How to Set Up a Bandcamp Artist Page
Set up a Bandcamp artist page by completing the identity, uploading verified stereo lossless masters, filling every release and track field, choosing accurate Discover tags and location, defining the offer and payment owner, and testing the public purchase, receipt, stream, and download path. Keep the release private while checking it, and publish only when the page and delivered files agree.
Lead visual
A release page before Publish
NEW RELEASE / DRAFT
privateCheck 1
artist identity
Check 2
16-bit / 44.1 kHz+
Check 3
release + artwork
Check 4
price + recipient
Check 5
tags + location
Check 6
test purchase
Direct-to-fan · Storefront
Storefront release map
Decision
Complete the identity, audio, release, offer, discovery, transaction, and QA fields before changing the draft to public.
Evidence
Lossless files, track order, titles, artwork, date, credits, lyrics, tags, price, payment owner, download metadata, and test path.
Risk
One missing or mismatched field can block saving, weaken Discover context, misroute payment, or deliver a confusing download.
Good outcome
A complete public release page that a fan can find, understand, buy, stream, and download as intended.
minimum current source depth
minimum current sample rate
accepted lossless source families
stereo, not mono or multichannel
Key takeaways
- Start with the correct artist account and current payment owner.
- Upload verified lossless stereo masters, never upsampled lossy files.
- Make page titles, credits, tags, dates, artwork, and files agree.
- Choose existing accurate Discover tags instead of popular unrelated terms.
- Complete a real purchase, receipt, stream, and download test before launch.
Which fields belong in the Bandcamp page specification?
Release and storefront contract
Identity, audio, release, offer, discovery, and delivery
Identity
Artist/label account, preferred name, image, location, genre, bio, links, and payment owner
Prevents the release from living under or paying the wrong entity.
Audio
Lossless source, bit depth, rate, stereo channels, track order, titles, starts/ends, and preview choices
Confirms that the public player and buyer download represent the approved masters.
Release
Format, artwork, date, about text, credits, lyrics/notes, catalog, UPC, and ISRC where applicable
Creates a complete page and usable download context.
Offer
Price mode, minimum, pay-more setting, download credits, physical attachment, inventory, and currency
Explains what the fan pays for and what the artist can fulfill.
Discovery
Top genre, existing Discover tags, location, follow link, embeds, campaign link, and release story
Gives Bandcamp and fans accurate routing context.
Delivery
Public/private state, buyer view, receipt, stream, format choices, download, metadata, and contact path
Tests the actual transaction instead of only the editor.
What must pass before the page changes from private to public?
| Pass condition | Stop condition | |
|---|---|---|
| Account | Correct artist/label identity and current payment recipient are visible in the editor | The team assumes a profile link controls who gets paid |
| Audio | Every normal-release track has the approved lossless stereo source and correct order | A lossy file was upsampled or audio is missing outside a pre-order |
| Page | Title, art, date, credits, story, price, tags, and links match the release source | Inherited tags, stale credits, or another release's artwork remain |
| Offer | The price, contribution choice, included download/package, inventory, and currency are deliberate | Zero-price credits, physical stock, tax, or shipping effects are unknown |
| Fan path | Mobile/desktop page, preview, purchase, receipt, stream, download, file names, and support work | Only the logged-in artist view has been checked |
WAV download metadata has a documented exception
Bandcamp writes page metadata to most download formats but says its WAV files do not include metadata. Do not infer delivery tags from the source file alone; verify the public page and at least one actual download format.
preflight the UPC, ISRC, titles, credits, and release identity
Which Bandcamp sources define the setup specification?
Frequently asked questions
What audio files does Bandcamp require?+
Bandcamp currently requires stereo lossless WAV, AIFF, or FLAC files at 16-bit and 44.1 kHz or higher. Do not upsample an MP3 or another lossy source. Verify the source master, sample rate, bit depth, channels, track order, starts and ends, titles, and the actual Bandcamp preview before publishing.
What information is required to publish on Bandcamp?+
Current save requirements include the title, pricing, artwork, and tags, with audio for every track on a normal public digital release. A complete page should also verify artist identity, date, credits, lyrics or notes where useful, payment recipient, location/genre, identifiers where applicable, and what the buyer receives.
Which Bandcamp tags should an artist use?+
Use the closest accurate top genre, location, and relevant release or track tags. Bandcamp recommends matching the existing genre or subgenre spelling shown in Discover autocomplete. Do not add unrelated popular tags. Profile genre and location can flow into releases, so inspect inherited tags as well as page-specific ones.
Does Bandcamp add metadata to downloads?+
Bandcamp says it writes page information such as title, artist, lyrics, album, track number, date, and artwork to most downloads. Its current help notes that WAV downloads do not include metadata and recommends FLAC for flexible lossless delivery. The artist should still verify the page data and a test download.
Can an unfinished Bandcamp release stay private?+
Yes. Save drafts while the page is incomplete and use private or draft access for review. A standard public digital release needs every track's audio. A pre-order can publish before every track is available, but the complete audio must be uploaded and verified before the artist manually releases the full album.
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Keep reading
Pillar guide
Bandcamp for artists
A current seven-part Bandcamp operating system for release setup, offers, discovery, transactions, followers, editorial submission, and evidence.
Related guide
Bandcamp pricing and pay what you want
A four-option pricing model with current 15%/10% revenue shares, typical 4% to 6% processing, pay-more observations, and constructed gross-to-net math.
Pillar guide
Release metadata guide
What metadata is, the ℗ vs © copyright lines, ISRC vs UPC, and the title and credit rules that decide whether your release is accepted and your royalties reach you.
Check your metadata before your distributor does
Run your titles, credits, copyright lines, and ISRC and UPC codes through the free checker and catch the rejection-bait errors before you upload. It all runs in your browser.