Twitch partners with Soundcloud to put a new spin on DJ sets

Both YouTube and TikTok have flexed their music industry muscles by attaching their names to star-studded concerts. In response to those events, Twitch and SoundCloud are saying, “why not us?”

The Amazon-owned streaming hub and the indie music distribution service have teamed up to present SoundCloud Sessions, a one-day extravaganza featuring a plethora of DJ sets. Some members of Twitch’s DJ Program are delivering live performances on their streaming accounts, and SoundCloud is keeping the beats coming by hosting a handful of IRL sets.

A Twitch blog post describes SoundCloud Sessions as an “all-day DJ party” that takes place on June 26. While all members of the Twitch DJ Program are encouraged to participate, SoundCloud has cobbled together a group of headliners who merit special recognition. The day’s capstone is a dance party that will come off the screen at SoundCloud’s New York City office.

“By coupling Twitch’s live digital stage with SoundCloud’s native discovery ecosystem, SoundCloud Sessions brings the energy of a live performance straight to the screen, equipping emerging DJs to scale their presence far beyond the physical room,” said SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton

in a statement. “We’re transforming raw, live moments into digital discovery, and building on the timeless foundation of DJ culture—which has always been about discovery, community, and what’s next.”

Twitch, like YouTube and TikTok, will be able to use its music-focused live event to establish its credibility as a tastemaker. The festival also promotes the DJ category Twitch has been eager to build. After establishing its DJ Program in 2024 — and offering tracks from top labels to its partners — Twitch sweetened the deal with a 24-hour push titled “808 Day.”

SoundCloud Sessions, like 808 Day, presents DJ Program partners with the chance to participate in a platform-wide celebration. The #SoundCloudSessions tag offers a wide array of live-streamed sets, and viewers who tune in for at least 45 minutes receive an exclusive emote.

Or, if you want to keep it low-key, you can stay tuned to Twitch’s DJ category. Even after the SoundCloud Sessions end, that landing page will continue to offer the freshest beats out there.