One Year of Bandcamp Notes

Dear Music Enjoyer,

Bandcamp Notes has been publishing for one whole year! Please clap.

When we launched in May of 2025, our goal was to be a resource for music enthusiasts in search of a simple, straightforward, and human way to discover new music.

What we didn’t want: algorithms, influencers, lists, or paywalls. What we did want: One cool band recommendation delivered for free to subscribers every week plus assorted fun stuff here and there because fun is very important.

I’m happy to report we achieved our goal.

Over the past year we have published: 50 Cool Band Alerts, 11 editions of The Helpline, a monthly music advice column, and seven editions of I Love This Record, a collaborative issue published on Bandcamp Fridays featuring our favorite music people from around Substack sharing a record they absolutely love.

Personal favorites from our first year include the members of Chile’s DIY underground offering advice on how to start a music scene, a much-deserved Cool Band Alert for rising Seattle art rock group Mt. Fog, Michael Ehlers of eremite records redefining “headphones music,” and Steven Johnson of the great Mangrove Valley newsletter with some great writing about a cherished Marisa Anderson record.

The reception has been amazing and humbling: As of this writing, 26,000 music lovers and counting have signed up to receive Bandcamp Notes. That is so cool! We appreciate every single one of you.

We have no plans to change the format as we go into year two. You can look forward to more cool bands, more well-loved records, and even more great advice on all your most burning music-related queries. We certainly are.

Thank you so much for being part of our first year on Substack!

- Mariana Timony, Bandcamp Daily Senior Editor

☎️ Ring Ring: The Helpline is Open

Got a music-related question? Submit it to our monthly music advice column, The Helpline.

From music recommendations to trivia questions to settling grudges to explaining the difference between every genre that ends in -core to breaking down music biz minutiae—whatever it is, we can help.

Drop a comment, email us directly, carrier pigeon, etc.