Faircamp Q&A: Key Takeaways from My Chat with Faircamp's Creator
On my show, The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I spoke with Simon Repp, the creator of Faircamp, a free and open-source self-hosted alternative to Bandcamp for musicians.
We discussed why he created the platform and how it helps independent musicians take control of their work. Here are some questions and answers about the self-hosted music website Faircamp from our conversation.
- Faircamp - simonrepp.com/faircamp
- Simon Repp on Mastodon - @freebliss
1. What is Faircamp?
Tom Ray: So, please explain to people who you are and what it is you do.
Simon Repp: Yeah. Hi, my name is Simon, and I'm basically working on software that generates websites. The one thing we're talking about today, Faircamp, is software that generates websites for audio producers. I also have another project, which is also very ambitious and bigger, called Hyper 8. And this is basically the same thing, but for video producers.
2. What problem is Faircamp solving for musicians?
Tom Ray: Faircamp is a site where musicians can host their music on a static website and have it act as a distribution network. The point of this is to not get rid of streaming services like Spotify and Apple and stuff like that, but it is to have your own distribution where you own the content. Could you explain that more?
Simon Repp: The main point is to give musicians back control of their music. Faircamp is a static site generator specifically designed to build beautiful websites from your music files. You don't have to deal with a database or a big system. It's really just a simple tool for you to take back ownership of your work.
3. How does Faircamp handle monetization for artists?
Tom Ray: So, let's talk about the payment option for music here. Can you explain to me how it works?
Simon Repp: Yes. Faircamp's paywall is more of a "soft pay curtain"; it is a trust-based system. It works with a payment provider, and you set a minimum price for your albums. But it also gives your fans the option to pay more if they want. This is a model I've seen work for many indie artists, and it helps build a genuine connection between the artist and their audience.
4. Why is Faircamp a good alternative for musicians than a standard CMS?
Tom Ray: I've always wanted to do a static website, but there are two drawbacks I have: I can't schedule posts ahead of time, and the other is that I always wanted a music player for the site, and I didn't want to build one. I didn't want to have to find one to use. You have one built in. Plus, the site even structures the albums and pages. That made me go, 'I'm getting closer and closer to switching our site to a static website instead of using a CMS.' Could you talk about that more?
Simon Repp: I wanted to make a tool that was specifically for musicians. It has the album structure, the music player, and all the features you need right out of the box. You don't have to go and find them or build them yourself. It's all there, designed to make it simpler for musicians.
Want to hear more about Faircamp and how it works?
Listen to the full episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast and learn more about Faircamp and its creator, Simon Repp.
Subscribe to The Lorenzo's Music Podcast:
Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube Podcasts | RSS
While you're at it, be sure to subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform! We're always exploring new ways for independent artists to create and promote their work on their own terms.