Cindy Charles, head of music at Twitch, struck and killed by garbage truck in tragic accident in Amsterdam

Cindy Charles, Twitch’s Head of Music and a pioneer in the music industry, passed away at the age of 69 after a tragic traffic accident in Amsterdam. Her death was confirmed on October 18 by Twitch CEO Daniel Clancy, who praised Charles’ contributions to the platform and the music world. The accident occurred on October 14, when Charles was hit by a garbage truck near the Passeerdersgracht while he was in town to speak at the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), a major industry conference.

In a heartfelt post on Group, Sony Music Entertainment and independent labels represented by Merlin. “Everyone who uses music on Twitch owes a debt of gratitude to Cindy’s work,” Clancy wrote. “She always had a bright smile on her face, even when negotiating unprecedented music licensing deals.”

Charles had a long and distinguished career in the music and digital media industries, with roles at Amazon, Viacom and MediaNet Digital before joining Twitch. She also co-founded Women in Digital and played a leading role in founding the San Francisco chapter of She is the Music, an organization dedicated to increasing the number of women in the music industry. Her contributions helped pave the way for artists, DJs and creators to thrive on streaming platforms like Twitch, and she was widely admired for her deep knowledge of both the music business and emerging digital trends.

Cindy Charles’ tragic death has sent shockwaves through the music industry and the Twitch community. Her husband, Ricky Fishman, paid tribute on social media and shared memories of their 50-year relationship. “The hole in the universe left by Cindy’s departure from this world will not be filled,” Fishman wrote on Facebook. “She gave love and received love and built a network of friends unmatched by anyone I have ever known.”

Charles’ work at Twitch was particularly influential in helping the platform navigate the complex world of music licensing, a crucial challenge for content creators. Her efforts were instrumental in securing Twitch’s first-ever music licensing deals with the major record labels, making it possible for DJs and musicians to legally stream their work on the platform. In his tribute, Clancy highlighted the lasting impact of her work, noting: “She was instrumental in creating the strong relationships we have with the music industry today.”

In addition to her professional achievements, Charles was loved for her warmth, energy and dedication to her team. Kira Karlstrom, a colleague at Twitch, wrote a moving tribute to Charles on Medium, describing her as “the heart and soul” of the music team. “Every success, every setback, every moment of working toward our shared mission felt deeply personal because Cindy made it that way,” Karlstrom wrote. “She cared about her team with all her heart, and our work was an extension of that care.”

The loss of Charles is particularly poignant given the personal milestones she achieved later in life. She met her husband, Ricky Fishman, fifty years ago at SUNY Buffalo State University, although their relationship did not begin until thirty years later when they met again at a reunion. Fishman described her as “at the top of her game” and talked about how they planned to travel together. “She loved to travel, and unfortunately there are many trips we had planned that will not happen,” he wrote.

As the music and technology industries mourn Charles’ untimely death, many are reflecting on her immense contributions. Her work has shaped not only the way music is shared and consumed on platforms like Twitch, but also the way artists and creators can build sustainable careers in the digital age. Charles’ passing leaves a great void, but her legacy in music licensing and digital media will continue to influence the industry for years to come.

Cindy Charles is survived by her husband Ricky Fishman, her son Ben Charles and her stepson Sam Fishman.

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