Twitch launches livestreaming incubator programme

The company says the programme forms part of the platform’s ongoing investment in its music communities.

Twitch will work with several strategic partners to “source, educate, and highlight” the musicians on the platform including DistroKid, Rolling Stone, TuneCore, UnitedMasters, Amazon Music and Discord.

Twitch has made an open call to the public. The company will also join forces with DistroKid, UnitedMasters and TuneCore to curate the artist selection, identifying and inviting suitable artists to apply for the programme.

Discord, which is an instant messaging and digital distribution platform, will educate artists on the strategies musicians are using Discord servers to maintain engagement among fan communities. Amazon Music and Rolling Stone will feature the artists on their Twitch shows.

The programme has three key segments including Invite-Only Collectives, which will see selected musicians grouped into “exclusive collectives” based on what “complementary backgrounds, genres, and career stages”, Twitch said. The Learn the Livestream Playbook for Music segment will offer each participant guidance on the livestream paradigm and help them craft their own channel and strategy. Artists will also learn how to build their communities on Twitch and how to earn money from their fans directly.

After graduating from the programme, participants are expected to receive ongoing support and investment from Twitch. They will also be prioritised for discovery opportunities, promotion, live activations and more.

“Twitch is the best place for musicians, not only in giving them a stage for creativity – but also in building engaging communities of superfans that takes them to new heights,” Twitch vice-president and head of music Tracy Chan said.“We’ve seen our artistic music creators monetize their work and grow a strong presence, and it’s been exciting to see the rapid expansion of our music category. For Twitch newcomers, The Collective ensures that artists have the proper knowledge and tools to be successful on Twitch in doing what they do – touching the lives of others through music.”