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To stream a continuous relaxation-music playlist to YouTube with OBS, prepare a YouTube broadcast, build an OBS scene, route a playlist player’s audio into OBS, connect OBS to YouTube, and test the stream before making it public. Use music whose rights cover both live streaming and any saved archive: YouTube scans live streams for third-party content, and a match can interrupt a broadcast even when you have a license unless the rights owner has allowlisted your channel.
What you need before you start
- A computer running OBS Studio and the relaxation-music files or playlist you intend to play.
- A visual for the stream, such as a still image or other scene source.
- A YouTube channel eligible to use live streaming, with access to YouTube Studio’s Live Control Room.
- A reliable upload connection capable of sustaining your chosen stream settings.
- Music rights that cover YouTube livestreaming and, if you keep the broadcast archive, the archived video as well.
OBS handles the video scene, audio routing, and connection to YouTube. It does not itself provide music rights or prescribe a particular playlist player or looping method. The steps below use a local player as the audio source; confirm that the player can repeat the playlist if you need it to continue beyond its initial run.
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Set up the YouTube broadcast
- In YouTube Studio, open the Live Control Room and create or schedule a broadcast.
- Set the broadcast’s title, privacy, and other options for your intended audience. If you schedule it, keep the selected broadcast in mind when connecting OBS.
- Choose whether to connect through OBS’s YouTube integration or by configuring YouTube as an RTMPS service and entering the stream key in OBS. Keep the stream key private; anyone who obtains it may be able to send a stream to your channel.
OBS’s community walkthrough for the YouTube connection was last updated in 2021, so its interface labels may not match current releases. Check the current controls in OBS and YouTube Studio rather than relying on an old button name.
Build the OBS scene and route playlist audio
- In OBS, create a scene for the broadcast and add the visual source you want viewers to see.
- Start playback in your music player. Add or select the audio input/output source that captures that player’s sound in OBS. The exact source depends on your operating system and audio setup; the cited OBS guidance does not prescribe a specific player or playlist-capture method.
- Watch the OBS Audio Mixer while music plays. The intended meter should move. If it does not, open Settings → Audio and check that the selected devices are the ones in use.
- Listen to the feed through headphones or another monitoring route, if available, to check that the right music is audible and that unwanted desktop sounds are not being captured.
- Set the music player to repeat the playlist if the broadcast should continue after the tracks have played once. Confirm the repeat behavior before going live; a silent gap or stopped player can leave the stream running without music.
OBS’s Quick Start Guide covers scenes, sources, audio configuration, and output settings: OBS Quick Start Guide.
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Choose stream settings your connection can sustain
YouTube’s recommended video bitrate depends on resolution, frame rate, and codec. Measure your available upload capacity and choose a setting that remains reliable under real conditions rather than selecting a bitrate based only on a speed-test peak. YouTube’s encoder guidance lists RTMP/RTMPS, H.264, H.265, or AV1 video, AAC or MP3 audio, and constant bitrate (CBR); it recommends RTMPS. Consult its current table for the combination you plan to use: YouTube live encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions.
- Use a resolution and frame rate appropriate for the visual and connection. A still image with music does not require motion-heavy video settings.
- Set OBS’s output to a bitrate that your upload connection can maintain consistently.
- Use a keyframe interval and other encoder values consistent with YouTube’s current guidance and the options available in your OBS version.
- Do not assume one bitrate is correct for all resolutions, frame rates, codecs, or connections.
The YouTube encoder page is the source for specific recommended bitrate combinations; check it at setup time because its values and supported options are presented by configuration, not as one universal setting.
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Test, go live, and monitor the stream
- Run a short test before the public broadcast. YouTube recommends testing with audio and video movement similar to what you plan to stream.
- Check the YouTube preview and stream-health indicators, and read any messages in the Live Control Room.
- Confirm that music is audible in OBS and in the YouTube preview, the intended visual appears, and the playlist is repeating as expected.
- When the preview and health indicators are satisfactory, start the selected broadcast using the current OBS and YouTube controls.
- Monitor OBS and YouTube while the stream runs. If OBS shows rising dropped frames, OBS says the connection may be unstable or unable to sustain the selected bitrate; lower the stream’s demand or address the connection.
- When finished, stop the stream using the controls for the selected broadcast and verify in YouTube Studio that it has ended. Start/stop behavior can differ for scheduled and unscheduled broadcasts, and OBS’s detailed community guide describing those workflows dates to 2021.
References: YouTube encoder and stream-health guidance and the OBS Quick Start Guide.
Use music that is cleared for live streams and archives
YouTube states: “All live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content, including copyrighted content in the form of another live broadcast.” If YouTube identifies third-party material, it may replace the stream with a placeholder and warn you to stop using the content; if the match remains, it may interrupt or terminate the stream. YouTube’s live-stream copyright guidance explains the process.
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A third-party license alone may not prevent a live interruption. YouTube instructs creators using licensed third-party content to ask the rights owner to add their channel to the owner’s Content ID allowlist. Archived livestreams may also receive Content ID claims after the broadcast ends. Check the actual license for live YouTube use, saved archives, attribution, and any allowlisting requirement; do not assume that a streaming subscription or a “royalty-free” label covers these uses.
YouTube Audio Library
YouTube Audio Library is available in YouTube Studio and provides searchable, downloadable production music and sound effects. YouTube identifies its tracks as copyright-safe, but individual terms still matter: tracks under Creative Commons require artist attribution in the video description. You can filter for standard Audio Library tracks that do not require attribution. YouTube says YPP creators may monetize videos using Audio Library tracks and that its copyright-safe downloads will not be claimed through Content ID by a rights holder. It does not vouch for “royalty-free” music found on other YouTube channels or music libraries. Read the track terms before using a selection in a live broadcast or archive: YouTube Audio Library guidance.
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Third-party licensed music
Before using a track from a separate library or rights holder, verify that the license covers continuous YouTube livestreaming and archived video, whether attribution is required, and whether the owner can allowlist your channel through Content ID. If the owner cannot confirm the necessary rights or allowlisting, choose a different track or source.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshoot common problems
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check or do |
|---|---|---|
| No audio meter movement in OBS | The wrong input or output device is selected, or the player is not being captured. | Confirm the player is playing, then check the devices under Settings → Audio and the audio source assigned to the scene. |
| OBS meter moves, but the YouTube preview is silent | The stream’s audio routing or output configuration may not be sending the monitored source. | Test again before going public; check the active OBS scene, audio source, and output settings, then listen to the YouTube preview. |
| The music stops before the broadcast ends | The playlist may not be set to repeat, or the player may have stopped. | Verify the repeat setting and run a representative test long enough to confirm playback continues. |
| YouTube warns about third-party content or interrupts the stream | A Content ID match may have been detected. | Stop using the matched material. Confirm the rights cover live use and archives; for licensed third-party content, ask the rights owner about Content ID allowlisting. |
| OBS reports dropped frames | The connection may be unstable or unable to sustain the chosen bitrate. | Reduce bitrate or other stream demand, or improve the connection, then test again and monitor stream health. |
| OBS or YouTube controls do not match an older guide | The guide’s interface details may be out of date. | Check the current controls in your installed OBS version and YouTube Studio. OBS’s community YouTube guide was last updated in 2021: OBS community guide to streaming with OBS. |
Or let it run in the cloud
If you want the YouTube channel to keep playing uploaded relaxation music without leaving a computer on, StreamNeo runs the stream from the cloud. Upload the recording or build a playlist, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. Nothing has to stay on at home; each slot streams the uploaded quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price, with automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream. The first day is free with no card, one free day per account. Monthly pricing is $9.99 per month. StreamNeo plays uploaded videos, not a live camera feed, and streams to YouTube.
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