Twitch DJ program reveals streaming without DMCA strikes

July 27, 2024

Creatives buckle up to entertain their viewers worry-free following Twitch’s DJ program collaboration announcement.

Twitch‘s highly anticipated DJ program is finally being released on August 1st, announcing a no-risk collaboration so artists can use popular music without having to worry about DMCA strikes. A “first-of-its-kind” collaboration with record labels like Universal, Warner Bros, Sony, and other independent labels – creating an optimal, live stream quality performance. A question sure to follow, what exactly is a DCMA?

DCMA, known as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, was brought into existence in 1998 when the Internet started to boom. This act was instated for copyright holders to further protect their work, providing a specific process to enforce it if they’ve become victims to individuals illegally accessing and distributing their work and claiming it as their own. To be clear, copyright laws existed prior to the internet – dating back to the 18th century.

This announcement is sure to bring more performers and streamers to the platform. In fact, Twitch has seen a significant increase in DJs on their streaming service – about 4x the amount since 2020. Since the increase, Twitch has been giving back, helping DJs reach their full potential. Since copyright laws hinder creators from using popular music in their performances without permission, this is a huge accomplishment for Twitch.

Twitch has created a framework for DJs to use another artist’s work, while the artists themselves will receive partial compensation. The company has been working with music partners to create a solution, as those choosing to stream without the necessary rights are at risk of DMCA penalties and risking their ability to continue streaming on the platform. Keep in mind this program is specifically for DJ’s who live stream, but what does this mean for pre-existing DJ live-streaming accounts?

The streaming platform is offering a 1-year subsidy to compensate creators for the difference that will now be paid out to artists and music companies and a new agreement will be sent for DJs to opt into. Twitch intends to implement a 50/50 split, sharing the costs with the streamer. For those who are not yet monetizing, Twitch is covering these costs – no need to worry about a financial impact or upfront costs.

Say goodbye to the days of performances being muted or shut down due to not having the copyrights! DJs can now perform worry-free while the artists are getting properly compensated when DJs start monetizing off their streams. One thing to note: VODs, Clips, and Highlights will not be considered safe under this program, as these rights are strictly reserved for DJ live streams, only. However, many fans and artists agree that this is a huge advancement for the DJ community.