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If you’ve ever tuned into a Twitch stream and heard popular songs playing in the background, you might’ve wondered, how are streamers getting away with that? The short answer: they’re playing the music live, but leaving it off their VODs.
TL;DR: How to Remove Copyrighted Music from Twitch VODs
Twitch streamers can safely play music live by keeping it off their VODs. Removing copyrighted music from your past broadcasts helps protect your channel from DMCA takedowns and copyright strikes.
You can mute or remove music from VODs by:
- Using OBS Studio or Streamlabs: Separate your music onto a different audio track so it doesn’t save to your VOD.
- Using Voicemeeter Banana: Route your audio so live viewers can hear the music, but it’s excluded from your recordings.
- Twitch’s built-in tools: In the Audio Mixer, enable the option to exclude specific sources from VODs and clips.
When streamers play copyrighted music during a live broadcast, it’s usually fine in real time because Twitch’s DMCA detection primarily affects stored content, like VODs and clips. The real risk comes when that copyrighted music remains in your past broadcasts. That’s why many streamers use tools or settings to remove or mute music from their saved VODs, while still keeping the vibe going during the live show.
If you want to learn how to safely play music during your streams without risking takedowns, check out our full guide here:
How to Remove Copyrighted Music from Twitch VODs
Just remember, this only protects your saved content, not your live streams. Always be careful when playing copyrighted songs live.