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You can add songs to an ongoing YouTube livestream without disconnecting the encoder: prepare the audio source or playlist in OBS, then start it or switch to it while OBS continues sending the stream. That keeps the broadcast connection alive, but it does not grant permission to play the music. Confirm the rights for the live stream and its replay before using a track.

Keep the encoder connected while you add music

YouTube’s encoder workflow sends a continuing feed to the stream URL using your stream key. To add songs without going offline, change the media playing inside that feed; do not stop the encoder or end the stream in YouTube. The exact button sequence depends on your OBS scene layout and version, so prepare and test the source before the public broadcast.

Prepare a track or playlist in OBS

Option 1: Add one track with Media Source

  1. In OBS, open the project and scene that are already being sent to YouTube.
  2. In the Sources panel, add a Media Source and select an audio file you are authorized to use. OBS documentation lists MP3, AAC, OGG, and WAV among the supported audio formats.
  3. Configure playback for your intended use, then check that the source is routed into the program audio. Keep the source ready to start or enable during the stream.

Option 2: Queue multiple tracks with a VLC Video source

  1. Install VLC if it is not already installed; OBS’s VLC Video source requires it.
  2. In the relevant OBS scene, add a VLC Video source and create a playlist from media files you are authorized to use.
  3. Set the track order and choose the playlist playback behavior, such as looping or shuffle, before going live.

OBS labels and controls can vary by installed version; its Media Sources and Sources Guide documentation is dated January 11, 2022. Check the controls in your version rather than assuming every layout is identical.

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Test the transition before the public stream

  1. With the source prepared, test that the track is audible in the stream output and that it is not too loud or too quiet beside any existing audio.
  2. Practice starting the source or switching to the prepared scene while the encoder remains connected. Confirm that the program does not go silent during the change.
  3. Use YouTube’s Live Control Room preview and, where appropriate, a private or unlisted test to check the stream before relying on the setup for an audience. YouTube recommends testing and checking the preview before a live event.

Start the songs without ending the broadcast

  1. Open the scene or mix that is currently being sent to YouTube and leave OBS connected.
  2. Start or enable the prepared Media Source, or switch to the scene containing the playlist. The precise control depends on how the project is arranged.
  3. Monitor the audio and YouTube Live Control Room for warnings. If YouTube flags third-party content, stop or replace it promptly; continued playback can temporarily interrupt or terminate the stream.

YouTube says streams under 12 hours are automatically archived when ended through its documented encoder workflow. An archive can receive a Content ID claim after the live event, so consider replay rights before streaming as well as before ending the broadcast.

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Music rights still apply to Indian songs

Adding a file technically is not the same as having the rights to broadcast it. YouTube’s livestream terms say providers must hold the necessary rights for live content, including music rights from artists, record labels, publishers and other royalty participants. A consumer music subscription, a purchased track, a credit in the description, or permission from only one participant does not by itself establish that all required livestream rights are covered.

YouTube scans live streams for third-party content. If it identifies copyrighted content, it may replace the live video with a placeholder and warn you to stop using the material. If the content continues, the stream may be interrupted or terminated. Even if you have a licence, a rights owner may need to add your channel to its Content ID allowlist to prevent an interruption.

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Before playing Indian or other repertoire, confirm with the relevant rights owners or a qualified rights provider that permission covers the songs, intended territories, livestream use, archived replay, monetization if applicable, and any required Content ID allowlisting. There is no single India-wide licence or blanket permission established here for every song or channel.

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YouTube’s separate live Content ID matching feature is designed for eligible Content Manager partners with global rights and exclusive ownership. It is not a way for an ordinary streamer to get permission to play music belonging to someone else.

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Or let it run in the cloud

If the aim is to keep an Indian music YouTube channel live around the clock, StreamNeo is a cloud option: upload videos, add your YouTube stream key, and go live. The cloud keeps the stream running without a computer or home connection left on. It plays uploaded videos rather than going live from a camera, and it streams to YouTube only.

  • Any quality up to 4K 60fps at one flat price per slot, streaming the upload as made.
  • Automatic recovery if YouTube drops the stream.
  • The first day is free with no card required.

StreamNeo monthly: $9.99 per month. UPI and cards are accepted in India. See StreamNeo for details, or start the free day.

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Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.