Dance/electronic music platform Beatport and Amazon-owned Twitch have inked a livestreaming partnership that will enable Beatport to bring exclusive music programming to its oficial Twitch Channel.
Beatport’s Twitch channel has amassed over 140,000 followers and more than 48 million views, with 221 million minutes watched.
The platform announced in January that it had paid out over $300 million to independent dance music labels since it launched in 2004.
Beatport’s recent music programming on Twitch included a 36-hour livestream charity fundraiser, ReConnect, which supported COVID-19 Relief and the Beirut explosion, as well as individual EP album release streams from the likes of Charlotte de Witte and Amelie Lens and festival partnerships including Glastonbury, Movement Detroit, Junction 2, CRSSD and Creamfields.
In addition to these larger festival partnerships and ReConnect events, Beatport will now also produce several weekly show formats showcasing electronic music artists.
A centerpiece of the programming will be called ‘The Residency’. Each month on Thursday evenings, Beatport will allow an artist to host their own residency and curate each session.
Artists such as Maya Jane Coles, Eats Everything, Kerri Chandler, Nastia, WhoMadeWho and SAMA’ ABDULHADI are scheduled for residencies over the next few months.
Sunday evenings will be given to electronic music collectives around the world such as Boko! Boko! (London), Dome of Doom (Los Angeles), HE.SHE.THEY (London) and No Shade (Berlin) to showcase a diverse program of producers, DJs, promoters, and other artists.
Meanwhile, Beatport’s emerging label initiative Beatport HYPE will be given the spotlight in the HYPE Label Showcases. HYPE labels such as Soft Computing, Sense Traxx, House U and Hotfuss will promote their music and artists each month.
Additionally, labels such as Drumcode, Tronic, Toolroom, Soma, Ultra, Kittball and Stereo Productions will present new releases and artists on Beatport’s Label Showcases series.
Educational content from dance industry figures such as Chris Lake, Chris Liebing, Francesca Lombardo and K-HAND will also be presented on Beatport’s long-running Studio Sessions, providing behind-the-scenes access to their studios and creative process.
Beatport’s curation team will also select releases each week and premiere them using Beatport LINK during the shows from Berlin. This will include industry expert ENDO running Beatport LINK instructional sessions from Los Angeles. Weekly guests will include regular “Beatport top sellers” and up and coming artists.
“We have seen firsthand how live streams are playing a crucial role in nurturing the dance music community during the pandemic, with millions of fans watching our events on a regular basis.”
Robb McDaniels, Beatport
Beatport’s CEO, Robb McDaniels said: “We have seen firsthand how live streams are playing a crucial role in nurturing the dance music community during the pandemic, with millions of fans watching our events on a regular basis.
“We have learned that in addition to big global events, dance music fans are interested in expertly curated and hyper-local live streams as well.
“That is why we are committed to focusing a large portion of our live stream takeovers from local collectives who are absolutely essential to nightlife culture globally, and now more than ever, need visibility during the global pandemic.”
Will Farrell-Green, Head of Music Content at Twitch, added: “Beatport has been a key part of Twitch’s music growth over the past couple of years, driving the diversity and artistry of the electronic music industry in unparalleled ways.
“When events all moved to virtual this year, Beatport was one of the first to accelerate their programming on Twitch.
“We’re thrilled to expand this partnership to continue connecting this group of avid electronic music fans globally.”
“Collaborating with Twitch and expanding our livestream programming allows us to continue to bring critical visibility and revenue to artists, labels, and collectives during a time when live club shows, the lifeblood of our industry, do not exist.”
Ed Hill, Beatport
Ed Hill, Beatport’s Vice President of Creative Services, said: “Collaborating with Twitch and expanding our livestream programming allows us to continue to bring critical visibility and revenue to artists, labels, and collectives during a time when live club shows, the lifeblood of our industry, do not exist.
“Our goal is to help the creative forces in electronic music stay innovative and thrive in the current digital-only performance environment and keep the connection between fans, artists and labels alive, and through this programming, build a closer relationship between us all via the amazing community vibe that Twitch offers.
“I’m really excited to make something amazing out of what we have all, as a community, been dealt.”Music Business Worldwide
