The jury is still out on that. Bandcamp's branding effort is hard to measure.
Even if we didn't read their blog posts or listen to their radio podcasts, there is something beautiful in that effort. And I agree that written critique doesn't do much for music or art, for that matter.
Even though you can't quantify it, I wouldn't dismiss Bandcamp branding effort around music.
You can't strip music of everything aside from sounds. Bandcamp's rich illustrations managed to set a musical mood, for example.
Image is important. Controversies, interviews, politics, and even ridiculousness are part of the culture regardless of whether one decides to engage.
Even if we didn't read their blog posts or listen to their radio podcasts, there is something beautiful in that effort. And I agree that written critique doesn't do much for music or art, for that matter.
Even though you can't quantify it, I wouldn't dismiss Bandcamp branding effort around music. You can't strip music of everything aside from sounds. Bandcamp's rich illustrations managed to set a musical mood, for example.
Image is important. Controversies, interviews, politics, and even ridiculousness are part of the culture regardless of whether one decides to engage.