Dear Twitch Team,

I’d like to respectfully offer feedback on the Twitch DJ Program and its current limitations, which unfortunately make it unsuitable for actual DJs. While I appreciate Twitch’s attempt to provide a solution for live streaming with music, the implementation of the DJ Program, as it stands, creates significant barriers for those of us who are professional DJs and wish to stream with music in a meaningful and authentic way.

The description of the DJ Program states: "anyone can be a DJ if they want to live stream themselves playing recorded music for the enjoyment of their Twitch viewers," and that this program “applies to anyone who wants to DJ, and makes that activity the main focus of their streams.” This implies that the program accommodates anyone who plays pre-recorded music, but unfortunately, it fails to account for the essential aspect of DJing: mixing the music.

DJing is not simply playing a playlist or pressing play on pre-recorded tracks. It’s about creatively mixing, remixing, and manipulating music to create a seamless performance that is unique to the DJ. Twitch’s DJ Program, however, only allows for the playback of pre-recorded music as-is, without modification, which leads to a critical flaw: once a DJ starts mixing tracks, their stream can be flagged as "not part of the catalog" due to the altered waveform, even if the music itself is from an approved pool like Twitch's catalog.

This issue is particularly damaging because in traditional DJing environments, such as in clubs, DJs are legally permitted to use music from licensed pools (like the ones available in Twitch's catalog), but they are required to mix and creatively modify that music in their sets. The current program effectively says, “You can DJ, but only if you don’t actually DJ,” which is not only frustrating but also untenable for actual DJs who rely on mixing as the core of their performance.

While Twitch's past approach to music and DJing was unsustainable due to DMCA risks, the current program still doesn’t offer a viable solution for those of us who wish to stream live DJ performances. A solution that would truly empower DJs on Twitch would be to offer the same blanket professional licensing that platforms like Mixcloud have secured. This would allow DJs to perform live mixes just as they are legally permitted to in clubs, without the risk of having their streams flagged or taken down.

Twitch’s current design offers no protection for DJs who mix, only for those who wish to play static, unaltered tracks. To create a truly sustainable and legal way for actual DJs to stream, I urge you to consider implementing the proper licensing agreements with music rights organizations, similar to Mixcloud’s model, which provides DJs with the flexibility to mix music freely while ensuring compliance with copyright laws.

Thank you for considering this feedback. I believe with the right licensing and some adjustments to the DJ Program, Twitch could become an incredible platform for DJs and musicians to share their art, creativity, and performances with the world.

Sincerely,

Mynx_Atl