Who Is Lofi Girl? And Is Her Music Copyright-Free?

Short answer: Lofi Girl's music is not copyright-free, but creators can use it for free. Since 2021, Lofi Girl has said that the music from its 24/7 radios and channel uploads is free to use for streamers and creators on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram and TikTok, as long as you credit the artist and the track. What you cannot do is reupload the music on its own or recreate the Lofi Girl streams. The rules live on Lofi Girl's website, so check them before you rely on this.

Can I use Lofi Girl music on Twitch or YouTube?

• Streams and videos: yes, with credit. Put the artist and track name in your video description or stream panels.
• Monetized content: allowed, as long as your video or stream is more than the track itself.
• Not allowed: reuploading the tracks, or recreating the Lofi Girl streams on your own channel.
• Automated matches: Lofi Girl says it will not file claims when you follow its guidelines. If an automated match ever shows up anyway, those guidelines are what you point to in a dispute.

Who is Lofi Girl?

Lofi Girl is both a YouTube channel and the animated girl who studies at her desk while the music plays. The channel started in 2015 as ChilledCow, founded by Dimitri. Its 24/7 stream, "lofi hip hop radio: beats to relax/study to", began in February 2017 and turned the phrase into shorthand for the whole genre.

The girl herself was drawn by Colombian illustrator Juan Pablo Machado, and the looping animation arrived in 2018. In March 2021 the channel renamed itself after her: ChilledCow became Lofi Girl. Today it has nearly 16 million subscribers and releases music through its own record label.

The 2022 takedown

In July 2022, YouTube pulled Lofi Girl's two 24/7 streams after a copyright claim from a Malaysian label. The claim was false, YouTube called it abusive, and the streams came back two days later. It is a useful reminder for streamers: even music you are allowed to use can catch a bad claim, and a dispute works best when the owner has published clear rules.

Is lofi music copyright-free in general?

No. Lofi is a genre, not a license. Every lofi track is owned by someone, and each label or artist sets its own rules. Lofi Girl lets creators use its music with credit. Other big lofi channels sell licenses. Many say nothing at all, which means you should assume you cannot use it. Our guide to the best royalty-free music for Twitch compares the sources that do allow it.

Lofi Girl or BeatsBackground for your stream?

Both work, and plenty of streamers use both. The differences:

• Credit: Lofi Girl requires it. We appreciate it, but it is never required.
• Claims: we do not file copyright claims against streamers or creators. Ever. Live, VODs, clips and re-uploads, on any platform.
• Content ID: like all distributed music, our releases exist in Content ID. We do not act on matches.
• How to play it: stream us from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music or YouTube, or run our full catalog through Pretzel, the safest setup, with shuffle and on-screen credits.
• Sound: every BeatsBackground track is written and played by the same two brothers, so the mood stays consistent across a long stream. The playlists are the easiest place to start.