To show a now-playing track list on a YouTube podcast live stream, add a Browser Source to your OBS scene if your overlay provider gives you a compatible URL and can receive metadata from your music player. If you cannot confirm that connection, use an OBS text source and update the title and artist yourself.
A track display is only an on-screen credit: it does not grant permission to play music. Test the display, the audio and the live-stream setup separately before your show.
Choose automatic metadata or manual updates
A Browser Source can display a web page inside an OBS scene, so an overlay provider may offer a URL you can use for a now-playing graphic. But OBS loading that page does not make it discover the song on its own. Automatic updates depend on a working connection between the music player or audio setup and the overlay provider's metadata feed.
Before building your scene around automation, find out what the provider needs to identify the current track. Does it read from the player you use, or does it require a separate feed or integration? Can you see the track title and artist update when you change the music? OBS's documentation explains how its Browser Source renders a page; it does not verify any particular provider's ability to read metadata from your player. Check the overlay provider's instructions and test your own setup rather than assuming that a URL means the feed works.
The choice is practical: automation saves you from editing each track change, but depends on an external URL and a working metadata path. A local text source needs updating by hand, but its content and appearance are under your control in OBS. If you use recorded audio or a playlist that changes infrequently, manual editing might be manageable. For a long programme with frequent changes, a verified feed can reduce routine work, but it still needs checking.
| Route | Updates | Main dependency | Useful fallback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser Source overlay | Automatic only if a compatible feed supplies current metadata | The overlay page and its connection to your player or metadata source | Keep a text source ready to edit if the feed stops or goes stale |
| OBS text source | Manual; you change the displayed title and artist | Your OBS scene and someone available to make the edits | The text source itself remains available even without a metadata feed |
Do not treat these routes as competing promises about reliability. You can use an automatic overlay when it has been verified and still keep a manual fallback. If the show uses a fixed selection, prepare the text in advance; if it changes unpredictably, decide who will update it and how they will spot a stale title.
For a music stream built around a repeating programme, planning what goes on screen can be part of the wider scene design; the guide to streaming Sanskrit mantra chanting on YouTube Live all day covers a related always-on format. The same principle applies to a podcast: decide what the viewer should see when music is playing, and what should remain visible while a presenter speaks.
Add a Browser Source in OBS
First create or open the OBS scene used for your podcast. In the Sources panel, choose the option to add a Browser Source. Enter the overlay URL supplied by your provider, then set a width and height suitable for the area where you intend to show it. OBS documents the Browser Source as a way to place a web page in a scene; the URL is the display, not proof that track detection is configured.
Use a URL you have checked in the provider's own instructions. If it asks you to configure which player or feed supplies track information, complete that step as well. Load the source and check that it displays something useful in the OBS preview. A page that loads but shows a blank field, sample content or an old track is not a working now-playing display.
Keep the overlay's function narrow. A simple line for title and artist is often easier to read than a large panel with details viewers do not need. If the provider offers settings for labels or layout, review those before changing your OBS scene. You can also ask whether its display updates on a track change and what it shows when metadata is missing; do not assume every overlay handles empty data gracefully.
The scene's source order controls what appears in front of what. Put the track display above the background layer, but do not let it cover the presenter, captions, a logo that must remain visible or information your audience needs to follow the programme. OBS's Sources Guide explains source ordering and the kinds of elements you can add to a scene.
If you already use OBS for a music broadcast, keep access to the channel's stream settings organised as well as the visuals. The guide on managing a YouTube music stream key safely in OBS addresses a different part of the workflow, but it is useful context when you are preparing a live channel rather than a one-off recording.
Set viewport and placement
The Browser Source viewport is the area OBS uses to display the web page. Set its dimensions to suit the overlay's design and the part of the canvas it should occupy. A full-canvas page can still contain a small track label, while a compact viewport may be easier to position; use the provider's preview and your OBS canvas to decide rather than copying dimensions meant for a different layout.
After it loads, position and resize the source in the preview. Check it at the resolution and aspect ratio you use for your stream, not only in a browser window on your desktop. A title that looks comfortable in the editor may be too small on a phone, or may collide with captions once the stream is viewed at its actual size.
Think about contrast and safe placement. White lettering over a pale video can disappear; a translucent dark backing or a different location can help. Avoid the edges where YouTube controls or other platform elements may obscure the display, and leave room for subtitles or lower thirds. If the podcast has a presenter, check that the track line does not sit over their face or their name caption.
Run through both long and short titles. A long artist credit may wrap or extend beyond its box, while a short one can leave awkward spacing. Check whether the overlay displays punctuation or non-Latin text correctly if your programme uses it. If the text is hard to read at normal viewing size, change the layout before going live rather than expecting viewers to zoom in.
Finally, look at the scene as a whole. The track display should be useful without becoming the main event. A listener may want the title while a song plays, but during a spoken segment it can be less important than the speaker's name or topic. If your programme needs different layouts, make a deliberate choice about whether the track display stays on screen throughout or appears only in relevant scenes.
Create a manual text fallback
When you cannot verify an automatic feed, add a text source in OBS. Give it a clear label, such as “Now playing”, then enter the title and artist you want viewers to see. The precise menu wording can vary by OBS version, so use OBS's source controls and documentation for the version you have installed. The essential result is a local text element that belongs to your scene and can be changed without relying on an overlay URL.
Style it in the source settings or with other scene elements: use a readable typeface, enough contrast and a background if the image behind it changes. Keep the format consistent, for example, “Track title — Artist”. If the title is unknown, use a neutral message or hide the line rather than leaving the previous track displayed as if it were current.
Decide who will update it. For a solo host, that may mean pausing between segments to change the text, which is a distraction to plan for. For a team, assign the update to a producer or moderator and agree when to change it, such as when the next track begins. A fallback is useful only if someone knows it exists and can operate it during the programme.
You can also prepare a small image source for a fixed label or a programme logo, but an image is less convenient for titles that change often. OBS's Quick Start Guide is a useful reference for learning the basics of scenes and sources before you add more moving parts. Keep the manual source in the same scene as the Browser Source if you want to switch quickly when the feed fails, or create a separate scene if that makes the handover clearer for your team.
Before the show, agree what happens if automation stops. One person might switch to the text source and update it; another might hide the display until the feed is restored. Either is better than showing an outdated track without noticing. For a broader look at choosing production software for a continuous channel, see Wirecast versus OBS Studio for 24/7 YouTube streaming; this article's steps, however, are specifically for an OBS scene.
Test metadata changes and audio
Test the display before a public broadcast, using the same player and scene you plan to use. Start with a known track, confirm that the title and artist appear, then change to another track and see whether the information changes as expected. A single successful load does not prove that the overlay follows subsequent changes.
Watch for stale or incomplete data. The provider may display a title but no artist, or the title may remain after playback has moved on. Check how the overlay behaves when the player has no track information, is paused or changes tracks quickly. These checks are practical preparation, not a guarantee that a provider's feed will behave identically in every later session.
Check placement in the preview after each change. Longer text may shift the layout; an overlay may render differently after a browser source reload. Confirm that the text remains legible against the content behind it and does not overlap captions or other on-screen information. If more than one person operates the show, have the person who will be monitoring the broadcast perform the test too.
Test audio separately from the visual credit. In OBS, listen to the programme output and confirm that the intended music and microphone are reaching the stream mix. A correct title on screen does not prove the intended audio is being sent, and audible music does not prove that the title is accurate. OBS recommends checking audio devices and stream settings as part of setup; its Quick Start Guide provides a starting point for that review.
Before going live, check the scene, stream settings and monitoring arrangement together. If you can, make a private or otherwise controlled test that lets you inspect the picture and sound as a viewer would. Check that the overlay appears in the intended scene, that audio is not missing or doubled, and that the person responsible knows how to switch to the manual source. OBS's guidance encourages testing settings before a first stream; this checklist applies that advice to a track display and does not claim that any particular overlay was tested here.
For a long-running programme, include the display in your routine checks after a scene change or playlist restart. A feed can be reliable during setup and still stop updating later. If the broadcast is automated and no one is watching it continuously, choose a conservative display policy: a blank or hidden credit is less misleading than a title left on screen after the music has changed.
Check music rights before streaming
Treat the track list and music permission as separate tasks. Showing a title and artist gives viewers information; it does not grant you a licence to transmit the recording or the underlying composition. Before using music, check that your permission covers the live broadcast and any replay or archive you plan to keep. Credit, attribution and a metadata feed are not substitutes for those permissions.
YouTube's live-stream copyright guidance says that live streams are scanned for matches to third-party content and may be interrupted or terminated after a match. The guidance also warns that even licensed material can result in an interruption if the channel has not been added to the relevant rights holder's allowlist. If you have a licence, ask the rights holder or distributor whether your channel needs to be allowlisted and check YouTube's current official guidance for the channel and content involved.
For music channels, YouTube for Artists' guidance on going live recommends coordinating with a label or distributor when using copyright-protected music. Your situation may differ depending on who controls the recording and composition, the terms of your permission and whether you intend to leave a replay available. Do not infer that a song is cleared because it appears in an overlay provider's catalogue or because another channel has played it.
Make rights checks part of the show plan rather than an afterthought during a technical test. Keep records of what you have permission to use and any conditions attached, and confirm current instructions with the rights holder or distributor. If the rights position is unclear, choose material you can verify or leave it out until you have checked. No track display, test stream or OBS setting guarantees that YouTube will approve or leave a broadcast uninterrupted.
If your podcast uses music as a continuous bed or as a playlist between segments, the rights question applies to each recording you include, not just the track currently shown. It also applies when you move from a live stream to an archived replay. Plan for both before you build the scene, so your technical workflow does not create a misleading sense that a displayed title settles the permission question.
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FAQ
How do I show what song is playing on my YouTube live stream?
In OBS, add a Browser Source using a compatible overlay URL if the provider can receive metadata from your player. Confirm that the title and artist update when playback changes. If you cannot verify a working feed, use a text source and update it manually.
Why is my now-playing overlay not updating?
OBS can display the overlay page, but automatic updates require a working path from your player or audio setup to the overlay provider's metadata feed. Check the provider's setup instructions, confirm the player is supported, and test a track change. Keep a manual text source ready if the feed is missing or stale.
Does showing the track title mean I can use the music?
No. A displayed title or artist is attribution, not permission to stream the recording or composition. Check that your rights cover the live transmission and any replay, and consult the rights holder or distributor and YouTube's current guidance.
Can I use a manual track list instead of an overlay?
Yes. An OBS text source can show the title and artist without an automatic metadata feed, but someone must update it when the music changes. Agree who will do that and hide or correct the text if it becomes stale.