Recently Twitch updated its security guidelines regarding streamers’ use of copyrighted music. The platform is now becoming harder on streamers who commit copyright infringement, usually by deleting the VOD or clip featuring the music. Repeat offenders may even see their account getting banned, initially for a small period of time and then permanently if they persist with using protected music.
In times like this, it is crucial for streamers who are just starting out to have access to royalty-free music that can’t be struck for breaking copyright laws.
Thankfully, in this article we’ll be presenting a list of apps you can use to access royalty free music. We’ll also be listing down some YouTube channels you can use to get your hands on some non-copyrighted music. If you’re a DJ on Twitch and love to stream music this is going to help you a lot.
Twitch Copyright Laws
In the community guidelines posted on their official website, Twitch has declared that any music you include in your Twitch channel should be vouched for. Meaning that you should own the rights to use it or acquire them from the owner before using it in your streams.
Rights holders on the platform have the ability to send Twitch a takedown request of the streamer who’s using their songs without authorization. This can lead Twitch to come up with some enforcements against your channel, which, if taken far enough, could result in account termination.
Twitch also mentions that subscribing to a music streaming service does not make you eligible to share that music on Twitch.
If you’re a DJ and want to grow your viewers, our Twitch viewers with raid service can help you.
Places you Can Find DMCA Free Music
Luckily for you, there are sites that offer music that’s safe from DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedowns. In fact, we’ve actually gone through the trouble of compiling a list of some of the top sites offering copyright-free music. Here are the options we came up with.
1. Epidemic Sounds
By far, the most popular platform which supplies copyright-free music is Epidemic Sounds. This platform offers more than 30,000 royalty-free tracks that streamers can use as background music for their streams.
The best thing about it is the platform is compatible with Spotify, meaning you can actually play its tracks on Spotify. What’s more, is that the platform allows you to download the audio of a specific section of a track to make your own unique playlist for running on Twitch.
The personal license of epidemic sounds covers music for Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and, of course, Twitch. You’ll also be offered a 30-day trial in the beginning to get yourself accustomed to how the platform works before you buy a subscription.
2. Comma Music
The only award-winning music house on this list, Comma House is your next best option for obtaining royalty-free tracks after epidemic sounds.
Now, while this platform may not have the same variety in tracks genres that epidemic sounds does, it is the only music platform on this list to offer a student plan. And since the majority of streamers these days are young people, we’d say this platform could become your go to option for playing music on Twitch just because of its affordability.
Apart from the student plan, Comma Music offers a wide variety of plans depending on what you intend to do with their music. If you’re looking for any more incentive, the platform has also been known to supply tracks to many well-known brands’ commercials and events.
3. Own3d Music
If you’re an avid Twitch user or streamer, you may have already heard of Own3d as a relatively popular supplier of Twitch graphics. Well you’ll be pleased to know that Own3d also has a music program specifically designed for use in Twitch streams.
The program contains a total of 200 songs, which are all part of either the Synthwave or LoFi genre. All 200 of these tracks are fair use and royalty-free so you don’t have to worry about getting a copyright infringement strike for using them.
New tracks are also coming soon, so just hang in there for now and you’ll soon have access to a whole host of new songs you can play for your Twitch supporters.
4. Envato Elements
Envato Elements is mostly known for their extensive library of royalty-free sound effects rather than their music library. The platform works perfectly for streamers looking for copyright free sound effects that they can set as their sound alerts for when someone subscribes or donates.
To put a number on it, Envato Elements contains about half a million royalty-free sounds along with 72,000 royalty-free music tracks. The platform also offers comprehensive search filtering, which makes it easier to find specific sounds and tracks.
To access the sounds and tracks in their library, users must buy a subscription for the platform. One that gives them access to all their fair use music as well as stock video templates and social media templates.
5. Artlist
Artlist is another platform that offers access to a huge library of royalty-free tracks and sounds. In fact, its library can actually compete with Epidemic Sounds’ library, which is a feat on its own.
Besides that, Artlist is also one of the few royalty-free music platforms that allows its subscribers unlimited downloads of music until their membership holds. Artlist will never copyright strike any of your videos until you’re subscribed to one of the plans the platform offers.
Lastly, this platform is also constantly updated with new tracks almost every day, so you don’t have to worry about boring your viewers by making them listen to the same tracks in every stream.
YouTube Channels you Can Access for Royalty-Free Music On-Stream
If you’re a beginner in the streaming field, chances are you don’t have too much money to spend early on. In this case, it might be more beneficial for you to get your royalty-free music from YouTube, specifically from the channels that offer royalty-free music.
Here’s some of the top ones you can farm for tracks for your streams.
1. Comfi Beats
Those who are streamers themselves understand the difficulties a beginner in the streaming field can face, which is why they tend to do everything in their power to make life easier for these beginners. Lil Pichu, the owner of Comfi Beats is one such individual.
The popular streamer has come with a full channel that contains only royalty-free tracks that streamers on Twitch can use. Just make sure that when you use one of the tracks from her channel you give her credit for them and ask your audience to support her.
2. NoCopyrightSounds
For streamers who are looking to introduce some dubstep music into their streams, you need not go any further than NoCopyrightSounds. This YouTube channel contains a plethora of different playlists with most of them focusing on dubstep royalty-free music.
A genre of music that works perfectly for hype moments in a stream. Just make sure you give the channel it’s due credit when you use one of its tracks.
3. Infraction
Another channel that focuses on providing royalty-free electronic music, Infraction can also be your one stop shop for any and all types of electronic music. This includes house electro, edm and gaming electro.
Some of its tracks are quite generic actually, which makes them perfect for use in your intro before the actual stream starts. The channel also features playlists that showcase only sound effects that streamers can use for their sound alerts. Just make sure you give them their due credit because it literally costs you nothing.
4. RFM- Royalty Free Music
The name itself is pretty self-explanatory, this channel specializes in producing royalty-free music. It contains several playlists containing songs of numerous different genres.
Every track in every playlist is eligible for fair use, meaning you can just pick any of the playlists at random for your Twitch stream. Alternatively, if you feel like it, you could also create your own.
5. Game Chops
A channel designed for providing music to video game streamers, Game chops is a channel that’s become famous for producing royalty-free gaming music. The absolute best thing about this channel though is that it actively focuses on redoing some of the most famous tracks in gaming history in a way that makes them royalty-free.
Thus, allowing streamers to use any of their favorite gaming tracks in their streams. They do actively ask, however, that you give them credit for their tracks otherwise they will ask Twitch to strike your account.
Conclusion
All in all, the existence of royalty-free music for Twitch has become even more important considering how strictly the platform is following its guidelines on not allowing streamers to use any copyrighted music.
Thankfully, more and more platforms and YouTube channels are popping up that are producing royalty-free music for Twitch streamers to use. In the article we’ve only mentioned that absolute top of the pile when it comes to these types of channels and platforms. However, if you wanted to, you could probably find plenty more with just a few simple searches on Google.
The key thing you need to understand from all this is that there is no more leniency when it comes to using copyright music. So, don’t just use any track you get your hands on in your streams or your account will eventually get banned.
