Beatport, Traxsource, and Bandcamp: Where to Sell Electronic Music in 2025

TL;DR

Beatport for chart visibility and DJ culture credibility, Traxsource for house/disco communities, Bandcamp for direct fan support and maximum revenue per sale. Use all three — they serve different audiences and functions.

Beatport: The DJ Chart Economy

Beatport is the dominant download store for electronic music, and its chart system drives DJ purchasing decisions globally. A track that charts on Beatport — whether in the overall top 100 or a genre-specific chart — gets visibility that translates into DJ plays, festival bookings, and credibility within electronic music culture.

Releasing on Beatport requires going through a label or aggregator that has a Beatport distribution deal. Not all distributors offer Beatport access, so check before choosing your distribution partner. Label Worx, AWAL, and Believe all offer Beatport distribution.

The platform pays significantly more per sale than streaming — a single track purchase at £1.49 generates more revenue than thousands of streams. For DJ-oriented music, where buyers want high-quality files for performance, Beatport remains essential.

Pricing is standardised: £1.49 for tracks, £2.49 for extended/DJ versions. The 30/70 split (30% to Beatport, 70% to the rights holder) is better than most streaming ratios.

Traxsource: The Crate Digger's Paradise

Traxsource is smaller than Beatport but commands fierce loyalty from DJs in house, disco, funk, and soul scenes. Where Beatport is broad, Traxsource is deep — its community is passionate, knowledgeable, and willing to spend money on music they love.

The chart system on Traxsource is arguably more influential within its genres than Beatport's equivalent. A Traxsource #1 in Deep House carries real weight with DJs, promoters, and labels in that scene.

The platform also features detailed curation: themed charts, staff picks, and genre-specific features that help listeners discover music. For underground and mid-tier electronic artists, Traxsource can be more valuable than Beatport because the audience is more targeted and engaged.

Distribution to Traxsource works similarly to Beatport — through labels or aggregators with platform deals.

Bandcamp: Maximum Revenue, Direct Connection

Bandcamp remains the platform where artists earn the most per sale. Their revenue split is 85/15 in the artist's favour (dropping to 90/10 after $5,000 in sales), which is dramatically better than any streaming platform or competing download store.

Bandcamp Friday — the first Friday of every month, when Bandcamp waives their revenue share entirely — has become a cultural event in music. Fans specifically save up purchases for Bandcamp Friday, and artists routinely see their highest sales days align with these events.

For electronic music, Bandcamp is particularly powerful because it supports flexible pricing (including 'name your price'), lossless audio formats, and extensive customisation of your artist page. You can sell individual tracks, albums, merch bundles, and limited editions all from one storefront.

The community aspect is underrated. Bandcamp's editorial team covers independent music with genuine passion, and a Bandcamp Daily feature or 'Album of the Day' selection can drive significant sales.

The Multi-Platform Strategy

The smart approach is to use all three platforms (plus streaming services) with a staggered release strategy. Here's what we'd recommend.

Release on Beatport and Traxsource first — typically 2-4 weeks before streaming platforms. This exclusive window drives download sales from DJs who want tracks before everyone else. Many labels use this exclusivity window as a selling point.

Release on Bandcamp simultaneously with streaming platforms. Use Bandcamp for your most engaged fans who want to support you directly, and streaming for broader discovery.

Promote each platform to its appropriate audience. Share Beatport links in DJ communities, Traxsource links in genre-specific forums, and Bandcamp links with your direct fanbase.

Track your analytics on each platform. Over time, you'll learn where your audience actually buys music and can optimise your strategy accordingly. Some artists find 80% of their revenue comes from one platform — focus your energy there while maintaining presence everywhere.