# Bandcamp MCP MCP > Bandcamp MCP lets your AI client search, explore, and extract structured data from independent music across Bandcamp. Find artists by genre, track down new releases, or pull detailed metadata from specific album pages. It’s a deep dive into indie music discovery. ## Overview - **Category:** ecommerce - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** music-discovery, artist-profiles, discography, independent-music, metadata-search ## Description Need to research niche music trends? This MCP connects directly to Bandcamp's catalog, letting your agent navigate the world of independent music naturally. Instead of clicking through multiple tabs and bookmarking links, you simply ask for what you need—whether it’s finding ambient electronic artists or pulling the full tracklist for a new album. You can get structured data on everything from genre availability to best-selling records. Because this connection lives within the Vinkius catalog, your AI client gets access to all these specialized tools in one place. It's built for deep research and curation. ## Tools ### discover_music Finds albums and tracks across Bandcamp based on a provided genre tag or keyword. ### get_best_selling Returns the titles, artists, and artwork for currently best-selling releases in any given genre. ### get_featured Retrieves stories and albums that Bandcamp's editorial team has highlighted on the main page. ### get_new_releases Finds records, including artwork and release dates, for the newest albums available by genre. ### get_page_data Extracts detailed metadata, like track lists and pricing, from a specific Bandcamp URL (artist or album). ### get_recommended Gets suggestions for releases based on a genre, including titles, artists, and artwork. ### get_tags Lists all available genre tags you can use with other discovery tools. ### search Searches the entire site for any content type, including artists, albums, tracks, and labels. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for ambient electronic artists. ``` **Response:** ``` Found 25 ambient electronic artists including: Stars of the Lid, Biosphere, Carbon Based Lifeforms, Loscil, 36. Each with bio, discography, location and social links. ``` **Prompt:** ``` What are the new releases in rock music? ``` **Response:** ``` Found 20 new rock releases including albums from emerging and established artists. Each with artwork, track lists, genres, release dates and Bandcamp purchase links. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Show me Bandcamp's featured albums right now. ``` **Response:** ``` Current Bandcamp featured albums: 8 editorial picks across genres including post-rock, hip-hop, jazz, electronic and folk. Each with full details and purchase links. ``` ## Capabilities ### Search across artists, albums, tracks, and labels You can ask the MCP to search Bandcamp by name, finding people, groups, or records. ### Discover music by genre and tag The system finds full album lists based on specific genres like jazz, hip-hop, or rock. ### Find new and trending releases You can browse the latest albums that just dropped or see what other users are buying right now. ### Extract structured album metadata Give it a Bandcamp URL, and the MCP pulls out precise details like track names, pricing, and artwork data. ### Get curated content picks The system retrieves editorial recommendations for albums and artists featured on the site's homepage. ## Use Cases ### Researching a new podcast theme A podcast editor needs background music ideas. They ask the agent to use `get_tags` first, then run `discover_music` with 'ambient' and 'electronic'. The result gives them a list of artists, bio details, and genre links they can reference in their episode. ### Comparing album formats A label manager finds an artist’s main page URL. They use `get_page_data` to pull all structured info (tracks, pricing) for the latest release and compare it against a best-selling record found using `get_best_selling`. ### Finding niche collaborators A musician needs input. They use the general `search` tool to find artists whose profiles match their style, getting names, types, and links for potential collaboration partners. ## Benefits - Stop guessing what genres exist. Use the `get_tags` tool first, then feed those tags into `discover_music` to narrow down your search immediately. - Skip manual data scraping. If you have a specific Bandcamp URL, use `get_page_data` to pull structured info like track lists and pricing in one shot. - Find what's hot right now. Use `get_best_selling` for quick market research on popular genres or artists. - Track the freshest content with `get_new_releases`. You get artwork, release dates, and links, letting you monitor emerging talent easily. - Get a curated view of the platform using `get_featured`, bypassing standard search results to see what Bandcamp is promoting right now. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you get Bandcamp's entire catalog exposed to your agent without having to manually query multiple endpoints or write complex code. 1. First, subscribe to this MCP via Vinkius. No API key is required because Bandcamp discovery is fully open. 2. Next, prompt your AI client with a natural language request. For example, 'Show me ambient rock albums from the last month.' 3. The MCP executes the search, returning structured data including artist names, artwork links, and purchase options. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Do I need an API key to use this?** No! This integration works without any API key. Simply subscribe and start discovering music right away. **Can I stream music through the API?** The API provides track metadata and links to Bandcamp pages where you can listen. Direct audio streaming is available on Bandcamp's website and app. **What genres are available?** Bandcamp covers all major genres: rock, electronic, hip-hop, jazz, classical, metal, folk, ambient, punk, experimental, world music and many more. Use get_genres to see the full list. **If I use `get_page_data` on an album URL, what specific metadata can I expect to receive?** The tool extracts comprehensive structured data. This includes the full track list, artist details, pricing information, and embedded metadata for every track. **Can I use the main `search` tool to locate Bandcamp entities other than tracks or albums?** Yes, you can search broadly. The `search` tool indexes labels, fan profiles, artists, and albums, letting you pinpoint specific types of content. **Should I use `get_tags` before running `discover_music` to ensure genre accuracy?** It's best practice to run `get_tags` first. This provides the definitive, up-to-date list of accepted genres so your searches with `discover_music` are precise. **If I run `get_best_selling` with an incorrect genre tag, what kind of error message will the MCP return?** The system handles invalid inputs gracefully. Instead of failing outright, it returns a list of supported genres or suggests alternatives to help you refine your search. **Is there a limit to the number of results I can get using `discover_music` across multiple genres?** The MCP processes data in manageable batches. If you need more than one batch of results, simply call `discover_music` again with a different genre or tag.