Twitch’s head of music, Cindy Charles, dies at 69

She died in a traffic accident during the Amsterdam Dance Event.

Photo credit: Cindy Charles – Twitch

The music industry mourns Cindy Charles, Twitch’s head of music, who passed away at 69. Twitch’s CEO Daniel Clancy announced her death on X on October 18th, revealing that Charles was killed in a traffic accident in Amsterdam the previous day. The news shocked both the streaming and music communities.

Charles, a New York native with extensive music industry experience, was attending the Amsterdam Dance Event when the accident occurred.

Although her name might not have been widely recognized among Twitch users, Charles’s impact on the platform was profound. Clancy highlighted her pivotal role, stating, “She has been leading our team that manages our relationship with the music industry. Cindy has a deep history in the music business and she has been critical in creating the strong relationships that we have today.”

Charles’s most notable achievement was negotiating a landmark licensing agreement with major record labels, enabling DJs to legally livestream on Twitch. Clancy praised her contribution, saying, “Anyone that uses music on Twitch owes a debt of gratitude to Cindy’s work.”