Bandcamp announced on Reddit this week that it will no longer permit AI-generated music on its platform, stating that “Music and audio that is generated wholly or in substantial part by AI is not permitted on Bandcamp,” and bổ the use of AI tools to impersonate other artists or styles.
The policy draws a line in a long-running debate about AI in art: AI models are not artists in themselves, as they lack personhood and creative intent. Bandcamp notes that while people can use AI as a creative aid, the platform’s policy targets the far end of the spectrum—typing a prompt and letting a model generate an entire track—while allowing human artists who incorporate AI tools as part of a larger process.
Bandcamp emphasizes its goal of protecting its community of real musicians. “The fact that Bandcamp is home to such a vibrant community of real people making incredible music is something we want to protect and maintain,” the company wrote. Users are urged to flag suspected AI-generated content via Bandcamp’s reporting tools, and the platform reserved the right to remove any music on suspicion of being AI generated.
Context across the industry shows a patchwork of approaches: Spotify permits AI-generated music, Boomy faced removal for alleged streaming fraud in 2023, and other AI-driven platforms like Suno and Udio illustrate the broader flood of AI-made content. Bandcamp’s policy represents an effort to preserve space for human creativity, though it does not bar all AI usage—only purely AI-generated work—and may continue to evolve as generative tools mature.
