Can You Play Music on Twitch: What Streamers Need to Know

Want to turn boring gameplay into engaging streams with music? That’s a good idea. But the question is: can you play music on Twitch?

The short answer is yes. But, not all music. Using copyrighted tracks can get your content muted or even get your channel banned.

In this article, we’ll talk about Twitch Music, including why you might want to use it and how to find legal music sources to avoid risking copyright issues. Let’s dive in!

Why Should You Play Music on Twitch?

Here are some reasons why playing music on Twitch might be a good idea:

• Twitch Supports It — You can play music on Twitch because the platform allows it. So, why not? Just use the free licensed library to make your streams more fun.
• It Builds Your Brand — Your background music reflects your personality, like your on-camera style. Genres like EDM can become your signature sound, helping viewers remember you.
• It Gives You an Edge — If most streamers in your niche skip music, adding it with Twitch Music can set you apart. A good soundtrack makes your stream more engaging and immersive.
• It Attracts Viewers — Top streamers like Ninja, Pokimane, and xQc often play music before going live. It builds anticipation and energizes the audience.
• It Sparks Engagement — Playing a popular song often prompts chat comments and emojis. Even quiet viewers may start discussing the music, giving you a chance to connect.
• It Boosts Retention — Music that really hits keeps viewers hooked longer and helps them remember your content better.
• It Keeps You Energized — Long streams can drain you, right? So, playing upbeat music can recharge your energy and keep the vibe lively for viewers.
• It Opens Monetization Opportunities — Using your own music makes your sound unique and helps show your talent. It can also help you make money by licensing your music to others.

Related: How to Make Money on Twitch

Can You Play Music on Twitch?

Technically, yes. Legally, it’s more complicated. Sure, Twitch lets you play music in streams, but you must follow copyright laws.

What does this mean? Twitch’s software doesn’t block any sound you send through OBS. So, when you hit “Go Live”, your viewers will hear it all during live streaming.

Twitch also offers streaming tools integration, which lets you play pre-cleared music during your stream and removes that audio from the VOD.

And if you write your own songs or license tracks, you also have the green light to leave the music in your recorded content.

Sounds all good, right? Yes, but problems happen when you try to play music you don’t own.

Twitch’s Music Guidelines are the same as the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which says streamers can’t broadcast or save copyrighted music without permission.

If a single verse from a song shows up in your stream, like a radio playing in the background while you’re playing Grand Theft Auto, the copyright owner can ask for it to be taken down.

Twitch must comply with these requests and often uses automated tools to mute or remove the content within minutes. Those detection bots don’t care if you have two followers or two million.

So again, can you play music on Twitch? You can if you have the rights to the music or use royalty-free tracks.

What Music Can You Play on Twitch?

Before you learn how to play music on Twitch, you should know what music you can play on this platform:

1. Your Own Music

If you create an original song with music software like FL Studio or record an acoustic guitar, you own the rights to that song. This covers the composition, performance, and recording.

You don’t need to register your work to hold rights. But, registration helps with legal protection and collecting royalties.

Once you own the rights, you can share and perform your music anywhere, including on Twitch. As a streamer, this gives you the streaming rights for your content.

2. Tracks Licensed To You

Short on time to create full soundtracks? No problem. You can still play licensed music on Twitch.

A license is permission to broadcast someone else’s music. It can come from major artists like Adele through rights groups like SESAC, or from micro influencers like EmilyHenryMusic.

Music licensed directly from artists is safe to use on Twitch, whether as background or main content. This keeps you legal and shows respect for artists’ rights.

3. Music from Licensed Services

Not all streamers can use copyrighted music easily, due to high licensing costs and permission issues. So, you might ask, “How can I play music on Twitch?”

Twitch offers licensed music options through its streaming tools. These make it simple to add background music or sound effects with proper licensing.

Using these built-in tools, you can play music legally on Twitch, avoiding copyright problems. They include ready-made playlists and sound effects from approved music libraries.

Some of these options are:

• Chillhop Music — Netherlands-based lofi/​jazzy-hop label to get you access curated chill-beats playlists. You can play music on Twithc with this tool as Any copyright claims are auto-released if you add a simple credit in your About section.
• NCS (NoCopyrightSounds) — A popular EDM label with a large catalog of high-quality tracks available for free. You can stream, use, and archive releases easily by adding a short credit link. NCS ensures zero DMCA strikes if guidelines are followed.
• Outertone — A Twitch-recommended electronic music label was launched after Soundtrack shut down. It offers over 1,600 high-quality, copyright-free tracks in many genres. You can use this music while streaming on Twitch and in VODs, with easy attribution.
• Pretzel — A subscription music service through Twitch’s Licensed Music Options. It offers over 550,000 tracks, curated playlists, more than 60 radio stations, and offline downloads. Its desktop player credits artists in chat. Simply link your channel to stay DMCA-safe.
• StreamBeats — Harris Heller, a gamer himself, created this collection. It offers over 50 hours of DMCA-free instrumental music in 15 genres, including trap and lo-fi hip-hop. With albums and singles like Groovy, Bounce, and Evergreen, it provides high-quality, royalty-free tracks.
• Monstercat Gold — A $7.49/month Monstercat subscription gives Twitch streamers a license to use its full catalog. The Monstercat Twitch Say-Song bot announces tracks in chat and tags viewers requesting info.

4. Music from Free Services

You don’t have to stick with those options from Twitch. You can explore some free alternatives to play music on Twitch legally. Here are a few options:

• Epidemic Sound — Over 40,000 tracks and 90,000 sound effects with one license. It covers all your projects, including Twitch. One connection is enough, and their system handles copyright claims automatically, so your videos won’t get muted or struck.
• SoundStripe — A subscription service with a vast library of high-quality music and sounds. It lets you stream on Twitch without DMCA worries,just whitelist your channel. Every download includes a perpetual license, so you can use the track forever.
• Legis Music — A large catalog of royalty-free music. The free plan lets you download up to 10 tracks a month. For $9.90/month, the Pro plan offers unlimited downloads and a lifetime license. It’s easy to use and legal for Twitch.
• GameChops — A remix label with chiptune, lo-fi, and EDM covers of Nintendo, Sega, and indie games. You can use their music on Twitch as long as you credit “GameChops” in your stream description.
• Other Content Creators — Some streamers and musicians, like Lilypichu, share original tracks on SoundCloud. You can use these for free, just give a shout-out to the creator when you play their music.

What Can’t You Play on Twitch?

Here is some of the music you can use on your Twitch live streams or even VODs:

1. Any Songs from Streaming Services

Streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, and Amazon Music offer subscriptions to access vast music catalogs.

But keep in mind that these services don’t give you the right to broadcast the music. When you press Play, you can listen privately, but not share it publicly.

Can you play music on Twitch? Only if you have the proper licenses. Without them, you risk copyright issues.

Some streamers try lowering the volume to hide the music, but it doesn’t work. Fingerprinting algorithms analyze the sound wave itself and can still detect the music.

2. Specific Content Types

Check Twitch’s music guidelines. They clearly list what’s not allowed in your streams, clips, or VODs:

• Radio-style music shows — Playing full songs nonstop turns your channel into a radio. Twitch bans this because it’s live copyrighted music.
• DJ sets or mixes — Combining parts of copyrighted songs isn’t allowed unless you have licensed samples, use royalty-free music, or access the Twitch DJ Music Catalog through the Twitch DJ Program.
• Karaoke performances — Commercial karaoke files are for private use only. Live rebroadcast isn’t permitted, so Twitch generally blocks this.
• Lip-syncing — While TikTok loves it, on Twitch, lip-syncing music is considered an unauthorized public performance.
• Visual music displays — Showing scrolling lyrics or sheet music during a live stream can infringe on rights. Twitch prevents this to stop illegal sharing.
• Cover songs — Performing or singing someone else’s song requires permission from the publisher. Without it, your stream might be muted or removed.

3. Copyrighted Materials

If you want to play music on Twitch, stick to original or licensed content. Avoid copyrighted songs from record labels, movies, TV shows, or games. Even background sounds like TV leaks or in-game radio can get you a DMCA strike.

What Happens When You Play Copyrighted Music on Twitch

These are the consequences of playing music on Twitch without proper licenses or permission:

• Muted Content — When you play copyrighted music on Twitch, parts of your VOD may be muted automatically to comply with copyright rules.
• Automated DMCA Takedowns — Twitch monitors streams live and afterward. If it detects an infringing track, it can pause your audio instantly and file a takedown.
• Channel Strikes — Every confirmed DMCA notice leaves a permanent mark. One strike is a warning, serious but manageable. Two strikes can lead to your channel being suspended, and three strikes can shut down your channel forever.
• Loss of Monetization — When suspended, your earnings, Bits, and subs stop. Missing a payment can make streaks and badges disappear, which may hurt supporter loyalty. Even after you’re back, CPM and ad-fill rates often drop because advertisers prefer channels that stick to the rules.
• Reputational Damage — If you have a history of copyright violations, it can seriously harm your reputation on Twitch and make sponsors or collaborators hesitant to work with you.
• Legal Consequences — In serious cases, repeated copyright violations can lead to lawsuits, fines, and criminal charges. You may be forced to delete the infringing work and harm your reputation.

Music on Twitch: A Wrap-up

Yes, you can play music on Twitch to make your streams more engaging. But, only if you use licensed, copyright-free tracks.

Keep in mind that Twitch’s DMCA rules are strict. Playing copyrighted music without permission can get your videos taken down, muted, or your account banned.

The good news is, you’ve learned how to find royalty-free music or use platforms that offer licensed content. Now, you can improve your streams without fear of legal issues.

That’s all for now. We hope this information helps you grow as a Twitch streamer. For more tips on boosting your channel and making epic content, subscribe to Gank’s blog.

FAQ about Twitch Music