Why do bands “split” rather than “stop”?

[Nail Soup]

Daft Punk split a couple of weeks ago, after many years.

So why do bands formally split up rather than just stopping doing anything?

[MacDaddy]

29 minutes ago, Nail Soup said:

Daft Punk split a couple of weeks ago, after many years.

So why do bands formally split up rather than just stopping doing anything?

The band have split, in that they will no longer be working together (at least not as Daft Punk (for now)) but there will be reissues and more compilations, so it's not stopping. 

[TheLowDown]

I guess for the same  reason why some couples divorce rather than having a temporary separation. Lots of musicians want to go and do their own thing or they've got other irons in the fire.

Edited March 7, 2021 by TheLowDown

[Silvia Bluejay]

Bands will usually have a contract, and splitting up will rescind that contract, and leave each member free to record solo, join another band etc.

[Downunderwonder]

Splitting something up implies an ongoing use for the resulting parts.

[dave_bass5]

Yep. My band split in 2015. Me and the drummer continued, keeping the name etc. We (the two of us) never stopped.

[12stringbassist]

I suppose it is more honest to declare that you've split, if you don't intend to re-group.

I can think of a few bands who kept their fans hanging on in vain hope for years.
And some whose reunions were genuinely that.

[steantval]

A huge amount of bands have just stopped and not doing anything, including mine.

F*cking virus.😤

[Newfoundfreedom]

Because of the guitarist.