Dear Twitch Team,

I am writing as a Twitch Affiliate and DJ creator to share some thoughts regarding the current economic structure of the DJ Program.

First and foremost, I want to make it clear that I fully understand why Twitch introduced this program in August 2024.

The massive presence of DJs on Twitch during the pandemic created a unique situation regarding music licensing and copyright. Finding a solution that would allow DJs to continue legally broadcasting music on the platform was necessary, and I personally support the principle of compensating music rights holders.

My intention is therefore not to challenge the purpose or existence of the DJ Program.

Rather, I would like to propose a discussion about how the costs associated with music rights are currently distributed between Twitch and DJ creators.

The Current Issue

A traditional Twitch Affiliate receives a 50/50 revenue split on certain forms of revenue generated by their community.

A DJ participating in the DJ Program, however, must also account for the additional costs associated with music rights.

In practice, this means that a DJ can invest an enormous amount of time into their activity: preparing sets, discovering and purchasing music, organizing their music library, preparing their technical setup, creating content, promoting their streams, and then spending several hours live.

Yet when a member of that community chooses to financially support the creator, a significant portion of that value is already allocated toward music-related costs before the creator can benefit from a revenue share comparable to that of a traditional Affiliate.

This creates a unique situation for DJs: the more our communities support us, the more of that support has to cover the costs associated with the music we broadcast.

I believe this is something worth reevaluating.

A Possible Proposal

I would like to submit the following possibility for Twitch's consideration:

For DJ Affiliates who fully comply with the rules of the DJ Program, why not establish a revenue structure that allows the following distribution:

30% — Music rights
20% — Twitch
50% — DJ

The goal would therefore not be to eliminate the portion allocated to music rights holders.

On the contrary, the 30% allocated to music rights would remain in place.

The difference would be that Twitch would reduce its portion of the revenue generated by these creators, allowing the DJ to return to a 50% share comparable to that of a traditional Twitch Affiliate.

This would also clearly distinguish DJs who officially participate in the program and comply with its rules from creators who broadcast music outside of the program and attempt to circumvent its requirements.

Why This Could Also Benefit Twitch

I believe such a model could have several positive effects.

1. Encourage DJs to Remain Within the Official Program

DJs would have a stronger financial incentive to follow the rules of the official program rather than look for ways around the system.

2. Encourage Community Support

Viewers who want to support their favorite DJ would know that a larger portion of their contribution is actually helping that creator continue producing content.

3. Improve the Long-Term Viability of DJ Content

DJs invest an enormous amount of time into preparing their broadcasts, often far beyond the hours they actually spend live.

A more sustainable revenue model could allow more creators to continue producing DJ content consistently on Twitch.

4. Maintain Compensation for Music Rights Holders

This proposal is not intended to remove the portion allocated to music rights.

It is simply intended to reconsider how the remaining revenue is distributed in order to create a better balance between the three parties:

music rights holders — Twitch — DJ creators.

A Proposal, Not a Demand

I am not suggesting that this exact revenue distribution is necessarily the only possible solution.

It is simply one concrete proposal based on the reality experienced by DJ creators.

Twitch could also consider other approaches: a different revenue split, a revenue threshold, a progressive structure, or any other model that takes into account the unique costs associated with music-based content.

What I would primarily like to see is a genuine reevaluation of the economic situation of DJs who officially participate in the DJ Program.

The DJ Program provided a solution to an extremely complex problem surrounding music rights. That was an important step.

Now that the program has been in place since August 2024, perhaps it is also time to evaluate its economic impact on the creators who participate in it.

We want to continue doing what we love on Twitch.

We want to continue discovering and sharing music, building communities, entertaining our viewers, and contributing to the diversity of content available on the platform.

We are simply asking for an economic model that allows us to do so sustainably.

One Final Request

I would also sincerely ask that this message not be treated as a standard customer-support request or answered with a generic automated response.

I understand that Twitch receives an enormous amount of feedback every day, and I am not expecting an immediate change or a promise that this proposal will be adopted.

What I am asking is that this proposal be reviewed by an actual member of the Twitch team who is familiar with the DJ Program, and, if appropriate, forwarded to the team responsible for its policies and revenue structure.

Even if the answer is ultimately that this proposal cannot be implemented, I would genuinely appreciate knowing that the concerns and proposal were actually reviewed and considered.

There are many DJ creators who have invested years into building communities on Twitch, and we would like to feel that our feedback is being heard and seriously considered.

Thank you for taking the time to read this proposal, and more importantly, for continuing to listen to the creators who help make the DJ category part of Twitch's community.

Sincerely,

DJ Res-Q
Twitch Affiliate / DJ Creator