It seems like the majority (or entirety) of the layoffs have been from the writing and editing staff. In the six years I've used bandcamp I've read maybe half a dozen of their articles in total.
The estimate for the number of people laid off seems to be around 60 (articles are saying that "half" of the previously existing 120 staff were terminated), and if that's just dedicated, full-time writers/editors, that's a pretty egregious waste of money. I read a number of independent zines and blogs that consistently put out numerous articles/reviews per day and they're either run by a single individual or by a skeleton crew, and the quality is consistent.
This
op-ed from p4k is especially humorous to me as it loudly bemoans the perceived decline of music journalism, and the rapid loss of other music services instead of championing the bevy of alternative options that could or do exist.
Then again, hopeful optimism and helpful solutions aren't things that these miserable pricks tend to traffic in.
Tl;dr, don't like it? Start your own webzine, chud.
ETA: why didn't this union or any of the other employees take action when Epic bought bandcamp? At that point it should be obvious that the initial owners/founders had no regard for their employees, why did it take so long for them to form an outrage mob? Are they that eager to be subservient to a larger corporation that they actively reject any kind of personal agency, even at the zero hour, and clamor to remain shackled to a company that actively (apparently) walks all over them?
I just can't comprehend this mindset, it's pitiable.
