SoundCloud to host music programmes on Twitch

The new channel, which will feature four live programmes, aims to assist viewers to discover new music, experience live performances and interact with experts through real-time chats.

The weekly shows will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. SoundClound says it is also planning some surprises outside regular programming.

The channel “will be a new home for all artists, creatives and listeners to meet emerging acts, hear from some major names in music and connect directly with the SoundCloud team and experts,” a SoundCloud blog post reads.

The channel will kick off with Studio Sessions With Soulection, which will be hosted by music platform Soulection founder Joe Kay. It will feature special guests who will dig through the crates of SoundCloud to find hidden gems. Studio Sessions With Soulection will be livestreamed from 8pm to 9.30pm CAT.

Fast Track, which will also take place on Wednesdays, will see beatmakers create and complete new beats from scratch within one hour on the show. Music makers will then be able to download the track for free and use it in their own creations.

Meanwhile, Cloud Bar will present educational topics ranging from self-care to navigating the business of live music. Each panel discussion will feature appearances from the SoundCloud team and a range of experts every week.

This week’s guests include CAA music agents Zach Iser and Caroline Yim, artist managers Byron Wilson, Matthew Burnett and Jordan Evans, Dae Bogan of the Mechanical Licensing Collective, XXL’s editorial director, Georgette Cline, hip-hop entrepreneur Roger Gengo, recording artist, activist and entrepreneur Vic Mensa, and the founder and CEO of Biz 3 Publicity, Kathryn Frazier. The panels will take place on Thursdays at the scheduled times.

In addition, Fresh Pressed will feature the best new tracks and provide insights into the songs directly from the artists who created them. The show will be hosted by SoundCloud music experts and feature guest appearances by both new talent and big names. The show will air on Mondays from 8pm to 9.30pm CAT.

The launch of the channel builds on a strong relationship between SoundCloud and Twitch. Last month, the two platforms partnered to help creators connect with their fans and earn money from their Twitch streams by fast-tracking their affiliate status.

The full schedule and more information on SoundCloud's Twitch channel can be found here.

In the meantime, SoundCloud on Friday posted tips from music/tech journalist Cherie Hu on how to navigate the changing landscape of ‘live’.