Twitch is celebrating the launch of its new DJ category with a 24-hour global streaming event, according to a company blog post.
Set for Thursday, August 8, the virtual event will feature a DJ set headlined by Zedd. The superstar producer will stream live from Brooklyn, where he will play brand new music from Telosher first album in nearly a decade. Also performing are ZHU, Sofi Tukker, Sam Feldt, Aluna, Cheat Codes, and EDM.com Class of 2024 star HoneyLuv, among others.
It's a big moment for Twitch, which DJs have been grappling with for years due to the widespread risk of content removal, bans, and silencing. The platform has been constantly in hot water after issuing numerous DMCA takedown notices to legions of its users, who were unwittingly playing songs on their streams without the rights to do so under the service's business model.
In June, Twitch announced landmark licensing deals with UMG, Warner, Sony, and “hundreds” of independent music rights holders. The deals precipitated the launch of the “Twitch DJ Program,” which allows DJs to legally play copyrighted songs on their streams and collect royalties.
Now they can register for the program, which provides them with a catalog of music to legally use in their broadcasts, as well as a list of restricted artists.
“Today's launch of the DJ category is an important moment for Twitch, the music industry, and our creators,” Twitch CEO Dan Clancy said in a statement. “There's something special about the way Twitch DJs present music to their listeners. It's personal and community-driven, so we've created a stable, long-term home where they can invest in building their brand and community.”
Learn more about Twitch's new DJ category here and check out the full schedule for the August 8 broadcast below.
Twitch
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