Things have been pretty quiet on the DMCA front since the Twitch takedowns in June. Up until now. This week, Twitch streamers around the world were hit with another wave of takedowns and warnings.
In that bullet it point it specifically says ' broadcasting, or making available to the public any part of the Spotify Service', making some of us think that while streaming on Twitch and playing music from the Twitch Music Library is not an issue that playing using Spotify is. This doesn't matter. Licenses from Spotify or other streaming music providers are generally only for personal use. They don't let you use the song for commercial purposes or play it for the general public, which means you can't use it on your stream.
On Tuesday, Twitch deleted a lot of content violating music copyright laws, following a wave of DMCA takedown requests. As Twitch uses a three-strike policy for its users – if you get three strikes, you’re banned – streamers were not happy about the news.
So, how do you steer clear from having your potential bread and butter deleted? We'll tell you all about it in this blog post.
Playing music on Twitch
Twitch and music. It can be summarized in one word – confusing. The majority of streamers that play music in their streams do so with little regard for copyright law. However, Twitch recently issued several DMCA takedowns and effectively prevented streamers from using the platform if they continue playing music they don’t have the rights to.
Using Playstation Spotify App To Play Music While Twitch Streaming Live
It’s not uncommon to find streamers playing today’s top hits or yesterday’s classics. Streamers sometimes also take song requests, giving their audience control of the music. In the past, the music industry hasn’t taken action – but that’s changing. Just last year, many popular streamers were hit with 24-hour bans on the platform for playing copyrighted music. So what are the rules? The punishments? And what can you do to protect yourself?
Is Streaming Copyrighted Music Allowed on Twitch?
You are not allowed to play music that you do not have the rights to play. Play music without a license and you’re violating copyright law. Twitch’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines explicitly say “You may not include music you do not own in your Twitch streams or VODs.”
Currently, many Twitch streamers unintentionally violate the law because they want to give their audience the best experience possible. Unfortunately, including copyrighted music without proper licensing can result in takedowns and it denies musicians the funding they deserve. With an Epidemic Sound subscription, both problems are solved.
What Music Can I Play When I Stream on Twitch?
You can play any music that you have the rights to share on Twitch. This can be music that you have created yourself and own the rights to, or have a license to share on Twitch. By subscribing to Epidemic Sound and adding your Twitch channel, you are free to play Epidemic Sound’s music in your streams on Twitch. This is because Epidemic Sound owns all the rights to their music and can provide a direct license, so you don’t have to worry about copyright claims.
What Can Happen to my Channel if I Play Copyrighted Music?
There are currently two things that can happen if you play copyrighted music. The first is the most common. In Videos on Demand (VODs) of your live streams, any time where copyrighted music is played, your audio will be muted. This often leaves massive gaps in videos where there is no audio. It’s generally considered an acceptable loss by streamers.
The second is less common but may become increasingly common in the future. The punishment is a 24-hour ban on your channel. It occurs when the person who owns the rights to music you played on stream sends a DMCA takedown request against you. Famously, Maroon 5 and Juice WRLD issued mass DMCA takedowns in 2018, which saw major streamers banned for 24 hours.
What are the Long Term Effects if I Continue to Play Copyright Music?
The long term effects of playing copyrighted music in your streams could be channel termination. Twitch has a three strike policy for DMCA takedowns. Your first offense results in a 24-hour ban. Your second offense causes a 24-hours to 7-days ban. Your third offense will be an indefinite or permanent ban on Twitch. Also, it is worth noting that DMCA bans never are expunged from your record. When you get banned for something else, you generally have a 90-day probationary period, but DMCA bans remain part of your profile in perpetuity. Learn more about Twitch's music guidelines here.
Can I Stream Music Based Content?
Using Playstation Spotify App To Play Music While Twitch Streaming Online
It is a bit interesting that most people do not know this, but no, you cannot stream music-based content. Playing games with a music focus such as Just Dance, Rock Band or osu! violates Twitch’s guidelines. Twitch’s Community Guidelines explicitly state that the following types of content are forbidden on the platform:
Radio-Style Music Listening Shows
DJ Sets
Karaoke Performances
Lip Synch Performances
Visual Music Depictions
Cover Song Performances
There is ONE exception to this rule, which is the new Twitch Sings game. It has been built by Twitch with permission from the artists included in the game.
Has the Music Industry Started Enforcing Copyright?
In the recent past, the music industry has not enforced copyright on the platform. But, with the recent DMCAs, it is clear that this will not be the case going forward. As Twitch, and streaming in general, becomes more mainstream and profitable – the industry is going to want their cut.
Better Safe Than Sorry
To sum up: for streamers to safely use music in their videos, a direct music license is the risk-free way to go. Want to play music and stay safe while streaming and avoid takedowns? Check out our plans here.