I love using Bandcamp, it gives a lot of features and is able to help artists big and small to sell their music directly, release music in different formats, give out free download codes for their music projects, etc. I was definitely planning on giving out free download codes to my friends and even some of you all by posting codes over on Twitter. As excited as I am to release it there and put it out, there is a problem with it. In fact, there's two problems.
The first problem is setting up a PayPal business account. At first, Bandcamp asked me for the email linked with my PayPal, so I did that. But as I was preparing my Bandcamp account when the EP was ready, I realized I needed a PayPal business account. So last night I spent time trying to set it up, but I later realized that it asked for a lot. I had my mom's permission, she guided me through some of it, but they later asked for a picture of private info, like a driver's license or a passport. At that point I decided to let go. I know that if you want to set up an online business and sell things online, you need parental guidance and support, which I did have. But the other problem is definitely related, though more to Bandcamp.
I did have experience with making a PayPal business account in the past, a few days ago I wanted to set up donations for my Twitch account, but that also required a PayPal business account. Now that I think about it, I think I'd be more comfortable setting up a PayPal business account for that, so I will most likely have donations up soon. This is mainly because Twitch is more accepting when it comes to age, allowing you do all kinds of streaming stuff if you're under 18 with parental guidance. However, with Bandcamp, it's a different case. It seems like a more mature platform, and it requires you to be at least 16 to release music, whether there's parental guidance or not. I know I could just cheat my way through it and still release music there, but I don't feel like doing that. I'm 14, and if the only thing I can do is wait until I'm allowed to release music on Bandcamp, then that's what I'll do. If I tried to release music there now, that could put my artist account at risk, and I don't want to do that, so I'll leave it aside.
What will this mean for me? Well first off, don't worry, In A Rush EP and any other projects I release before I'm 16 will still be released on YouTube and maybe other music services as I initially planned, just not on Bandcamp until I'm able to. I know it'll be weird, but artists like Radiohead and Björk have been making music longer than Bandcamp has been around, but have made artist pages there and dumped their music there so it could be easily bought physically and digitally. So I will do the same thing. Also, any albums I've imagined being released one day may be delayed by a lot, which definitely sucks, considering that I've envisioned them being released sooner.
Honestly, I'm not too worried about it. Artists usually spend a few years making and releasing songs and short EPs and mixtapes, but don't release a full album until years later. They do it to prepare themselves, already put out some music, and to gain some recognition before they release a full lengthy project. I planned on rushing everything, getting the EP out quickly and soon enough getting an album out, but that's too much. This quick experience has helped me realize that I should slow down the process, give myself time, and try doing something simpler for a while to prepare myself for this.
But yeah, that's it, the EP will be out soon on YouTube and hopefully other places. I'll just be taking my journey as an upcoming artist slowly. I hope you all understand.
-Anthony “Salteh” S. • • •
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