FL Studio goes web + Bandcamp's 2026 calendar
Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists
Christmas edition - 2 min read
You Can Use FL Studio In Chrome Now
What’s Up
FL Studio just checked into your browser. Good luck getting anything else done. It's in public beta now, so join the waitlist at fl.studio.
So What
Don’t get it twisted. This isn’t some watered-down 'lite' toy. FL Studio Web comes loaded with the native plugins and sounds you know and love. Image Line's big plan is to keep you from making excuses about making music.
Now What
Join the waitlist for early access. Pricing TBA. If you've been putting off learning production or need a faster way to sketch out ideas, this is it.
Let the Algorithm Choose
What’s Up
Ok, be honest, you’re bad at naming videos, aren’t you? YouTube knows. This week, they dropped Title & Thumbnail A/B Testing to all creators with Advanced Features. That means you can test up to three different titles and thumbnails to see which one keeps people watching.
So What
Picking the right title and thumbnail on the first try is harder than you think. YouTube measures watch time, so don’t even think about clickbait titles. With their new system, you get to run A/B testing for two weeks, after which it automatically picks the best title and thumbnail based on watch time.
Now What
Stop before you finish writing the 'YOU WON'T BELIEVE' title. Check your YouTube Studio settings and make sure Advanced Features is on. Then start testing on your next upload.
The 2026 Payday Calendar
What's Up
All good things happen on Fridays, and “Bandcamp Friday” is the best one any indie could ask for. They’re running eight of Bandcamp Fridays starting February 6. On these days, they waive their revenue share, meaning you keep 100% of sales. (Other dates: Mar 6, May 1, Aug 7, Sep 4, Oct 2, Nov 6, Dec 4).
So What
These days generated $19 million for indie artists in 2025, basically paying better than actual 9-to-5s. It’s the only time the platform steps aside and lets you keep the bag (all of it).
Now What
Open up your calendar app and add these eight dates. Why plan a release for a random Tuesday when you could drop it on a fee-free Friday?
While You Were Making Music...
🤖 Universal teams up with Splice for AI tools [they went from "sue 'em" to "hire 'em" real quick]
Today's edition by Jordan F.
For indies who ship music, not excuses.
Related News & Guides
$10k, no strings + make AI wear a nametag
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators reintroduced the AI Labeling Act, requiring visible and embedded labels on AI-generated audio, video, and images. Nothing (the phone company) launched the Club Nothing Fund, offering four creatives $10,000 each for club nights or events, with applications open until August 9. GigLogic, a new touring calculator tool, helps artists calculate net pay after travel, lodging, commissions, and taxes, with paid plans starting at $19.99 per month.
Suno wants you to shut up + a free DAW
Suno launched its "Spark" incubator offering grants and mentorship to independent artists, but a clause requires participants to never criticize the platform. TIDAL began blocking fully AI-generated music from earning royalties on June 29, with AI labeling and fraud sweeps rolling out by July 15. Tracktion released Waveform 14 Free, a no-cost DAW for Mac, Windows, and Linux with overhauled stock plugins and an optional AI assistant.