By NaJade · DJ in Bangkok · Published October 20, 2026
This guide is part of how to learn to DJ: the complete guide.
A great mix nobody can hear doesn’t get you booked. A mix that gets taken down doesn’t either.
Every promoter I’ve worked with in Bangkok asks the same thing before booking a new DJ: “Do you have a mix I can listen to?” Recording it is the easy part. Putting it somewhere it stays online is harder, because almost every DJ mix is built from other people’s copyrighted music, and each platform handles that differently. Here’s where to upload, and what happens on each one.
Mixcloud is the safest place to upload DJ mixes because it licenses the music and pays royalties, as long as you follow its track limits. YouTube and SoundCloud often claim, mute or remove mixes. Twitch’s DJ Program covers live streams. Use your own music, or official permissions, anywhere else.
The Platforms Compared
| Platform | Licensed for DJ mixes? | What usually happens | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixcloud | Yes, within its upload rules | Mix stays up; artists get paid | Your main mix archive |
| SoundCloud | No blanket licence for mixes | Possible takedowns of copyrighted mixes | Your own tracks and edits you have permission for |
| YouTube | No, Content ID decides | Claims: blocked, monetised for the label, or tracked | Video of you playing, short clips, your own music |
| Twitch | Yes, via the DJ Program (live) | Licensed live streams; music costs shared | Live-streamed sets |
| hearthis.at | No, rights are the uploader’s job | Fingerprinted; flagged content can be blocked | A backup listening link |
Mixcloud: The Safest Home for Mixes
Mixcloud has licensing deals with labels, publishers and collecting societies, so when you stay within its rules you don’t have to handle licensing yourself — and the artists in your mix get paid. Every upload is fingerprinted. A show that breaks the rules is blocked at upload, or moved back to drafts if it’s already live. The main rules for shows over 15 minutes:
- No more than 4 tracks by the same artist, and no more than 3 of them in a row.
- No more than 3 tracks from the same album, EP or compilation, and no more than 2 in a row.
- Free accounts can keep up to 10 published shows; extras go to drafts rather than being deleted.
- Mixcloud Pro adds unlimited and scheduled uploads, higher-quality audio, live streaming and listener stats, for about US$15 a month.
Read Mixcloud’s upload rules for shows and tracks before you plan a mix — the artist limit matters most for tribute or label-showcase mixes.
SoundCloud and YouTube: Proceed With Care
SoundCloud is where a lot of DJs started, and it’s still great for original music. But its own help pages say you generally need permission from the copyright owners to upload a DJ mix, and to dispute a takedown you’d have to show permission for every track. Repeated takedowns can affect your account.
YouTube runs every upload through Content ID. When it spots a copyrighted track, the rights holder chooses what happens: block the video, run ads on it and keep the money, or simply track it — and that choice can vary by country. A claim usually doesn’t hurt your channel, but a formal takedown is a copyright strike. Google explains it in how YouTube Content ID claims work. Video of you behind the decks still has huge promo value; just expect some mixes to be blocked or muted.
Live Streaming: Twitch and Beyond
Twitch launched its DJ Program in 2024 with Universal, Sony, Warner and Merlin, which represents many independent labels. DJs who join can stream licensed music live. Music costs are split between Twitch and DJs who earn money on the platform, and Twitch covers them for DJs who don’t. The trade-offs: DJ Program streams don’t keep full VODs or allow uploaded videos the way normal channels do, although clips are now supported without the licensed music. See Twitch’s official DJ Program announcement.
Mixcloud Pro also supports live streaming under its licences, which makes it a simple option if you want your live sets and your archive in one place.
A Simple Upload Strategy
- Record cleanly. Levels out of the red and a proper tracklist — see how to record a DJ mix.
- Upload the full mix to Mixcloud, checking the artist and album limits first.
- Post short video clips of you mixing to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube for reach.
- Put your best 30–60 minutes in your press kit as a private or unlisted link — more in how to make a DJ demo mix and how to make a DJ press kit.
- Keep the original WAV on your drive. Platforms change rules; your files shouldn’t disappear with them.
A Note From NaJade
I learned this the annoying way. Years ago I uploaded a progressive house mix I was really proud of, shared the link with a few promoters, and a week later it had been taken down. One of them messaged me asking if I’d sent the wrong link. That’s not the first impression you want. Now everything long-form goes on Mixcloud first, I keep my tracklists tidy so they pass the artist limits, and I use short clips everywhere else. It’s not glamorous, but the link always works, and the artists I play actually get paid when someone listens. As a DJ who lives off other people’s music, that part matters to me.
Related: how to promote yourself as a DJ, how to build your DJ brand, how to get DJ gigs, and where to buy music as a DJ.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to upload DJ mixes?
Why does Mixcloud block some of my mixes?
Can I upload DJ mixes to SoundCloud?
What happens if I upload a DJ mix to YouTube?
Can DJs stream on Twitch legally?
What is the best platform for a DJ demo mix?
About the Author
NaJade is a Bangkok-based DJ playing progressive house, melodic EDM, pop, and Thai music across clubs, rooftops, and weddings in Thailand. He teaches beatmatching and mixing to beginners both in person in Bangkok and online over Zoom. When he’s not behind the decks, he’s documenting the journey on YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.