As DMCA strikes threaten streamers and producers, Artlist steps up

Jared Wynne Published 24/07/2020

Streamers and content producers on Twitch and other video platforms have increasingly been affected by DMCA strikes that threaten to cut down their channels. With many creators left looking for help, some services are stepping up to provide solutions.

The Digital Millennium Copyright Act has been at the center of discussion in streaming communities throughout the summer season. Large stakeholders have increasingly been targeting content creators on Twitch. Playing copyrighted music in the background of a stream, once a common practice, is now being punished with strict enforcement.

Popular channels have been suspended, and some streamers have even been threatened with outright bans. All of this comes as Twitch attempts to prevent itself from being held liable by those copyright owners willing and able to enter pitched legal battles with millions of dollars on the line.

But some streamers have already begun looking for proactive solutions. One prominent example is music service Artlist.

Artlist fills the void as DMCA strikes hit streamers

Founded in 2016, Artlist provides royalty-free music to content creators pulled from across a broad spectrum of genres. The music is categorized by sound and feel, allowing users to pull exactly what they’re looking for from the service.

The provided music is sourced from independent musicians from around the world who are looking to expand their reach. By working with Artlist, these musicians are able to expose new listeners to their music while also providing alternatives to the copyrighted tracks that have gotten so many streamers and video producers into hot water of late.

The concept of stock music, available free of copyright, isn’t necessarily new. But it’s the way companies like Artlist are approaching the creation and delivery of this music that sets them apart.

Artlist actually offers users the ability to subscribe annually to obtain access to its full catalogue of music, across all of its many artists and the genres they represent. This is a substantial upgrade over having to pay for each individual song.

So while DMCA strikes and the oppressive gaze of giant media companies looking to extend the reach of their domain can be scary prospects, content creators should feel at ease given the increasing prevalence of strong alternatives. So long as companies like Artlist are around, content creators will continue to be able to support their videos and live streams with music that they and their viewers enjoy.

Jared Wynne

About Jared Wynne

Jared Wynne is the Editor-in-Chief at WIN.gg, overseeing its content. He has been working in digital media for over two decades, most often in and around the gaming industry. His all-time favorite games include Baldur’s Gate, Doom, and Counter-Strike, but he’ll play just about anything that seems interesting. His previous credits include The Daily Dot, The Esports Observer, GameLand, and more.

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