If you want to use background music in your stream, you need permission from the copyright holder(s), and this usually involves a licensing fee.
Fortunately, there are many online music libraries online that offer royalty-free music for widespread use.
Using Background Music in Streams
Many Twitch streamers use background music to provide flair and atmosphere to their streams. Unfortunately, in too many cases, this music is obtained without permission from the individual or company that holds the rights to the music. Sometimes, streamers might use music with no idea whether they have the right to use that particular track.
If the music is commercial in nature — that is, it was released with the explicit intention of creating profit for the artist and their record label — that music is protected by copyright laws, meaning that someone owns the right to determine how the song is used. This means copyright holders can:
- Choose who is allowed to use their music.
- Approve (or deny) the conditions that permission can be granted.
- Ask for compensation for granting permission.
- Deny the use of a song.
Buying a song from iTunes, Bandcamp, Amazon Music, or some other vendor does not give you the commercial rights. A digital purchase that you make for (and by) yourself gives you the right to listen to the song only for personal or private reasons. Twitch, being a commercial property, cannot be legally considered a personal platform through which you can play music that you purchased.
What Happens if You Play without Permission?
Streaming music without permission is a big deal. Doing so is a violation of both copyright laws and of Twitch’s own terms of use. Twitch is legally liable for any copyright infraction on their platform.
Some streamers have been temporarily banned for playing copyrighted music in their videos, and permanent bans for repeat violations are not unheard of.
So, How Can I Get Music for My Stream?
Under certain circumstances, you can safely play music on your Twitch stream. The following options may work for you.
Contact the Owner
If you want to get permission to use licensed music on your stream, you can contact the artist or their management directly. There tends to not be a flat rate for music fees. The rate will instead be determined by the artist’s popularity and how big your own platform is.
For example, more obscure artists can ask for upwards of $300, while an established artist could feasibly charge $10,000 for their music to be used in your stream.
Find Royalty-free Songs
A number of musicians make their music freely available for background streaming, asking only to be credited by name. We’ll explain a few of these options later in the article.
Consider Paid Music Options
If you don’t have hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to put down for background music, you can look for online music libraries that provide customers with more affordable licenses and copyright cleared music to use for broadcasting. You can search for music by genre, feel, length, and other matches to fit your channel, and then pay a nominal fee (or no fee at all) to use the music.
Some libraries offer a subscription model to use any of their content, while others license tracks on a per-use basis.
Write Your Own Music
If you own the copyright to the music, you’re not required to ask permission or pay anyone to use it. If you’re musically inclined, this could be a good option for you and your fans.
Top Songs for Background Music for Streamers
The best songs to play in the background match the images you’re sharing. The right songs for you can be different than ones that are right for someone else. However, these sample playlists can help you get started. We’ve pulled songs that you can find on YouTube Music, Apple Music, and the platforms we’ve outlined below.
Upbeat and energetic music:
- ‘Clarity’ by Porter Robinson & The Glitch Mob
- ‘Higher’ by Lost Frequencies & Zonder
- ‘Alone’ by Marshmello
- ‘Ignite’ by Alan Walker
- ‘Faded’ by Alan Walker
Chill music choices:
- ‘Night Owl’ by Chinsaku
- ‘Sunday Afternoon’ by Studybeats
- ‘Rainy Day’ by Lofi Girl
- ‘Chill Day’ by Tokyo Rose
What About Other Platforms?
Several companies are interested in helping you find the right music for streaming. This table can help you find out more about them.
All of the options we’ve outlined here are free, and it’s easy to get started. Create an account with each company, and experiment until you find one that seems right for you.
References
Three Reasons Why You Need To Add Background Music To Your YouTube Videos. (August 2021). Talented Ladies Club.
15 World’s Best Free Online Music Streaming Platforms. (December 2020). Lifehack.