[FAQ]

I want to play music on my Twitch stream to make it more entertaining, but I’m terrified of getting DMCA copyright strikes or having the audio muted in my VODs (my saved past broadcasts).

I’ve heard about a tool called “Soundtrack by Twitch” and I’m wondering if this is the official solution to this problem. Can someone explain what it is exactly and how it helps us use music legally on our streams as of 2025?

[Jeff Bullas]

That is a very important question. Navigating music copyright is one of the biggest headaches for streamers, and “Soundtrack by Twitch” is the platform’s direct answer to that problem.

It is a free tool provided by Twitch that gives streamers access to a large library of licensed, rights-cleared music that is safe to play during their live streams. Here is how it works to protect your channel.

First, Soundtrack by Twitch provides a curated library of music. Twitch has already secured the necessary licenses for you to broadcast these specific songs live to your audience. This means you can play music from its catalogue during your live stream without fear of receiving a DMCA copyright strike for that broadcast.

Second, and this is its most critical feature, it protects your saved content. The tool is designed to route its audio through a separate channel in your streaming software. This means the licensed music plays on your live stream for your viewers to enjoy, but it is automatically stripped out of your recorded VODs (Videos on Demand) and any Clips that are created from the stream. This audio separation is how it prevents your archived content from being muted or receiving copyright claims.

Third, you need to set it up correctly with your streaming software. It works as a plugin for common software like OBS or as a standalone desktop application. You simply connect it to your Twitch account, and it handles the technical audio routing for you.

This is fundamentally different from playing music from a personal streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music, which is against their terms of service for a public broadcast and is a violation of music copyright law. Soundtrack by Twitch is the officially sanctioned solution from the platform itself.

In summary, it is a free tool that gives you a library of licensed music that is safe for your live stream and, crucially, automatically removes that music from your VODs to protect your channel from long-term copyright issues. For any streamer wanting to use music, it is an essential tool.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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