DSP distribution.

Should I use Velveteen or Bandcamp?

Use Bandcamp when you want the strongest native fan marketplace, merch flow, fan collections, and community behavior. Use Velveteen when you want direct sales plus official DSP distribution, royalty reporting, release delivery, pitching, and catalog operations in one place. Velveteen direct-sale fees are 15% on Free, 10% on Artist, 5% on Pro, and 3% on Label; DSP royalties stay 0% commission.

What does each platform take from direct digital sales?

Bandcamp's current help docs list a 15% revenue share on digital items, dropping to 10% after $5,000 in sales if the account keeps that threshold over the past 12 months. Velveteen direct-sale fees are 15% on Free, 10% on Artist, 5% on Pro, and 3% on Label. Payment processor fees are separate on both.

Can I use Bandcamp and Velveteen together?

Yes. Bandcamp explicitly allows artists to sell music there while also making it available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. A practical setup is Velveteen for DSP delivery, royalty reporting, pitching, and connected direct-sale download pages, with Bandcamp for fans who prefer its marketplace, collections, and merch experience.

Sources

YOUR MUSIC. YOUR ROYALTIES.

0% commission40+ DSPsCancel anytime

Distribute to all major DSPs. Keep 100% of your royalties. Cancel anytime.