Bandarchive

Bandarchive is an online, community-driven archival database that documents bands, their members, discographies, live performances, venues, and related media. It serves researchers, fans, and journalists seeking verifiable information about musical groups across genres and eras, including defunct or obscure acts.

The site uses a relational data model with core entities such as Band, Member, Album, Track, Release, Concert, and Venue. Contributors add and edit records through a revision-tracked interface, and entries are expected to cite reliable sources. Media uploads and links (photos, posters, flyers, audio clips) are supported, with licensing requirements that restrict usage to works the user owns or that are openly licensed.

Bandarchive emphasizes notability and verifiability; pages are supported by citations from newspapers, magazines, books, or official band materials. Moderation workflows and community discussions help resolve discrepancies. The project supports data import/export in standard formats and offers an API for research tools and third-party apps.

Developed in the 2000s by a voluntary community of music historians and technologists, Bandarchive aims to preserve music history at the level of detail often missing from other databases. It is used by researchers, educators, and music fans to trace lineages, lineups, and releases. Limitations include uneven coverage, potential gaps for less-documented acts, and the need for ongoing community governance to ensure accuracy.

Related projects include Discogs, MusicBrainz, and archive-oriented music initiatives, which share goals of preserving releases and artist information.