Topshelf Records claims Bandcamp asked them to stop supporting company’s unionization efforts

Management for Bandcamp contacted Topshelf Records on Friday (April 7) and asked them to cease its support for the music platform’s nascent union, Bandcamp United, according to a statement from the record label’s official Twitter account.

Topshelf says that the label was “petitioned to cease supporting [Bandcamp United],” a request they declined. “[W]e fully support @bandcampunited and want to see the platform that espouses to champion independent music do so equally for their staff.” Bandcamp’s workers announced their intention to form a union in March; since then, they claim that the company has engaged in union-busting, delayed the official election, and hired Foley & Lardner LLP, a group which specializes in “counsel on union avoidance considerations.”

In March 2022, Bandcamp was purchased by Epic Games, the company behind Fortnite. Topshelf’s thread was critical of this sale, saying that Bandcamp “fucked up” in its decision. “Bandcamp is now a third party platform owned by a billion dollar tech company who see them as a content farm for Fortnite and leverage in their ongoing case against Apple more-so than the vibrant music community that it is and has been for 10+ years,” the thread reads.

“[A] unionized workforce keeps the integrity of Bandcamp, the music company intact within the context of Epic, the tech company,” Topshelf wrote. Find the full statement below. The FADER has reached out to Bandcamp, Topshelf Records, and Foley & Lardner LLP for more information. Bandcamp United declined to comment and linked to a recent campaign call from April 4 describing allegations of union busting.

This post was updated on Friday, April 7 at 6:21 p.m. to include a link to Bandcamp United's recent campaign call and to correct the status of union: Bandcamp United announced their intention to form a union in March; the vote has not yet taken place.