Twitch has found a solution for it ongoing copyright issues that DJs meet on the platform. The company was announced Thursday, a new program that allows DJs to stream millions of tracks to a new DJ category, giving them more clarity about which songs are safe to use in their streams.
The catch is that the DJs have to cough up a portion of their profits.
This move is part of a broader initiative to avoid Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown notices. These notifications have been a constant problem for the many DJ streamers on Twitch who incorporate pre-recorded music from artists into their own mixes. According to the company, the number of DJs streaming on the platform has more than quadrupled, with 15,000 of them generating revenue from streams. In May 2020, creators began receiving thousands of weekly DMCA notices about music from record labels.
Participating DJs in the program must contribute a percentage of their earnings from streams to cover part of the cost of music rights. Twitch has partnered with all the major labels to bring the majority of popular music to the offering, including Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music, as well as several independent labels represented by music licensing partner Merlin.
Twitch didn’t disclose the exact amount DJs have to pay. However, in an official blog post, Twitch CEO Dan Clancy clarified that the cost is determined by how a channel generates revenue. So, luckily, DJs who don’t monetize the platform don’t have to pay anything.
On the bright side, the company said it helps most DJs pay 50% of royalties. In addition, a one-year grant is offered to existing Twitch DJs, providing financial support and a transition period to adjust to the new program.
“We’re proud to be the first major service to provide a safe, permanent home to DJs for live streaming, and we’re excited to now be able to promote and support these creators as they build communities on our service and beyond,” Clancy said.
The program will begin later this summer.
Clancy previously revealed details about the program in an interview with the channel TweakMusicTips Two months ago.
He said, “We’re going to have to share money with the labels, it doesn’t come for free. I’ve already told this to several DJs and they realize, of course, that they shouldn’t share some money, but [Twitch is] will share whatever the cost is.”
“It’s important that DJs understand that the status quo on Twitch was not sustainable and any viable future for the community required us to find a solution,” Clancy wrote in his post today.
The company hosts a live broadcast later today at 2:30 p.m. ET with Clancy and DJ Jazzy Jeff to celebrate the new DJ class.
